Over the years, Maharashtra’s satirists, from Pralhad Keshav Atre to Pu La Deshpande, have clashed with a number of powerful politicians, such as Yashwantrao Chavan, Bal Thackeray, and Chhagan Bhujbal.
The Shiv Sena’s ongoing agitation against comedian Kunal Kamra for his political satire, in which he allegedly referred to party president and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor), has once again highlighted the complex and uneasy relationship between Maharashtra’s politics and humour.
Kamra is not the first satirist to find himself at odds with politicians in a state where the intersection of politics and satire has long been an integral part of public discourse. Humorists in Maharashtra have often played a crucial role in critiquing and reflecting on the political landscape, sometimes facing strong backlash for their remarks.
One of the most notable figures to have drawn the ire of political leaders was Pralhad Keshav Atre, popularly known as Acharya Atre. A journalist and politician, Atre was known for his sharp wit and biting satire, which frequently led to confrontations with Maharashtra’s political figures, including Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Through his newspaper Maratha and his public speeches, Atre regularly used humour as a tool to criticize political leaders. One of his most famous satirical pieces was directed at then-President V. V. Giri, who had fourteen children. Maratha published a piece featuring a family photograph of Giri and his children with the caption “Giri yanchi kaamgiri.” The satire stemmed from the dual meaning of the word “kaam,” which could signify both “work” and “sexual desire,” while “giri” referenced the President’s surname as well as his accomplishments.
Maharashtra’s history has seen several instances where humour and politics have clashed, reflecting the tensions that arise when satire is used as a medium for political critique.
