EXCLUSIVE: NRI comic defends Gandhi spoof

This is one 'Gandhigiri ka funda' that no one is laughing about. Gautham Prasad, the 29-year-old resident of Brooklyn in New York who describes himself as a professional comedian, clown, and yoga teacher, has landed in trouble after posting a video on YouTube that many think is derogatory to Mahatma Gandhi. The clip, titled 'Time to get sexy', features Gautham himself as a Gandhi look-alike performing before live audience.After a short caper, the comedian goes on to do a striptease and pole dance. The video has sparked widespread outrage on the Net. While YouTube is already advising user discretion before granting access to the clip, furious Indians would like to see it permanently deleted.
Among them is Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatma's great grandson: "I think this shows the depravity of mind of the person who has done it. Making this kind of a video brings disrespect to the Father of the Nation. Maligning the reputation of someone of Bapu's stature is equal to insulting the national anthem or the national flag." However Gandhi adds that his great grandfather would have forgiven the transgression, had he been alive. "He would not have said anything. Rather he would have forgiven the person and let him do whatever he's doing." Gandhi is not even willing to complain to the government. "Why should I? It's not a family matter. He is the Father of the Nation. The Government should take action on its own. I have been writing to the government since 1995 to take action against anyone who dishonours the country but no Prime Minister has done it till date. It's very disappointing," he says.
Gandhian Nirmala Deshpandey too is pained. According to her: "It's the sacred duty of every Indian to respect and honour Bapu and his legacy. I was therefore appalled to see this video."
But what of the man at the heart of the storm? Accepting full responsibility for the feelings his video has stirred, Gautham admits it's a sensitive subject. "I made this video and posted it on the internet as a marketing tool for my business as a performer... If you look closely, you can see that I am wearing a clown nose. Why is this? I do this because I am not playing Mahatma Gandhi, I am playing a CHARACTER who is playing Gandhiji. I am playing a fool who thinks it would be a good idea to dress up like Gandhi and do this dance. In reality, I'm making fun of myself. I realize this distinction may be difficult to understand, but as a performer it is crucial...Nobody is above parody, and the clowns would parody kings and monarchs with no consequences. Furthermore, if Gandhiji were alive today what would he find more upsetting, my video or the violence in Darfur? What would hurt him more, my video, or the violence in Iraq? We have become so intent on idolizing Gandhiji that we have forgotten what he said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." We have confused the messenger with the message."
Gautham doesn't think Bapu would have approved of the violent threats he has been receiving. "If we truly want to honor him, we must uphold the principles he lived and died for. We must embody peace, compassion, and non-violence. So many of the people who criticise my video have threatened to stone me, hit me, or kill me. I don't think Gandhiji would approve. I encourage people to tell me how they feel about the video. Let them respond honestly, but remember there are much more pressing issues in the world than a video that one can choose not to watch."
While Gautham is the latest to raise the hackles, in the past others have also got into trouble too. Pop satirist Weird Al Yankovic's Gandhi II video had a gun-totting Bapu bash up goons and walk into a restaurant on the arms of two scantily-clad women. As if this was not enough, the Mahatma then proceeds to order steak, 'medium rare'. In 2003 American magazine 'Maxim' tendered a public apology after publishing a piece in which Gandhiji was the subject of a cartoon. Former US First Lady showed the same insensitivity a year later when she joked about the Mahatma at a fund-raiser. She later apologised for the faux pas. A Telecom Italia ad featuring Gandhiji too didn't go down well with many who accused the company of using a great man's image for purely commercial purposes.
Wonder what Indians think about the latest ���Kaun Banega Crorepati��� promo that equates Bapu's struggle against colonial rule with the chance to win a place on the hot seat opposite Shah Rukh Khan.