Vir Das under fire for 'insulting India' in the US

Over the weekend, an Indian actor-cum-comedian performed stand-up in Washington DC. Vir Das took the audience by surprise, amid gasps and laughter, his own version of '2 Indias'. The artist received expected criticism on his monologue, in which he called out the leaders, note-worthy issues in his country. The video, so far, has garnered almost 825,000 views.

While he was lauded by some, many others called the actor out for 'insulting' India. Soon, #VirDasInsultsIndia went viral on the micro-blogging site. The backlash was so powerful, it propelled the Indian artist to offer an apology. Here's what happened.

What went down:

In the six-minute video Vir Das uploaded on YouTube, he talked about the rise in rape cases, Islamophobia, increasing jingoism and other topics.

“I come from an India where we bleed blue every time we play green but every time we lose to green we turn orange all of a sudden/I come from an India where children in masks hold hands with each other and yet, I come from an India where leaders hug each other without masks,” Das said as he talked about India’s historic rivalry with arch-nemesis Pakistan on and off the cricket field.

He then spoke about the prevalent rape culture in the country. “I come from an India where we worship women during the day and gang-rape them during the night/I come from an India where journalism is supposedly dead because men in fancy studios, in fancy suits, give each other handjobs and yet women on road with laptops are telling the truth,” he said. Das was adding his voice to growing criticism about politically compromised media and rising crimes against women in a country where they are also worshipped as various forms of Hindu goddesses.

The ruckus:

Soon after the video went viral, Vir Das was called out by many for 'portraying India in the wrong light.'

One of the many was, not surprisingly, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut. The actor, who has time and again, voiced her support for the Modi regime in the country, wrote on her Instagram stories, “When you generalise all Indian men as gang-rapists it gives rise and encouragement to racism and bullying against Indians all over the world."

She added, "After Bengal Famine Churchill famously said, ‘These Indians breed like rabbits they are bound to die like this.’ He blamed Indians’ sex drive/fertility for the death of millions because of hunger. Such creative work targeting an entire race is soft terrorism. Strict actions must be taken against such criminals.” She concluded by tagging Vir Das in her story.

Twitter users were rather divided by Vir Das' monologue. There were livid reactions, while others applauded his bravery for calling spade a spade.

"I come from an India where greater accountability is demanded from a comedian and none from an elected minister whose son mowed down protestors," a user shared.

"A strong, secure, vibrant democracy does not get rattled by dissent or criticism or stand up acts. Reactions to Vir Das only show how insecure we are as a nation," another user added.

Others, however, lamented over Vir Das' take on India.

"You come from an India, Vir Das, where you make a living by insulting your own nation!! You come from an India, that allows your disgusting, derogative nonsense to pass off as freedom of speech!! You come from an India, that has tolerated your slander for way too long!" said a tweep.

"Generalising the evils of a few individuals and vilifying the nation as a whole in front of the world is just not done!" one more user slammed Vir Das, adding, "The people who painted India in front of the west as a nation of thieves during the colonial rule have not ceased to exist."

Another said, "I see a terrorist in this man called Vir Das. He is one of those members of a sleeper cell who has waged a war against our country in a foreign land. Should be immediately arrested under UAPA and tried under terror laws."

Vir Das offers clarification:

He wrote on Twitter: “Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret.” He further added, "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."

Vir Das then shared, "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 great people with negativity, only with pride. I take pride in my country, and I carry that pride across the world." He concluded, "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."

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