A week ago, @TheRantingGola posted a 1 minute 28 second video clip titled “Some Reasons You Should Start Talking About Your Own Issues and Issues!!” with the hashtag “.#nahratnahinaukuli, meaning “work, not hate.” The clip went viral, earning him 22,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter).
@TheRantingGola is Shamita Yadav, a 23-year-old national level tennis player. She describes herself as a “comedian” who “fights the fascist Joker with comedy.”
@TheRanting Gola’s video, delivered in a breathless 88-second monologue, enumerates a myriad of serious issues that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be addressing but is trying to distract from. In the midst of this election season, she’s urging people to ask questions of their government about the things that matter: unemployment, rising prices, lack of health care and rising inequality.
The fourth pillar of democracy, the media, especially the mainstream news media and news organizations, is so undermined in India today that critics call it “Godie Media” (Lapdog Media). Incidentally, the obedient media’s refusal to hold the government accountable coincides with the government’s intensification of crackdowns on journalists and news organizations it deems “anti-national.”
As mainstream leaders act as cheerleaders for the Modi government, social media creators are stepping up to fill the void. Their critical and sharp online political commentary is delivered as satirical comedy, catchy songs, and engaging videos. Their content raised awareness about the excesses of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government far more than anything caused by the political party.
Moitreyo Bhattacharya, a generative artificial intelligence trainer, prefers watching political satire by comedians instead of news portals to stay updated on the news. “In any case, reality has become strange,” he told The Diplomat. “I mean, who better to put this into perspective than a comedian?”
Importantly, all of these social media creators are independent citizens, including full-time university lecturers, medal-winning athletes, and YouTubers.
Some of these political satirists are fearless young women who are not afraid to speak truth to power. One of the first to use sharp satire to expose the hypocrisy of the Modi government was:Doctor Medusa” (pseudonym), @ms_medusssa, is a full-time English professor who goes by the moniker of “your neighborhood English teacher.” Her astute scriptwriting is her forte, and this is evident in the fictional ‘NTPC Helpline’, where she advises Hindutva trolls on countering undisputed facts with propaganda. I am. She is also popular for her satirical depictions of outrageous national news headlines.Dukdarshan” (sad news) was reported in the poker face style of the national broadcaster’s news leader Doordarshan.
Their ferocious outspokenness does not escape the attention of the authorities and often puts satirists in trouble. Singer Neha Singh Rathore, who composes political satire in her native Bhojpuri (a regional dialect of Hindi spoken in eastern Uttar Pradesh), is a singer in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state of Uttar Pradesh. He was reported by the police for singing about death. His mother and his daughter are in the midst of an eviction campaign in the state. Rathore had doubts about the functioning of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath’s government. In an interview with news channel NDTV, an undaunted Rathore said: “I am just a folk singer… My aim is to scare away all voices of dissent and criticism.”
As the run-up to the general election continues, opposition parties and critics of Prime Minister Modi’s authoritarian rule are calling on people to protect democracy and India’s constitution. Echoing this sentiment, prominent Modi critic and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta has produced a music video titled ‘Saheb’ (Master) highlighting Modi’s dictator-like traits.
The video is like a lively anthem, and as it went viral, Thakurta decided to make it available in several regional languages, including Assamese, Bengali, and Gujarati, to reach it more widely across the country as the elections continue. translated into language.
Among those whose popularity has skyrocketed this election season is 29-year-old YouTuber Dhruv Lachi. Germany-based Rashi’s videos cover a variety of issues, from exposing the electoral bond system to “Hindu-Muslim brainwashing policies.” Interestingly, his videos resonate with his politically apathetic Gen Z audience.
Lachi’s most viral video to date, “Is India becoming an authoritarian state?” The video, which he released in late February, weeks before India’s election schedule was announced, has garnered over 24 million views on YouTube alone. Obtained the number of views.
The 30-minute video examines the current state of democracy in India under the Modi government, including the farmer protests, the regime’s misuse of the central investigation agency and imprisonment of political opponents, the need to uphold India’s democratic values, and more. It highlights the problem.
As Professor Apoorvanand of the University of Delhi writes, Rashi’s video highlights how entrenched authoritarianism masquerading as democracy is in India. His charm lies in his “unfazed attitude”. Moreover, he explains difficult concepts to his audience and chooses not to boss them around.
With his “dictatorship” video going viral and the demand for it to be accessible in different regional languages, Rashi leveraged AI to translate the video into four South Indian languages and Bengali. did. His video has gained attention with news channels reporting that young people are increasingly talking about Lachie’s videos. In fact, Rashi has made it his stated mission to destroy the false propaganda spread by the BJP information technology cell through his WhatsApp.label #Mission 10 billion (that’s 1 billion), Rashi urged 10 million Indians to share their videos with 100 WhatsApp contacts every day, thereby reaching 1 billion Indians. .
Inspired by the wide reach and influence of Mr. Rashee’s videos, opposition candidates have begun using them in their campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of Mr. Modi’s return to power for a third time.
Lachi’s viral video sparked a backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which since 2014 has stood head and shoulders above its political opponents in its use of new technology and social media. Political satirists and YouTubers like Rathee and Dr.Medusa are now helping to break the Bharatiya Janata Party’s stranglehold on WhatsApp and social media content. They claim they are not funded by any political party or organization.
If there is one leitmotif that has characterized Prime Minister Modi’s decade-long rule, it is that his government cracks down on and stamps out any signs of opposition. According to the Internet Freedom Foundation, the IT Rules 2021 enable “government control, rather than regulation” of social media content. However, the Supreme Court recently blocked the government’s attempt to establish a fact-checking unit for social media content.
The shrinking media space for critical dissident views is driving the popularity of these social media content creators. Satirists like Bhagat Ram @bhagatram2020 and Narundar @NarundarM have over 100,000 followers on X.
Amidst mainstream media silence on issues of corruption and sexual abuse by ruling politicians and their allies, social media satirists have spoken out. Incumbent MP Prajwal Revanna, candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s alliance partner in Karnataka, the Janata Dal Secular Party, has made 3,000 sexual assault videos to blackmail women victims. accused of suspicion.Mainstream news channels are apparently silent on the issue, but social media creators and political satirist This has sparked outrage from the general public, who are questioning why the Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party supported Revanna despite knowing that he was accused of being a sex offender.
Whatever the outcome of the 2024 general election, one thing is clear. The credit for politically engaging a cynical and apathetic public should go to political satirists and social media content creators.
