It has been more than a week since a Member of Parliament (MP) of the opposition combine, mimicked the Vice President in the Parliament complex at New Delhi. The brickbat trading has not stopped since. Newspapers and news channels are full of stories of indignation, defiance, hurt, disbelief, rights and indignity – depending on which side of the political fence the storyteller is sitting. Someone has also gone to court with a defamation suit. There are people shouting from the rooftops that serious insults have been heaped on the second highest constitutional office in the country.
I am not fishing in politically charged waters but merely making a statement of facts. The individuals concerned belong to two different political entities which do not see eye to eye. One belongs to a ‘single engine’ party that is the ruling dispensation in one of our states. The other is the ruling dispensation at the Centre. The state alleges that the Centre has not paid up on its dues, the Centre on the other hand harbours different views. Recent tiffs between the two entities came to a head when a firebrand MP of the opposition combine was expelled from the Lok Sabha for reasons of security which of course, was hotly contested. However, you cannot mess with the boss, so the Ethics Committee prevailed.
Hot on the heels of the expulsion, there was a breach in the Parliament’s physical security where it emerged that the miscreants were admitted into the Parliament as spectators, upon the recommendation of a MP of the ruling party at the Centre. Clamours for his expulsion were raised by the opposition combine but so far, an inquiry has been ordered and some uncomfortable noises have been made by spokespersons. The state in question and the Centre have also been on a collision course over several other issues including the management of the state-run universities.
The mimicry episode is perhaps a symptom of the frustration resulting from all that is happening between the two warring factions. It may not even be so. It could just be light-hearted humour blown out of proportion. There was also vehement opposition to another MP filming the mimicry on his cell phone. These days, when people film family funerals and put them on social media, what’s wrong with an impromptu mimicry show? I recall a Facebook post by one enthusiast who posted a cremation video of a relative with a comment, “At the cremation ghat with Panditji…feeling very sad.” That is how life is today, face it.
Coming now to mimicry per se. I have seen since childhood that it has been one of the most enjoyable forms of entertainment. And political figures have been mimicked from as long back as I can remember. Film personalities have been another favourite group that has been mimicked widely. I distinctly remember several comedy shows on national television that mimicked political personalities. One of the most memorable imitations I remember is that of a celebrated television personality mimicking one of our erstwhile Prime Ministers. It was so delightful and it also carried a social message. There were very few entertainment shows in which people like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Nana Patekar, Shah Rukh Khan and Om Prakash were not mimicked by comperes and comedy artistes.
We ourselves, have imitated and mimicked our school teachers and relatives at school and family gatherings. Nobody felt hurt or insulted. Good mimicry is a rare talent and must be enjoyed. Let alone schools and family, we have even imitated our seniors and bosses at work without the slightest fear of retribution. We were certain that they would never mind a friendly jab at their idiosyncrasies, some of which they never realised themselves. Needless to mention, their spouses enjoyed these digs the most. It is said that comedy is serious business. It takes preparation and effort to make others laugh. A great quality, however, is to be able to laugh at oneself. That shows acceptance and character.
Unfortunately, when the atmosphere is coloured in political hues, even humour is lost on people, at least those who are the objects of such humour. As a person who grew up normally and one who enjoys a good laugh, I am distressed at the unnecessary debate and viciousness that has surrounded this non-issue. At this rate, all our stand-up comedians should be banished to Siberia. Quite to the contrary, people pay money to go and watch them mimic our politicians and film stars, apart from many other enjoyable acts that they perform.
Where has all the humour gone?
Sir, Nicely articulated like always. I will accept that, this viewpoint on appreciating the mimicry didn’t strike me. May be you are right in saying that we as a society are losing our humour.
Consider yourself grownup when you’ve had your hearty laugh – at yourself!!
Not anymore it would seem..
Wonder what grown up’s are like today..
Thanks for a lovely article which should prick the conscience of our leaders. As the CO of a submarine my cabin was just adjacent to the wardroom and I often got to hear hushed voices mimicking me and enjoying a laugh at my mannerisms. I was happy that my idiosyncrasies united the ward room in laughter.
An interesting article! I had a commanding officer who used humour to relax the tense atmosphere in the Bridge of a warship, right in the middle of a tense operational situation. No doubt, this worked as a good morale booster and probably got better output from the Bridge team!
We Indians, by nature, tend to be a bit serious than others. Its high time we learnt to laugh harder and more often.
Thanks for flagging the issue.
As always a topical and very relevant article for the stressed present we live in sir. For one to have a sense of humour to laugh at oneself, the person must have identity, self esteem, and conviction. Then the discerning is easy and one would not waste time and resources. Guess we have adequate time, resources etc. to make issues out of nothing.
Nicely written as always. Even in a disciplined protocol driven Armed Forces we do have enough humour. Humour in Uniform, we fondly remember.
In politics every action by the opposing parties provide a reason for, creating ‘news worthy’ headlines and use them to further their own cause. The public posturing and behind the scene talks would have different dimensions. Fact remains if a person mimicked is more powerful than the person carrying out mimicry and does not approve of these actions, then the outcome could be unpleasant. It is all about power.
Sad, isn’t it?
Fully agree with the views. Humour is an essential part of our lives but many have become too “stiff” at work and in life that they forget or don’t have time for a good laugh. Mimicking a person is actually an art and should be taken in that spirit. I remember a stage show where one of the act was a mimicry of the Chief Minister of a state and the CM himself was in attendance amongst the audience in the front row. The mannerisms and voice modulation enacted by the artist evoked smile not only on the CM’s face but also his spouse and other ministers sitting with him.
Leaders are expected to accept the humour in mimicry the same way they are expected to accept criticism.
Many of us tend to keep these people (politicians/ celebrities) on a high pedestal with holier than thou reverence that the fact that they are humans first are forgotten. So any mimic of them is not taken lightly by these followers more so than the actual person himself/ herself.
Yes, we should not allow the acts to become too personal or below the belt but a good laugh is to be enjoyed.
Excellent piece. Humour truly is reducing in day to day life in general and many aspects such as politics, uniform etc. Remember Dada Kondke at this juncture. At one time he used to pick up the proceedings of the Day in Maharashtra assembly and add humour to it and present to his daily audience. No one arrested him or banned his shows. Humour in uniform in RD has lost its charm. In any case no Indian magazine ever presents it. It is good to laugh it off, most of the time and get in with one’s serious job for a better result…..thanks Dasu for being bold.
Beautifully written sir. Managed to read one of yours after long. But the fact is sir, people are getting wary of being laughed at, because it no longer stays within the four walls😊
It is indeed a sad commentary on life that we have forgotten to smile. It is either frowning or jeering most if the times that we get to see in public life. Moral policing has become the norm most unfortunately. Can we call it progress of humanity? I really wonder