Last week, there was some discussion in Parliament about taking "strict action" against Radio Jockeys. Etymologists reading this (of the three left in the world) would probably know why the term for professional horse rider became synonymous with hosts of music shows and music videos on radio and TV. I don’t think it has anything to do with height (jockeys are short, often Parsi). Anyway, that isn’t why strict action is being taken against them. Parsi jockeys haven’t complained to a Turf club saying radio channel wits are confusing their horses about who should ride them.
As it turns out, our MPs were offended by jokes. As in, not offended by the quality of the jokes but by the fact that there were jokes at all. The complaint was that Radio Jockeys mimicked sitting members of parliament and used "double meanings" – an Indian phrase that the rest of world knows as innuendo. This was learning for me. That essentially in politics you can speak at all with simple single meaning. It would have been enough just to say that the RJs were mimicking them.
It resulted in a furious debate across the Indian media (read: television at night). Like all furious debates in India, it lasted two or three minutes till we were distracted by the next Bollywood trailer, this time, something called Happy New Year, in which Abhishek Bachchan looks exactly like Ali G. (And I don’t even think for the movie.)
TV tattle
The debate was about whether Indian comedians should be allowed to make fun of MPs. Many comedians wrote earnest heartfelt pieces saying that they should. Don’t listen, if you don’t agree etc. Sensible stuff. Ashish Shakya of the very clever comedy quartet AIB showed up on Arnab’s Newshour on the panel of 200 experts and instead of saying anything, held up a placard that read "May I speak?", which may forever alter the nature of TV debates.
In this instance, however, I completely agree with the MPs. It is ridiculous to think that just because one has been elected by the people, you have to be accountable to the people. What will the people demand next? That MPs show up in parliament and sign a register? Do work? Stop napping? Stop sharing well-curated personal videos of artistic, um, things? Isn't it enough that they travel to mud-soaked non-electrified districts in helicopters that they can’t even relax when victorious in Lutyens Delhi? We already have a very hardworking Prime Minister. If everyone became like him, it would lead to chaos.
India isn’t ready for that kind of governance. One step a time. Slow change. What is this? Sweden? We just got rid of the Planning Commission for God’s sake, 50 years of cool planning, whisky chats and not doing anything, and you want to suddenly throw in all-day of doing? Then being judged on how they’re doing by some 19-year-old on Twitter called @sexyGovind23? Mad. Already the peons in parliament are feeling the pressure with all these late nights and debates and issues nonsense. Having to keep bringing tea. It was much better when people screamed and adjourned the house. At least one had the rest of the day to decorate the new MP flat.
Then there are the people (whoever they are) tweeting about celebrities not bothering to show up in the upper house. Isn’t it enough that they are celebrities? You want them on magazine covers and policy meetings? Public, you can’t have both. Vogue photo-shoot or food security, India has to choose.
Unnecessary demands
And if life isn’t hard enough, on top of that humour? Who do these funny people think they are? Channeling social change through wit? First it is wit, then it will be about pointing out faults in the system, not with violent agitation (which can be thwarted by saying, see, street goondas, I told you), but with cleverly written characters’ journeys revealing hidden messages about striving for a better India. Doubling the double meaning. Now these comedians have quadruple meaning. Radio Jockeys are joining them. Real jockeys are joining them. The Indian people are giggling. Even Indian horses are laughing. All free. On YouTube. Where does this nonsense end?
So strict action should be taken. The range of strict actions could vary from setting them on fire to being dragged by a mad bison to something far worse, being a judge on a Hindi general entertainment channel sitting between a retired mid-'90s actress and Navjot Sidhu. Europe in the Dark Ages gives good guidance on this. A midget, juggler, comedian and entertainer were allowed 30 seconds before a king. If they weren't entertaining, the King had them imprisoned for a night. Just to ponder and reflect over their lack of talent, and whether they should consider a career switch.
So my view is leave MPs alone. There’s far better humour coming out of what they will do independently, just when speaking, allowed to be themselves, than anything a professional humourist can do artificially.
Note
irony1ˈʌɪrəni/
noun: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
synonyms: sarcasm, sardonicism, dryness, causticity, sharpness, acerbity, acid, bitterness, trenchancy, mordancy, cynicism
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As it turns out, our MPs were offended by jokes. As in, not offended by the quality of the jokes but by the fact that there were jokes at all. The complaint was that Radio Jockeys mimicked sitting members of parliament and used "double meanings" – an Indian phrase that the rest of world knows as innuendo. This was learning for me. That essentially in politics you can speak at all with simple single meaning. It would have been enough just to say that the RJs were mimicking them.
It resulted in a furious debate across the Indian media (read: television at night). Like all furious debates in India, it lasted two or three minutes till we were distracted by the next Bollywood trailer, this time, something called Happy New Year, in which Abhishek Bachchan looks exactly like Ali G. (And I don’t even think for the movie.)
TV tattle
The debate was about whether Indian comedians should be allowed to make fun of MPs. Many comedians wrote earnest heartfelt pieces saying that they should. Don’t listen, if you don’t agree etc. Sensible stuff. Ashish Shakya of the very clever comedy quartet AIB showed up on Arnab’s Newshour on the panel of 200 experts and instead of saying anything, held up a placard that read "May I speak?", which may forever alter the nature of TV debates.
In this instance, however, I completely agree with the MPs. It is ridiculous to think that just because one has been elected by the people, you have to be accountable to the people. What will the people demand next? That MPs show up in parliament and sign a register? Do work? Stop napping? Stop sharing well-curated personal videos of artistic, um, things? Isn't it enough that they travel to mud-soaked non-electrified districts in helicopters that they can’t even relax when victorious in Lutyens Delhi? We already have a very hardworking Prime Minister. If everyone became like him, it would lead to chaos.
India isn’t ready for that kind of governance. One step a time. Slow change. What is this? Sweden? We just got rid of the Planning Commission for God’s sake, 50 years of cool planning, whisky chats and not doing anything, and you want to suddenly throw in all-day of doing? Then being judged on how they’re doing by some 19-year-old on Twitter called @sexyGovind23? Mad. Already the peons in parliament are feeling the pressure with all these late nights and debates and issues nonsense. Having to keep bringing tea. It was much better when people screamed and adjourned the house. At least one had the rest of the day to decorate the new MP flat.
Then there are the people (whoever they are) tweeting about celebrities not bothering to show up in the upper house. Isn’t it enough that they are celebrities? You want them on magazine covers and policy meetings? Public, you can’t have both. Vogue photo-shoot or food security, India has to choose.
Unnecessary demands
And if life isn’t hard enough, on top of that humour? Who do these funny people think they are? Channeling social change through wit? First it is wit, then it will be about pointing out faults in the system, not with violent agitation (which can be thwarted by saying, see, street goondas, I told you), but with cleverly written characters’ journeys revealing hidden messages about striving for a better India. Doubling the double meaning. Now these comedians have quadruple meaning. Radio Jockeys are joining them. Real jockeys are joining them. The Indian people are giggling. Even Indian horses are laughing. All free. On YouTube. Where does this nonsense end?
So strict action should be taken. The range of strict actions could vary from setting them on fire to being dragged by a mad bison to something far worse, being a judge on a Hindi general entertainment channel sitting between a retired mid-'90s actress and Navjot Sidhu. Europe in the Dark Ages gives good guidance on this. A midget, juggler, comedian and entertainer were allowed 30 seconds before a king. If they weren't entertaining, the King had them imprisoned for a night. Just to ponder and reflect over their lack of talent, and whether they should consider a career switch.
So my view is leave MPs alone. There’s far better humour coming out of what they will do independently, just when speaking, allowed to be themselves, than anything a professional humourist can do artificially.
Note
irony1ˈʌɪrəni/
noun: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
synonyms: sarcasm, sardonicism, dryness, causticity, sharpness, acerbity, acid, bitterness, trenchancy, mordancy, cynicism