Comedian Vir Das has created controversy over a monologue he gave while appearing in the US, and many on social media called him for “insulting India.”
Vir Das, who is currently in the US, uploaded a video to YouTube on Monday entitled “I come from two Indias”. The monologue in the video was part of his recent appearance at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
In the six-minute video, Vir Das talks about some of the hot topics in India, from the fight against Covid-19 to rape cases, crackdown on comedians and farmers’ protests.
Clips of the video soon went viral on social media, particularly the part where he said, “I’m from an India where we worship women during the day and gang rape them at night.”
While some criticized Vir Das for generalizing such incidents in India, others praised him for his “brave” demeanor.
You come from india @VirDaswhere you make a living offending your own nation !!
You come from an India that lets your disgusting, derogatory nonsense be passed off as freedom of expression!
You come from an India that has tolerated your slander for far too long !!#Shame pic.twitter.com/YGRfDqQknj
– Priti Gandhi – ?????? , (@FrauGandhi) November 16, 2021
Is this comedy? Vir Das at the Kennedy Center USA: “I come from an India where we worship women in the morning and G @ ng? @ ?? them at night” He could possibly do that, BUT what gives him the right to generalize and label India that way ? ?? #Come pic.twitter.com/RwRIaGVe0I
– Rosy (@ rose_k01) November 16, 2021
Listen @thevirdas about the two India he comes from.
Sorry we have got to a point where it is an act of courage to say it as it is.https://t.co/glMx1pFMd2– Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) November 16, 2021
Vir That clarifies
Following criticism of his video, Vir Das issued a statement through his Twitter handle stating that he wanted to remind people that despite its troubles, the country is “great”.
“The video is a satire about the duality of two very different Indians doing different things. Like every nation, there is light and darkness, good and evil. None of this is a secret. The video appeals to us never to forget that we are great, so as to never stop focusing on what makes us great.
– Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 16, 2021
“It ends in gigantic patriotic applause for a country we all love, believe in and are proud of. That our country is more than the headlines, a deep beauty. That’s the point of the video and the reason for the applause, “he said.
Vir Das urged his followers to “be fooled by processed snippets”. “People cheer India with hope, not hatred. People clap for India with respect, not malice. You can’t sell tickets, earn applause, or represent a great people with negativity, only with pride. I am proud of my country and I carry that pride all over the world, “he said.
“For me, a room full of people all over the world giving India an ovation is pure love. I ask you to do the same thing I asked of this audience … focus on the light, remember our greatness and spread the love, “he added.
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