A thread on Savarna standup comics and their supposed 'jokes'. The...
Rajesh Rajamani@rajamanirajesh
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Jan 05, 2025
~4 min read
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A thread on Savarna standup comics and their supposed 'jokes'.
The debate around the casteist 'jokes' or tweets of Savarna standup comics has deliberately been reduced to arguing if one should 'forgive' them for something they did long ago or not.
The debate around the casteist 'jokes' or tweets of Savarna standup comics has deliberately been reduced to arguing if one should 'forgive' them for something they did long ago or not.
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I just want to say a few things in this regard.
The English standup comic scene in India is an elite space that is entirely monopolized by the Brahmin-Savarnas. That includes both the comics and the audience.
The English standup comic scene in India is an elite space that is entirely monopolized by the Brahmin-Savarnas. That includes both the comics and the audience.
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Which is why when Neville Shah made those casteist 'jokes', he wasn't rebuked by the audience. Instead, they lovingly lapped it up. So it is not true that Neville Shah cracked those 'jokes' because his mom died or something.
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He cracked them simply because it worked with his audience. He was able to prove his 'sense of humour' by being casteist.
This is what most comics did until the mid 2010s or so.
This is what most comics did until the mid 2010s or so.
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They cracked 'jokes' on reservation, drivers, domestic helps, security guards, Mayawati and the sort, because it worked for both themselves and their audience. And it wasn't just Savarna male comics but Savarna female comics too.
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In fact, you would be astonished to find the number of times someone like Sumikhi Suresh caricatured domestic helps in her stand-up shows and sketches.
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But then, why won't they do it when they can make money, build careers and create a brand around themselves by simply being their usual casteist self. It was a totally win-win situation until then.
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However, since the mid 2010s, there has been increased political conversation around caste on social media, particularly by Bahujans and it had made it difficult for these comics to continue being casteist.
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To sustain their careers and build their brand value, it became important for them to project themselves differently in the new woke climate. So they all conveniently became overnight radicals.
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If you think about it, someone like Varun Grover was able to become a comic only because he is a Savarna. (Trust me! Talent or the absence of it has little do with anyone becoming a comic) When mocking Mayawati was what the Savarna market wanted, he gave it to them.
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When the market suddenly become woke, he had to beat the market by becoming more woke than it. And so he officially became a radical.
Essentially, these Savarna comics were able to socially and economically benefit by being both casteist and later being super woke radicals.
Essentially, these Savarna comics were able to socially and economically benefit by being both casteist and later being super woke radicals.
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How privileged should they be to play it both ways and still benefit.
The Chennai stand up comic scene might be slightly different to the Bangalore, Mumabi or Delhi ones. Here, the comics may not be making direct 'jokes' on reservation or Mayawati.
The Chennai stand up comic scene might be slightly different to the Bangalore, Mumabi or Delhi ones. Here, the comics may not be making direct 'jokes' on reservation or Mayawati.
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But SA Aravind, Karthik Kumar and the lot continue to play a huge role in reinforcing positive stereotypes around Brahmins and playing to the Tamil Brahmin market in India and overseas.
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But as you can see, the English standup comic space in all these cities continues to be an extremely elite space whose gates are opened primarily for Brahmins and other Savarnas.
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Since the social media uproar, several Brahmin-Savarnas have come out to defend these comics and claim how people can change with time and stuff. Yes, people can of course change.
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But does that take away the damage they have done to the most vulnerable and oppressed sections of the society. And worse, these apology letters are not even printed on paper. So one can't even wipe their asses with it.
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However, the amusing phenomenon is that, some Dalits and other Bahujans too have come out to give their clean chit to these casteist comics because they are supposedly 'ex-casteist comics'.
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I don't understand why Bahujans should pressurize themselves to perform this forgiving act. Probably some of these comics are your partners, friends, workmates or even acquaintances. So maybe you want to give them a shoulder to cry. Which is fine.
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Or maybe you want to buy them a drink, which is fine too. Or give them a bear hug. Which is absolutely fine as well. But to abuse a political identity and give out clean chits reeks of extreme irresponsibility.
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Because that would be trying to erase the damage that these privileged brats have committed.
There is absolutely no need for Bahujans play the role of Jesus Christ and generously give out 'I forgive you' or 'This person has changed' certificates.
There is absolutely no need for Bahujans play the role of Jesus Christ and generously give out 'I forgive you' or 'This person has changed' certificates.
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If anything, it is the headache of these Savarna comics to find ways to restore their credibility. Let them figure it out for themselves.
