Fighting with a Smile: Satirical and Humourist Voices of Resilience from Hindi Speaking Subaltern Subjects and Communities
The objective of the research is to conduct an interdisciplinary and intersectional investigation into the various forms of satire and humour within the contemporary Hindi public sphere. The investigation covers various areas. One main area of enquiry is the contemporary trends in Hindi literature, focusing on emerging voices in feminist, Dalit and LGBTQIA+ literature. Additionally, the research seeks to survey a variety of performative arts in the Hindi public sphere associated with comedy. In addition to 'glocal' arts such as stand-up comedy and street theatre, it also focuses on 'gatherings of humorous poets' (Hasya kavi sammelan) and regional arts connected to the practice of farce (svang in the Hindi language) in North India. A third area of investigation regards the satirical and humorous iconography adopted by underrepresented groups in Indian society on new media platforms.
Through an exploration of underrepresented voices, the research intends to produce a mapping of the ‘minor’ voices of comedy in the Hindi public sphere. The research also aims to analyse how competing forms of comedy coexist in the Indian context and play a significant role in reshaping the symbols and values of Indian society.
