Founder-director Maheep Singh says that the Khushwant Singh Humour Fest 2020 is an attempt to bring various generations under one roof and inspire them to think. By Chahak Mittal

I think humour can be a very lethal weapon. You make somebody a laughing stock and you kill him. But most journalists don’t do it. They get angry, which doesn’t serve the purpose,” said Khushwant Singh once. For the author, humour was something very subtle, something that eludes precise definition and isn’t hurtful. Known for his large “repertoire of jokes,” Singh had an unusual ability to not just laugh at himself but also make valid points through comedy without hurting any sentiments.

To celebrate this true comic, founder-director Maheep Singh conceptualised the Khushwant Singh Humour Fest (KSHF). The idea, he says, came about while having a spirited conversation about a pertinent subject — ‘Where has all the humour gone?’ And he found an answer. He adds, “And there it was. I have delved into stand-up comedy for the longest time alongwith theatre, radio and TV. I have written plays and lyrics, poetry, fiction and found a common thread that strings all the genres together. The fest is an attempt to look for humour in our mundane lives through a multi-art festival of spoken word.”

Rahul Singh (author’s son) says, “The fest takes the audience through a journey that not just rejoices in good-quality humour but also commemorates the spirit of Sardar Khushwant Singh who never ceased to call it a day, drew unique observations out of the ordinary and unapologetically laced it with witty sarcasm. It strives to bring all generations under one roof and have a good laugh, bond over jokes and rejoice the hilarity of life, keeping all the humdrum and monotony of everydayness at bay. It urges all and sundry to break out of the mundane and celebrate life.”

The fest will see performances by stand-up comedians like Amit Tandon, Neeti Palta, Anubhav Singh Bassi, Rajneesh Kapoor, Gursimran Khamba, Atul Khatri and Zakir Khan, who have been a rage in the Indian comedy circuit. The line-up will also have the best of Delhi’s comedy talent performing.

Given Singh’s literary background, one may wonder why the fest doesn’t have any authors or writers on board. Maheep argues that there is already a literary fest dedicated to Khushwant Singh’s name. “He certainly has a literary background, no doubt, but if one remembers him the most now, then it is for his column, With Malice Towards One and All. With his famous jokes at the end, he would make the most fiercely written articles bearable for even his strongest critics. I think it’s most appropriate that we choose humour to remember him,” he says.

However, he points out that one shouldn’t mistake the festival to be a stand-up comedy event. He says, “It involves a lot more from so many different artforms. We have carefully curated a festival which includes a wide range of programmes that would attract the attention of all age groups. From stand-up comedy to humorous Urdu poetry, from Hari Shankar Parsai’s writing through feminist perspectives to Qissebaazi/Dastangoi by Danish Husain of Hoshruba Repertory, The Kyunki Ladkiya Funny Nahin Hoti, a comedy collective based on women’s issues by Mahila Manch, Gujarat, names like Mark Tully and Rahul Ram of Indian Ocean, who have made a connection with so many generations — there is a lot to look forward to.”

So how does he aim to revive Singh’s writings and jokes through this fest? “Khushwant ji’s family and friends have immensely contributed towards creating sessions about his personal life. He is remembered not only as a writer but also as a friend who loved telling jokes at parties. And this fest is a befitting tribute to the man we all loved and loved to hate.”

Today, humour has become a tool of dissent with satire embedded in it. Does that make it as free-flowing? Says Maheep, “Comedy has become a strong platform for youngsters to express their thoughts in a rather candid way, a trait which was otherwise non-existent or very subtle in classic arts. The irreverence and the freedom that stand-up comedy allows youngsters automatically resonates with the rebellion the youth craves to express. They club that with political awareness, given the expansion of social media and you have voice of dissent. However, satire has always been an important tool for writers, journalists, cartoonists and various other forms of expression.”

He recalls the “common man” by R K Laxman. “In today’s time, we have strong voices like Kunal Kamra, Varun Grover and Sanjay Rajaura, who have used their satire to put across their perspective in such an effective and efficient way. I’m really happy to see this in present times,” adds he.

Singh had said that if we love our country, we will have to save it from communal forces. He had hoped that the present generation totally rejects the communal and fascist policies. The author has also been known to have taken several digs at religious fundamentalists. Asked whether this aspect will be touched upon, Maheep says that Singh’s ideologies are certainly needed in today’s sensitive time. “By creating a platform like KSHF, we are not only making space for laughter but also making you think,” he adds.

(The fest will be held from March 5 to 7 at Hotel Ambassador, Sujan Singh Park from 12 noon to 10 pm.)