Touchy ministers take the joy out of political humour

Gone are the days when political potshots would flow freely at ‘Hasya Kavi Sammelans’ held as part of extended Holi celebrations. Due to netas’ growing intolerance, sponsors now don’t back events with political overtones.

Lucknow: Holi is a time when people paint the town red, literally and otherwise. It is known for its verve and colour, but in Lucknow, it has been known more for the humour that flows out of the Hasya Kavi Sammelans that are held as post-Holi celebrations.

These events, known for their tongue-in-cheek humour, have been attracting huge crowds for decades. However, the number of such sammelans has reduced in the past two years.There were at least 55 to 60 sammelans taking place at the beginning of this decade — almost one in every locality. Now, only the two major ones and about half a dozen smaller ones remain.

The annual Ghoongha Basant Sammelan that is held every year on April 1 is a major post-Holi attraction in Lucknow. The poets focus on the prevailing political scene in the country and the chief guest is usually a controversial figure — it was the organiser who dressed up as jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim this year. A donkey is brought on stage as the “Prime Minister of Moorkhistan” and poets are honoured with brooms.

The poets take potshots at politicians with poems like “Mere pyare kutte bhaiyon, tum so rahe ho, apna bhavishya kho rahe ho”, “Ek Kanhaiya jail mein janma to anand, deshdroh mein doosra hua jail mein band” and “UP ko bhaya nahin yuvrajo ka saath, inki todi cycle, unka toda haath”.

With poetry that has definite political overtones, the audience enjoys the programme that often continues beyond midnight.

Shyam Kumar, a veteran journalist who has been organising the Ghoongha Basant Sammelan every year since 1961, says, “Sponsors are backing off and the government refuses to support kavi sammelans. Each event costs Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh because the poets have to be paid their fees. We have to take care of their boarding and lodging, conveyance and other overhead costs.”

Mr Kumar, head of the Rang Bharti that organises the event, points to other problems as well. “The poets are demanding high fees and there are no sponsors. I have used my savings to organise the event this year, but I do not know about the future,” he says.

One of the poets, a regular at the Ghoongha Basant Sammelan for the past five years, says, “Last year, I had recited a poem on demonetisation and when I went back to my district, I was politely warned by the officials not to comment on political issues.”

A local trader, who had sponsored the event for two years, also echoed similar sentiments, “Such events are like playing with fire. The poets tend to make politically incorrect comments and you end up facing the music. I have distanced myself from such events.”

Another major post-Holi event in Lucknow is Chakkalas kavi sammelan that is being held in the old city area of Chowk for the past five decades.

Former BJP minister Lalji Tandon along with other party leaders has been patronising the Kavi Sammelan for a long time. But with Mr Tandon not so active now, a committee of younger people organises the event.

“Several ministers continue to attend the event, but we make sure that the poets do not recite any embarrassing couplets,” said a member of the organising committee.

Satish Kumar Mehrotra, a resident of Chowk, said, “Chakkalas used to be a much-awaited event and in my younger days the Kavi Sammelan would go on till the wee hours. The flavour of the function lay in the manner in which the poets lashed out at politics and politicians. Things are changing now and the culture of laughter and humour is dying due to increased political intolerance.”

It is perhaps because of this that most officials have started avoiding these events.  A district official admitted, “Laughter is no longer free. If we go to such an event and the poets make objectionable remarks, we will have to pay the price, so it is better to avoid it.”