Amidst Flurry of Reactions, Police Complaint, Vir Das Issues Note on Viral Monologue
The Wire Staff
New Delhi: Amidst pitched conversation online on his video, 'I come from two Indias', comedian Vir Das on Tuesday issued a statement urging people not to be "fooled by edited snippets" of his performance and explaining the ethos of the self-composed poem he recited.
Das, who is currently in the United States, uploaded the video on Monday, following which it was shared multiple times. The video showed a portion of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC.
In the six-minute video, Das talks about the duality of the country and mentions some of the most topical issues India is facing, from its battle against COVID-19, the current Modi government, the opposition to it, everyday misogyny, communalism, poverty, the crackdown against comedians and the farmers' protests.
Participants on social media have been commenting on the video since it released. Many have posted clips and pictures from his monologue, agreeing to its content.
One of the most shared parts was where the comedian said, "I come from an India where we worship women during the day and gang-rape them during the night."
Absolutely rightly said. #VirDas pic.twitter.com/pvr2BeVCiB
— ਜ਼ਮਾਨ زماں (@Delhiite_) November 16, 2021
However, rightwing supporters and some top politicians across the spectrum have taken a dim view of Das's video.
Generalising the evils of a few individuals and vilifying the nation as a whole in front of the world is just not done!
The people who painted India in front of the west as a nation of saperas and luteras during the colonial rule have not ceased to exist.#VirDas
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) November 16, 2021
I see a terrorist in this man called #Virdas
He is one of those members of a sleeper cell who has waged a war against our country on a foreign land .
Should be immediately arrested under #UAPA and tried under terror laws . @AmitShah @HMOIndia @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/RMYQf7a0Ul— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 16, 2021
It’s not the first time #VirDas has insulted India & Hindus. Why are these comedians & Bolywood gang after Hindus for worshiping Feminine? Their constant attempt 2 defame Hindus by linking every crime with Sanatan culture is a part of a bigger conspiracy. #VirDasInsultsIndia pic.twitter.com/82VIqpqOBR
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) November 16, 2021
In the meantime, the news agency ANI has reported that a complaint has been registered against Das for his video at the Tilak Marg Police station.
“He (Das) says in the video… ‘In India, we worship women in the day and rape them at night’. These derogatory statements against women and India are inflammatory. They were made in the US and malign the image of our country internationally. I want police to conduct an investigation,” Indian Express reported Aditya Jha, who lodged the complaint in the New Delhi district on Tuesday night, has having said.
No FIR has been registered yet.
Two Indias -
One awardee shamed freedom fighters and walks free.
One speaks the unspoken reality about freedom and gets complaint registered.#VirDas
— Nigar Parveen (@NigarNawab) November 17, 2021
'Appeals for us to never forget that we are great'
The 42-year-old took to Twitter and posted a note, stating that his intention was to remind that the country, despite its issues, was "great."
"The video is a satire about the duality of two very separate Indias that do different things. Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret. The video appeals for us to never forget that we are great. To never stop focusing on what makes us great.
"It ends in a gigantic patriotic round of applause for a country we all love, believe in, and are proud of. That there is more to our country than the headlines, a deep beauty. That's the point of the video and the reason for the applause," his statement read.
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 16, 2021
Das wrote that people cheer for the country with hope and not "hate" and asked his followers to not be misled by edited clips.
"Please do not be fooled by edited snippets. People cheer for India with hope, not hate. People clap for India with respect, not malice. You cannot sell tickets, earn applause, or represent a great people with negativity, only with pride. I take pride in my country, and I carry that pride across the world.
"To me, a room full of people anywhere in the world, giving India an ovation is pure love. I ask of you, the same thing I asked of that audience...to focus on the light, remember our greatness, and spread the love," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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