” is a humorous satire. It talks about the current disparities in the nation that are often ignored or ‘

’ won’t like it. The monologue has unveiled many political errors and social problems that exist in the land. All of it with a pinch of humour. It narrated the two perspectives, one that we see and believe and one that we are made to believe, one that is true and one that sounds good. Dividing us into 2 Indias, where one is a veil and the other one is the devastating truth.

Rape Culture, Patriarchy, Twitter Harassment, Farmer Issues, Political Errors, Vaccination Controversy, Brain Drain

. What seems amusing is that the monologue also talked about the public backlash which would happen after it. And as predicted, is happening.

The monologue proved to be true in the comment section of the video and social media handles. Some people deeply understood the satire and appreciated it whereas the other halves found the monologue disgracing the image of India and did not shy away in expressing the same on the internet. The video started getting viral and 

 went trending on Twitter. Following the trend another popular trend of FIRs started and several FIRs were lodged against the Comic in Delhi and Mumbai.

 who is a familiar face in such controversies called the monologue ‘

’ and shared her outrage on social media. Later she brought up a screenshot of an old Tweet of Vir Das. Sharing which she wrote, “

Example of creepy Indian man, who is good for nothing so he sells his sleaze for a living to equally creepy and sexist-racist audience

Vir Das and his standups are familiar to the public backlash. Most of his standups contained casteist or sexist remarks and strong language. In one of his performances, while making jokes about ex-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; 

, he crossed the limit and made jokes about the minister’s appearance and how he thinks ‘

’. The stand up was problematic on several levels. Not only this, numerous times Vir Das has crossed the threshold into unacceptable but even then no serious actions were taken against him.

Making a humorous satire about the nation’s working was something new by the comic. Analysing if it were wrong or not is a different discussion altogether but enthusiasts demanding action against him for his previous standups, right after the release of his recent video should be the topic of discussion. Unfortunately, comments on nations working way more than misogyny and casteist remarks in the balance of our society.

Contrast is also seen in the opinion of political leaders after the release of the video. Where on one side Congress MP 

 celebrated the comic’s words and tweeted about the same. He wrote “

A stand-up comedian who knows the real meaning of the term “stand up” is not physical but moral — @thevirdas spoke for millions in this 6-minute take on the Two Indias he hails from & stands up for

,” Tharoor tweeted on Tuesday. However, Congress politician 

 did not share Tharoor’s sentiments and criticised him for “

 lodged a complaint accusing Vir Das of ‘

’. Mr Jha later released a video statement talking about the same. 

, a Congress minister supported the monologue but reflected dislike at its oration on the foreign soil.

“I come from an India who is going to watch this and say-

This isn’t standup comedy. Where is the goddamn joke?

That will watch this and know there is a gigantic joke

Vir Das’ monologue that talked about the problems of the nation is not only a satire on the nation but on all of us who reside in one of those Indias and call ourselves Indians, proudly. The people who have lodged complaints based on ‘vilifying on foreign soil’ at the comic do not acknowledge that if it were in India, he would have been booked under 

 the very next moment. If we study closely, on the part of Vir Das this wasn’t the bold move to read in Washington DC but rather a smart move to save his life.

Following the backlash, Vir Das issued his statement on Twitter where he explained that the monologue is a satire and he takes pride in living in the country. He also urged the people not to share and watch the edited versions of the video.

After 75 years of independence, sadly India is not the dream of 

Mind is not without Fear and the Head is not held High

. This issue is not about Vir Das, this is about every voice that is raised to mend the differences but gets booked under ‘

’. Looking forward to the day where the house is booked and not the comic. And we the people of a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic point out the wrong, freely in our land and not on foreign soil.

Surely, Vir Das has made derogatory remarks in his past performances. Remarks against women along with strong language. He was wrong at places and deserves backlash for the same. But the recent monologue holds no connections with the previous ones. The monologue is more like an independent word and not just words by a comic who has a bad record.

Two Indias React to Vir Das’ Standup

After more than four hundred years of the writer’s death, amidst the progressive age, the definition seems altered. The unplanned and non-beneficiary alteration in government documents is a joy for the authority. Suiting the secular approach of the office bearers, names of several places are being changed and more to be changed in the coming years in 

The people of Uttar Pradesh are provided with development by ‘

’. Rising petrol prices, poverty and rape cases may not be an issue of importance for the Secularist Chief Minister but the Alteration of names is. It has been almost three years to the circus but the Master is never tired and comes up with a new trick.

 woke up only to find out their year-long addresses had been changed by the government. Reason being that it was named so by a tyrant. The same one who founded the 

. After long explanations by the representatives of the ruling party on television, the issue was dismissed and the residents of Allahabad unwillingly became the residents of 

“We were simply surprised at first and for some time we thought it was just a rumour but later when we switched on the TV we knew it was the truth. There were no happy faces around in the neighbourhood and deep down we were crying too”

 says a twenty-four years old, who was in the first year of his graduation when the incident happened.

With crushing emotions widely the Minister said “

” In an interview, this might sound unjust and crushing but it is the reality that is faced by the people of Uttar Pradesh. People thought it to be a one-time thing but it was like a carousel and did not stop turning.

. Recently when the appeals for changing the name of 

 were submitted, not an eye blinked. The government is a bit hesitant to put out the real reason but for anyone who has known the government of Uttar Pradesh and its intentions, the reason is crystal clear.

“I was in Hazratganj at that time and I could see people with orange flags in their hands, shouting slogans as if they had won a battle they had longed for. I still don’t know what good has been brought by that? The metro station is still named the same. What does it signify?”

 says a nineteen-year-old who was returning from her coaching class when Hazratganj was renamed.

One thing which is common in all these names is the 

 sounding factor. Allahabad has Allah, Faizabad- Faiz, Hazratganj-Hazrat, Aligarh- Ali. The discourse may turn complex if the present-day names of the places are brought to light, portraying the intentions clearly.

Ironically 2017, thirty-two page, UP election manifesto did talk about new job opportunities, reduced poverty rates and development in the education sector. But the people of Uttar Pradesh were benefited hardly with any. The public is agitated that the next contender can win with a majority vote in the state elections if they have the agenda “

to restore names changed by the previous government

Hence, for Juliet name may not be a weapon to divide but today for some it is the only basis of politics and the mightiest weapon. What if the people who are unhappy with these acts, actually choose a Minister who only claims to restore the names? This might become a chain process and Uttar Pradesh can see an unending tussle for names in the coming year.

Mr Chief Minister, ‘What’s in a name?’

” has crossed our ears countless times due which now, thankfully, we have dark-skin, plus-size, hairy, short female models, modeling for leading fashion tags. It is this step that has made women all around the globe become a little comfortable in their own skins. In some way or the other, it has brought down the constant shaming and calling out of the ‘

’ bodies which were not treated equally a few decades back but the concept is still 

If you try to imagine a perfect male figure, you are more likely to think of a man with a chiseled jawline, broad shoulders, tanned preferably tall, and with a beard. To achieve such physical features, men spend a lot of money and time at the gym. Despite these efforts, if they cannot manage to get the perfect body, surgery is their next best option, and the tireless efforts keep on rolling.

The study, released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, showed that a lot of young men are looking for body contouring procedures to enhance their looks. In the past few years, liposuction has seen a 23% cent rise and tummy tucks have gone up by 12%, while male breast reductions have increased about 30%

Most of the designers focus only on making outfits for men suiting the so-called ideal body. 

, a well-known designer who has supposedly dressed all the 

 cream has made outfits for plus-size women and has often showcased them in his collection but no such thing is seen when it comes to men. All the plus-size women models being paired with lookalikes of 

Let alone the fashion industry, the entertainment industry is no different. Tall and toned men make the lead characters while the chubby ones are often the supporting characters and the bald and timid character plays the poor and deprived or nothing at all. 

, a well-celebrated actor in an interview revealed that despite being capable, he was denied lead roles many times because of his baldness and it is because of this attitude of the industry that he had to take up side roles which were the only option.

They say we do not judge a book by its cover 

 We consume what we see and this makes it difficult for society to accept men of all shapes and sizes. The issue in no way stands in comparison with the female body positivity banner as the majority of women have hormonal complications which result in unwanted weight gain and body issues. Male body positivity is needed because it is time that like all the other narrow-minded definitions, the strict rules for perfect male body image should also be scrapped. Women of all colors and sizes are beautiful, similarly it goes for every other gender.

Men can look after their health and physique and be as they want to be, but no such effort should be made to ‘

’ or just to feel like a part of a society with unrealistic beauty standards.

Society Tested Negative for Male Body Positivity

” is a slang or a hateful attribute for 

, often mentioned to degrade the identity of Muslims in general. The page, 

, offered pictures and information of some Muslim women who were students, activists, or journalists. If you are a woman and at some point, you have raised your voice against injustice, there are higher chances that you could find yourself on the platform. To be a woman with a voice makes you a sinner but to be a Muslim woman with a voice makes you deal of the day!

The news spread like wildfire when the co-founder of 

 tweeted and asked people to welcome the open-source which is bringing good to the general mass. According to Bharti, the unethical ‘

’ of women being auctioned online was not a matter of concern but something to be welcomed. The Sulli Deals incident has thrown us back to the era where women who had a say were prosecuted or shamed in public. The only difference being the advanced technology that has given space to the filthy minds on the internet to do the same.

“When I first heard about the Sulli deals, I was not shocked. Why should I be? This wasn’t the first time Muslim women were besmirched for being outspoken against the right-wing Hindutva Majoritarianism. It is more traumatizing than it is appalling, you can’t feel safe in your own skin nowadays.”

– SIDRA ZAIDI, A STUDENT OF JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

If this does not jiggle you, what will? As disturbing as this news is, so is the fact that it is not for the first time that this degree of objectification of women has been put upon such a level. In the past few years, the cases of 

 have grown indefinitely. Incidents such as the 

, provide evidence of the objectification of women as a norm; or when a minister in the Parliament asked for the night rate of a ticket, show how insensitive and inhumane people have become.

“It is just a representation of a patriarchal mindset. If they were willing to trigger Muslims they could have added the pictures of men too but they pick up women as they think they are weak, which for sure we are not!”

– MIRZA SHAINA BEG, A STUDENT OF JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

Is it just patriarchy, misogyny, and rape culture, or all of it coupled with Islamophobia?

” For a nation where it is completely fine to raise violent slogans against minorities or asking an audience to kill and rape women, in the presence of police and media, Sulli Deals 

The escalation of Islamophobia each day is making the environment more suffocating. If they could ask to kill and rape specific communities within societies, they are more likely to bring their plans into action someday. It is not the stance of the uneducated which hurts, it is the remarks of all those well-educated beings who stand to justify such acts of communal hatred and misogyny.

No arrests have been made regarding the Sulli Deals incident, which hasn’t surprised the masses. 

 but no names were brought to light. The fact that Sulli Deals was not actually selling women, raises a whole new set of questions. The most obvious one: 

“They are not trying to target us sexually but their motive is to induce fear in our minds, they want us to believe that we’ll face atrocities if we raise our VOICES.”

– AMBER, A STUDENT OF JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

Their main plan could be spreading distress and panic among the ‘

’ youth. Keeping in mind the whole atmosphere of Indian households after finding a picture of their daughter on such a platform, families will create pressure resulting in something which the offender actually wants.

. Regardless of gender if anyone speaks about the injustice which prevails in society they 

. Certainly not a place in some human trafficking sale or ill-remarks by the blind followers of communalism.

Women on Sale: Use Code ‘Islamophobia’ for Discount

, people collected hope and gathered in front of the 

, no one knew how things were going to turn out. Torched houses and shops, brutally killed people, vandalised places of worship and a trail of such horrifying incidents which the day was going to bring with it was known to none.

One thing led to another and the rest of that we know today is too horrifying. Heavy damage was caused to private property, more than 53 people lost their lives, hundreds were injured, several had minor injuries and many are still unreported. Policemen, officials, vendors, men, women, teenagers and even infants were not pardoned from the brutal blood bath.

Several people who left their houses never came back, even their bodies could not be identified. Uncountable children lost their parents, some were not even old enough to understand what a parent means? They just lost their kind playmates and caretakers. Loss is a small word to describe their pain. The mantle fell on them at a very young age.

What will these children grow into? Children who have seen their friend’s house burning, their own houses being vandalised. Their fathers who never came back, their sisters who were grabbed in front of their eyes. Their plastic toys melting in the fire and their colourful dreams getting darker with the rising smoke all around. What vision for life will they carry?

Research done on children who have suffered from trauma states that changes related to thinking and behaviour are more likely to happen in 

 who have gone through even a minor trauma in their childhood. This trauma could be due to the loss of a loved one, sexual abuse or any other serious event which has formed an impact on them.

It is a myth to believe that childhood trauma does not affect children in their growing age. On the contrary, 

these children are at increased lifetime risk of psychological issues

. The effect of such trauma can stay life long and can appear at any age. They can suffer from depression, anxiety and anger management issues. Moreover, they are more likely to carry the motive of revenge and hatred life long. It will always be a part of their memory.

These children may carry a different perspective on life. The granddaughters of a 60-year old 

 resident who lost his two sons in the riots may feel unsafe and abandoned in the same country where their father and uncle were killed. The unborn child of the 22-year-old auto driver who was shot dead will always have a void in its life.

What ideals are we planning to teach these children? How will we define brotherhood and non-violence to them? What meaning will they derive from the bold words of the constitution which declares 

 to be a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. Will their loss ever let them live through the lens of an ideal society? Or the biggest question: 

 These are not just questions, these are glaciers which are ready to fall and cause landslides in the same land.

Revenge was never an option and never will be. But how will one explain this to them? Money can help to an extent but cannot heal emotions. The Government should avail free psychological help/counselling facilities for the young ones. They must feel supported and taken care of, and for obvious reasons it would be better if it comes from the government.

In the past year, when the topic of mental health has been raised widely, the psychological instability of trauma ridden children and their guardians should also be brought to light. They should be checked time and again for any symptoms of depression, anxiety or behavioral changes. They must receive high level care and good education which can help them grow.

The idea of secularism, socialism and a democratic nation can only be saved if the upcoming generations promises to take them forward. Those who have seen the 

 are not the only children of trauma but there exists uncountable children of trauma in parts of 

don’t feel safe in their own motherland

. If we wish for a better society tomorrow, we must try to understand the mental state of such children and work upon them from today.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.

Articles by Syed Taqui Haider

Two Indias React to Vir Das’ Standup

Mr Chief Minister, ‘What’s in a name?’

Society Tested Negative for Male Body Positivity

Women on Sale: Use Code ‘Islamophobia’ for Discount

Delhi’s Blood Bath: Stained Young Minds

Two Indias React to Vir Das’ Standup

Mr Chief Minister, ‘What’s in a name?’

Society Tested Negative for Male Body Positivity

Women on Sale: Use Code ‘Islamophobia’ for Discount

Delhi’s Blood Bath: Stained Young Minds