Polling with laughter

Somya Abrol

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Comedy in our country is like the almost-fatal richer cousin of smoking — make the best of it for a passing moment, till they ban it in public. And when this comedy revolves around those in question for running our government, the amusement multiplies manifold.

With the Assembly elections in Delhi just around the corner (February 7), yet again, social media has gone abuzz with parody Twitter accounts and the paraphernalia, sending political giggles your way; never mind who has the last laugh!

Arvind Kejriwal, everyone’s favourite butt of jokes, has to face the wrath of the humorous under Twitter account, Kejriwal’s Diary @fekriwal. Here are some takes from the account:

“In the interest of transparency, I’ve asked our webmaster to put separate button on website for people who want to contribute illegal money.”

“I just walked into a bar and ordered free drinks for everyone on Modiji. If he doesn’t pay the bill, we’ll put dharna only. #HighFive”

“I heard Kiranji has changed her name. I need to respond. I’m thinking Arvind Sheen Gandhi or Snow White Cinderella Kejriwal. Pl suggest.”

You might also remember our beloved Muffler Man being spoofed last year in AIB’s two-part video series, Nayak, which also featured Alok Nath, to whom we were very thankful, for taking time out of a kanyadaan.

On another not-so-serious note, someone with a well-built backbone — and not much love for life — came up with a fake account for the PM, called Marendra Nodi @MarendraNodi. Updates:

“Mitron! What’s your problem with my 10 lakh suit? It’s not as if it’s your dad’s hard earned money? Oh, wait..”

“Mitron! We always under-promise and over deliver. Promised you black money, gave you a US President”

“Mitron! Barack bhai has declared his full support to Kiran ben Bedi after he saw her walking around with a file named ‘Obama’.”

With everyone being provided ‘equal opportunity’ on social media, Rahul Baba gets to share his bit of humour too, albeit ‘fakely’. The prodigal son’s parody Twitter account, Rofl Gandhi @RoflGandhi has a few gems of wisdom too:

“DCP North Delhi is following me now. But wouldn’t be able to recover anything.”

Quick take

Politicos of the region have had their personal brush with humour. Each one of them, it seems, has found their funny bone, and thus developed the ability to laugh at themselves. We ask them their take on the ravaging political satire over the internet of late; here’s what they had to say:

Bhagwant Mann: Aam Aadmi Party’s MP, Mann has seen the world of comedy up, close and personal. As elated as he is to see youngsters taking to social media for political satire, he’s of the opinion that India still has a long way to go.

“There’s hardly any political humour being broadcast on TV. In the US, talk-show hosts like Jay Leno invite Obama on their show to crack jokes with him. Can India even dream of that? Political comedy deserves its elite space, where the subject of humour should learn to take things lightly. Satire can deliver a message like no other medium can; we need to make space for that space,” says Mann, and in his signature style, leaves us in splits with: “One of my colleagues from Delhi called me the other day and said, “Sir, boht bura ho gaya. Humare boht votes chale jayenge abh.” On enquiring about the nature of the ‘bura’, he said, “Sir, Kiran Bedi bimaar ho gayi!”

Manish Tewari: Former minister of Information and Broadcasting and MP from Ludhiana, Tewari is of the view that comedy has always been part and parcel of politics. “Political satire has been a part of politics since time immemorial. Earlier, the satire was in the form of writings on the wall. Now, just the medium has changed. In a democracy, comedy is inevitable. I have come across humour of all types about myself — from sublime to absolutely ridiculous! One has to learn to take it in the stride,” says Tewari.

Manpreet Badal: PPP (People’s Party of Punjab) chief Manpreet Badal rues the fact that Indians aren’t half as tolerant of humour as many other cultures. “Urban India might be more open to political satire, but where I come from, people are still easily offended; and that change has come about now. Earlier, we had greater tolerance towards satire, what with Marassi comedians and the likes. You will be amazed to see how open Pakistan is towards political humour. They have at least 15 shows running on TV these lines. One such show I like watching is Khabar Naak by Aftab Iqbal. For a terrorism-engulfed country, I think that’s very commendable. In India, however, people are more easily offended.”

somya@tribunemail.com