Stand-up comedy has now become a convenient excuse to denigrate Hindu Dharma and Bharatiya civilization. The latest in a line of such ‘comedians’ is Bengaluru-based P Shravan who made lewd comments against the musical pillars of the Vijaya Vittala Temple complex located in Hampi.
A police complaint has been registered by tourist guides and local organizations against both the organizers of the show and Shravan with the Hampi police. On the basis of the complaint, the Hampi police have served a notice to the ‘stand-up comedian’ and the organizers of the show and stated that both will be summoned to Hampi soon.
Complaint against stand-up comic Shravan
Members belonging to Vijayanagara Smaraka Samrakshana Samiti, Hampi Task Force, and Vidyaranya Guides Association have condemned the comments by Shravan while demanding strict action against him.
“It has become routine for comedians using historical figures and history to create fun. It’s a shameful act involving the rich heritage of Hampi. With this, the comedian has insulted Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya brothers who found this great site. We have asked the police to take strict action and a mere apology will not do,” Samiti President Vishwanath Malagi has been quoted as saying.
As the video went viral on social media, users expressed their outrage at the disrepect shown towards Bharat’s Hindu heritage. “The comedian who speaks in Kannada has no knowledge or respect for one’s own heritage. Such jokes can be made on the bar table and not at comedy events that get broadcast online,” added another complainant.
The district police have said that a complaint has been filed under Cybercrime act. “The artist and organisers will be called for inquiry. A notice in this regard has been sent to both the parties,” said a police official.
Stand-up comedy and Hinduphobia
Cracking ‘jokes’ on everything valued by Hindus has become routine by these co-called comedians. Mumbai-based Agrima Joshua had made flippant comments on Hindu king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. HINO (Hindus in Name Only) Vir Das shamed Bharat and Hindus in his show in the US.
Das’ “comedy” was full of other tropes denigrating Bharat and Hindus – most of it appears on the surface as a dislike for PM Modi, but actually betrays a visceral, almost subconscious aversion to Hindu Dharma and the Dharmic Bharatiya civilization. Ironically, the likes of Das who go about spreading negative stereotypes about Bharat also complain when they face racism in the West.
Munawar Faruqi had made derogatory remarks against Hindu deities Bhagwan Ram and Devi Sita in front of a sizeable audience. He also made grotesque comments about the Godhra carnage where Hindus were burnt alive by Islamists. Another ‘comic’ Tamil Christian Alexander Babu is another one from the anti-Hindu comedian stable who mocked Bhagwan Shiva, Maa Parvati, and Bhagwan Ganesh in the name of comedy.
‘Stand-up comedian’ Surleen Kaur was among those who has also been guilty of defaming Hindu deities. In a video, she is seen making derogatory remarks towards Sri Ganesha and has also used inappropriate language for the renowned Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the ‘Hare Krishna’ movement or Hare Krishnas.
The incidents of Hinduphobia by comedians, media persons, movie stars and academics will continue unless we take certain urgent steps. This sense of urgency should be guided by the fact that with incidents of Hinduphobia, conversions out of Hindu Dharma also increase. Already, our policies have lost Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, coastal Tamil Nadu and large parts of Andhra Pradesh to hands of Christian missionaries. Cases of grooming continue to increase. One should question why Hindu girls adopt Islam so easily and the reverse does not happen on any significant scale? Why are Hindus getting converted to Christianity in droves? It is certainly not due to the superiority of Islam and Christianity.
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