Comedy That Amuses, Provokes Thought & Respects Dignity

Navneet Gurjar

Standup comedy may be a healthy tradition in any democratic society, but when humor is replaced by vulgarity, insults and cheap popularity, then it becomes unnecessary noise and not art. Society needs a comedy that makes one laugh, forces one to think and also respects the limits of decorum. The basis of popularity should be talent or art. No dispute.

Standup comedy has expanded rapidly over the past few years. Social media and OTT platforms have taken many comedians to the sky. In these, many artists make meaningful satire on social anomalies, politics and everyday problems. But there is a section of these comedians who resort to obscene language, jokes that hurt religious or social sensitivities and controversial comments to gain popularity.

In recent times, there have been lawsuits and legal action against some standup artists. Some even had to go to jail, but this also proved beneficial for them. He became even more popular after returning from jail. They continue with their vulgar speeches and our youth keep cheering them on.

Actually, the problem is that today controversy itself has become a big marketing tool. The artist makes controversial comments. His video goes viral and he becomes more popular than before. In such a situation, some people feel that there is no need for dignity and responsibility for popularity.

People who become popular just by serving abusive language and vulgarity are proving to be the most suitable weapon to mislead today’s youth. Everyone knows that the one thing that can hurt more than any weapon is your tongue, your language or its style.

God has given you a tongue, it does not mean that you can use your tongue and palate whenever and wherever you want. No matter what indecent words or sentences or sayings come out of him, which can be enough to injure or seriously injure the person in front of him.

But the problem is that there is no strict law against vulgar or obscene words. A complaint is made, the person is punished and he is immediately released. That’s why vulgar comedy continues. People are also listening. Are also being appreciated. The responsibility of the audience and listeners is the biggest. The kind of content that people watch and share, more similar content starts appearing in the market or in front of people.

If our society promotes low level humor then we will see similar humor in greater quantities. There were great satirists in the country like Harishankar Parsai, Kaka Hathrasi and Sharad Joshi, but they never allowed vulgarity in their language or satire. Always kept showing the mirror to the society without obscenity.

There are many famous articles by Sharad Joshi, which satirize the society and government. Even today they are still against the system. One of his articles is – Stolen well, if you dig you will find it.

The story goes like this that a village needed a well for drinking water. When the villagers investigated, they found out that there is a well in that village as per the government records. What to do now? An intelligent elder in the village advised the people to file a report in the police station about the well being stolen.

The villagers did not understand the matter but to respect the old man they filed a report. As soon as the report was filed, the police came to the village to investigate the theft. The villagers showed the government records that there was a well but it was stolen.

Police asked- Where was the well? That intelligent old man told about a place – Sir, the well was here. The thieves might have buried him here!

The police excavated there. After digging deep, water came out. …and the villagers found a well!

Now what could be a bigger satire on the system than this?

Controversies have become a marketing tool in themselves… The problem is that today controversy itself has become a marketing tool. The artist makes controversial comments. His video goes viral and he becomes more popular than before. In such a situation, some people feel that there is no need for dignity and responsibility for popularity.

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