The Comic Red Line

In 1922, Rabindranath Tagore penned a short story titled Bidushok, which translates to "the clown." In the story, Karnat was conquered by the king of Kanchi, who then destroyed the local villages. Bidushok, the king's court jester, consequently resigned from his position.

- ATANU BISWAS

In 1922, Rabindranath Tagore penned a short story titled Bidushok, which translates to "the clown." In the story, Karnat was conquered by the king of Kanchi, who then destroyed the local villages. Bidushok, the king's court jester, consequently resigned from his position. "I cannot kill or cut; by God's grace, I can only laugh," the Bidushok said. "I would forget to laugh if I were at the king's court." Since my boyhood, this "Bidushok" has served as my ideal model for a comedian, outlining their scopes and limits.

One hundred years later, comedians in contemporary India are in a different league. They are by no means required to perform as court jesters for anyone. Therefore, they're also unable to enjoy the same immunity as medieval jesters enjoyed from their masters.

Touchstone, the court jester of Duke Frederick in Shakespeare's As You Like It, is another stand-up comedian I really enjoyed. In a European medieval court, a jester was a professional joker or "fool." Were they truly fools, though? Not at all. Touchstone, Feste, and Lear's Fool were among the wisest of them.

However, there were also natural fools in Shakespeare's plays—like Dogberry, Nick Bottom, and Launce. Wise or not, they were all comedians, though.