"First They Came for the Comedians": Kunal Kamra and the Silencing of Satire in Modi’s India
It’s a tale as old as time — or at least as old as modern authoritarianism. A comedian cracks a joke. A politician gets offended. And instead of rolling their eyes like a normal adult, the politician sends their goons to smash a comedy club, calls the cops, and files a defamation case. Because nothing screams “strong leader” like getting publicly pantsed by a punchline.
Kunal Kamra, India’s premier professional truth-teller with a mic and a beard, is once again in hot water for doing what comedians do best: pointing out the obvious. His recent satirical song took aim at Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde — a man whose greatest political achievement to date is making betrayal look like a family value. The song called him a “gaddar” (traitor), which, let’s be honest, is less an insult and more a job description at this point.
And the reaction? Pure 2025 authoritarianism: Shiv Sena vandals trashed the performance venue, police launched an investigation, and YouTube pulled the video after a copyright strike from T-Series — the Bollywood version of a tattletale. All this for a parody. A song. A joke.
On March 25th, in true comic-resistance style, Kunal Kamra clapped back with a brand-new satire video — this time targeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a jab about GST on popcorn, proving that he’s not just unfazed, but doubling down. If the establishment hoped to scare him into silence, Kamra’s response was crystal clear: he's not going anywhere, and neither is his sharp wit.
But this isn’t just about Kamra. This is about the alarming trend of comedy being treated like sedition in Modi’s India. Satire has always been the canary in the coal mine — and the poor bird is currently choking on saffron smoke.
When comedians can’t roast the powerful, what’s next? Arresting cartoonists? Oh wait, that’s already happened. Banning memes? Give it time. Kamra’s persecution isn’t a glitch in the system — it’s the system working as intended. Authoritarians don’t hate laughter because it’s noisy. They hate it because it’s honest. Because nothing terrifies a regime built on illusion more than someone casually pointing out the emperor has no clothes — and worse, his supporters think it’s couture.
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At Hindus for Human Rights we beleive Hinduism at its core champions satya (truth), nyaya (justice), and shanti (peace). But right now, the loudest voices in the name of dharma are allergic to dissent and apparently triggered by stand-up sets. The Vedas celebrate debate. The Mahabharata is one long conversation. But today’s ruling elite treats disagreement like blasphemy and satire like terrorism.
Let’s be clear: the real "anti-national" act isn’t a comic making fun of a politician — it’s a government that fears jokes more than it fears injustice. And if the punchline makes you that uncomfortable? Maybe the problem isn’t the comedian. Maybe the problem is you.