All India Bigotry (The Real #AIB)

We are a nation of bigots, whether you want to accept it or not. Our levels of self-censorship are so convoluted and farcical, that we ourselves won’t be able to explain the logic of our mindsets and how we view the paradigms of what is socially acceptable and what is not. The same man who sees himself as a victim of economic disparity in the country and human exploitation at the workplace has no qualms about abusing and physically taxing his domestic help or those under him. The same person who is a devout God-fearing disciple of some or the other form of God dupes himself by thinking he can wash away his sins by offering donations at some temple or charitable concern. The same person who practices pre-marital sex wants a virgin wife after marriage. We are the same nation that censors porn but welcomes the pin-up girl Sunny Leone to strut her stuff in item songs and live shows. And while we go all out to make a mockery of the very values we preach so hard, we can’t stand anyone with a sense of humour.

We are the same nation whose Broadcasting Board translates crap or bullshit as nonsense as it is not appropriate content for universal television viewing. Of course, we can say MC, BC and CH to the whole world when something goes wrong in our lives without turning around to see who is listening. Mr. Aamir Self-Righteous Khan does not like profanity as a form of comedy as he thinks he is beyond that age when he can laugh at such things. Much has been said about his production Delhi Belly using words like D K Bose and Jaa Chudail which got very popular in the name of entertainment. Of course the wonderful part of India is it is a free country and Mr. Khan is entitled to his opinion. It is indeed odd that in such a stringent scenario, AIB decided to host a live show where 4000 spectators were in audience, and much foul language, sexual innuendos and pointed jokes about people’s skin colour, bedroom antics and physical features were cracked.  While the culprits of the act seemed to have a ball and have won much support among youngsters for their act of bravado in a sexually and morally repressed nation; detractors have left no stone unturned to condemn them.

As a country that is demographically dominated by the youth, we need to be careful of what we are putting up there for public viewing, no doubt about that. And the AIB Roast is a great idea and attempt to mock-criticise people on a panel in a mutually rib-tickling manner. The question is: Would it be less funny if done without verbal abuse or casting aspersions at someone’s dark skin or dissecting a star’s private life, leaving it bare and out there in the open to be derided? Doesn’t this license such behaviour among friends, with colleagues and bosses, from neighbours or family? Would we accept and validate such humour in our daily lives? So let’s not applaud AIB yet. It has got the mood and momentum going, but there is a thin line between dirty and witty. Let’s not cross it as with the power to influence young minds, comes immense responsibility. To be honest, I laughed hard at most of the jokes cracked that evening but I’d anyday prefer Barely Speaking With Arnub by The Viral Fever. The verbose megalomaniac of a host on that show attacks without hitting below the belt. The Vigil Idiot's way of downsizing Hindi potboilers gets me rolling on the floor laughing. Then again, I hope it stays that way.

Let’s try and enjoy laughing at the lighter side of life. Open our minds to calling a spade a spade but not at someone’s expense. And also understand that pop culture is a direct reflection of the times we live in.  Ask Yo Yo Honey Singh. The poor chap only sings about partying, alcohol and scantily clad aspirational women who dope shope and are out to have a ball (no pun intended) and he gets brickbats for his ‘ashleel’ lyrics. I know a whole generation which lives exactly by his definition of having a good time. But it is much easier to chastise Honey Singh for it, right?