All India Bakchod took down their AIB Knockout video yesterday night. They didn’t give any reasons for the same but the Usual Suspects were quick to jump to their own conclusions. Finally, AIB has put out the official version on Facebook. We try to bring to you the key takeaways from the entire incident:
1. AIB wasn’t arm-twisted by anyone to take the video down.
Disappointing a whole lot of “Liberals”, AIB reveal that they took the video down on their own. They say, “no one person or force forced us to take this video down. This is not something that’s happened because of a 3 am a phone call or a morcha at our front door or a gunman on a grassy knoll. Under the circumstances, this is us being pragmatic“. Some major disappointment for people who tried to drag Modi into this.
2. We will continue having people giving fodder to fear-mongers
Censor Board member Ashoke Pandit’s response to the AIB knockout was trashed by most people. It was broadly in line with the general Internet Hindu brigade, but it was disappointing to see someone in his position to say it. And because of such responses, fear-mongers will always have a market:
Scared to speak your mind anymore? Remember, you voted for this.
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) February 4, 2015
3. Engineering hostel culture has the potential of becoming the hip culture and creates a new society
This might be too far in the future, but in cities, this could definitely be on much sooner. AIB has put up the stats of likes and views, which indicate that the people who liked it was more than who disliked it. They say, “the videos got over 8 million views. Far more importantly, on the video page, the people who liked them outnumbered the people who disliked them by ten times to one”. Of course, as we said, this could be more an Urban view.
4. Divided by Ideology, United by AIB’s right to Free Speech
AIB mention that irrespective of who liked their Roast, they received support from “all quarters“, which surprised even them. They say, “people in power who we have made fun of in the past, including people from both the so-called right-wing and left-wing, went out of their way to convey support to us.” Even the Media was in the same boat, “Friends in the media have told us to stay our course, pledging their support for our right to say anything, no matter how ridiculous.” It’s heartening to see sections who are usually at loggerheads with each other, come together to support Freedom of Speech.
5. The “Authorities” are still probing AIB
AIB mention that they ” are also cooperating with the authorities and hope to resume normal service soon“. While Maharashtra CM and Culture Minister have made statements which indicate that AIB won’t be victimized, we hope it does translate into some action on the ground. AIB though hasn’t mentioned anything about the court cases which they may have to face, which we hope they do face, so the court can set the record straight once and for all.
