Fighting with a Smile: Satirical and Humourist Voices of Resilience from Hindi Speaking Subaltern Subjects and Communities

The project aims to be the first attempt at investigating the forms, uses and functions of Hindi contemporary humour (hasya) and satire (vyangya).

By moving towards this direction, it will focus especially on the connection of Hindi satire with the claims by the subaltern and marginalized subjects and communities of Hindi contemporary public sphere.

It must be outlined that the terms subaltern and marginalized will refer not only to the Adivasi - framed by Indian constitution as the 'tribals' of India - and to the Dalit - better known as the 'outcaste'people - but also to the LGBTQIA+ and to the discriminated women in India.

In the light of the above, the main objective of theresearch is to shed light on the narratives of dissent pursued by these subjects and communities.

It will also analyse the contributionof Hindi satirists and humourists to specific socio-cultural and political claims and initiatives. Finally, it will investigate the use of satire and humour as a personal and collective forms of resilience. To achieve these set goals, the project surveys in a interdisciplinary way many fields in which satire can be detected.

Primarily, it focuses on the use of satire in Hindi contemporary literature.

In this field the research highlights the contribution of Surya Bala, usually deemed as the first Hindi woman literary satirist. Other less famous marginalized literary contemporary satirists will be equally taken into consideration.

Moreover, it must be stressed that, apart from the literary side of satire, the project will investigate also the 'life' beyond literature of satire.

In this field, it will focus primarily on the performative uses of satire and humour during the Hasya kavi sammelan (Meeting of humorist poets) which are usually held in many parts of North-India and the shows by stand-up comedians.Other less known performative uses of satire will be taken into consideration.

The research will also outline the uses of satire and humour on new media.