Recently a blogger (attagirl) published a post where she wrote a humorous piece on south indian accents. She immediately became a target of outraged comments which accused her of being prejudiced. Infact one poster pledged not to marry north indian girls. (No really!!) Why are we Indians so incapable of laughing at ourselves? No, I am not asking this question simply on the basis of this incident. Infact this was a minor incident. Anyone who has even half an eye on the news must have noticed how little it takes to get people out on the streets protesting some imaginary slight. Every group in India seems to have its sacred cows. Shivaji for Shiv Sainiks, Bose for Bengalis, Quran for Shahabuddin types, the list just goes on. Are we so insecure that every harmless comment, gesture, joke is seen as a frontal assault on our identity and values?
What I find intriguing is that while I was growing up in a town in eastern India in the 80's and 90's, nothing was offlimits when it came to jokes. We could and did make fun of any language, any religion, any god and no one took any offence. So is it that we lose our sense of humour as we grow up? Or has India changed since the time I grew up there? Or do people still make fun of everything in private but are eager to outraged when the jokes are made at a public forum?
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2 comments:
Well ...Well ... Well... The post could be sold, to be a part of good humor in hindi films ... "duck duck " for "dhak dhak " is too good besides other southie accent "heckSAmples"...
Overall its one process of misunderstanding that has to include both the cool and the non-cool to make the process complete ...Statistically both of them should coexist ...cannot help it ...not just indians ...its bound to happen everywhere...huh !! whats the point in explaining a joke at the end of it ...
Thought I'd say 'hi' :-)
...if only people cud hear the loud cheer in my office, when my GM said 'duck duck'...it was rollickingly hilarious! We demanded an encore too and he obliged us!! lol! Wonder why people can't take it easy?
Nice to have you on board!!
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