Sardarji jokes

Sardarji jokes are a class of jokes based on stereotypes of Sikhs (referred to as "Sardarji"s). Although jokes on several ethnic stereotypes are common in India, the Sardarji jokes are one of the most popular and widely circulated ethnic jokes in India.cite book
last = Handoo
first = Jawaharlal
coauthor = Lutz Röhrich and Sabine Wienker-Piepho
title = Storytelling in Contemporary Societies
publisher = Gunther Narr
location = Tübingen
origyear = 1990
year = 1998
oclc = 23274712
isbn = 978-3823344759
pages = 155-161
chapter = Folk Narrative and Ethnic Identity: The 'Sardarji' Joke Cycle] In the recent years, the jokes on the stereotypes of Biharis have become more common than the Sardarji jokes. [ [http://www.thehindu.com/op/2007/08/26/stories/2007082650011400.htm Musings of a Bihari] . Mayank Rasu. The Hindu. Sunday, Aug 26, 2007. “Biharis” have now usurped the place of “Sardarjis” as a favourite butt of jokes.]

Traits

Some of the dominant traits of the Sardarji jokes include the Sardarji being shown as naïve, inept, unintelligent, unclean, or not well-versed with the English language. [cite book
last = Singh
first = Khushwant
authorlink = Khushwant Singh
title = Khushwant Singh's view of India: [lectures on India's people, religions, history & contemporary affairs]
publisher = IBH Pub. Co.
location = Bombay
year = 1974
oclc = 2296948
pages = 88] For example, here is a joke adapted from "The Unofficial Joke Book of Mind Blowing SMS" (ISBN 8184191901), compiled by a Sikh author: [cite book
last = Saluja
first = Kuldeep
title = The Unofficial Joke Book of Mind Blowing SMS
publisher = Diamond Pocket Books/Fusion Books
year = 2004
isbn = 8184191901
pages = 38]

Many of the Sardarji jokes are variations of other ethnic jokes or stereotype jokes. Some of them also depict Sardarjis as witty. [cite book
title = The Unofficial Joke Book of Mind Blowing SMS
publisher = Diamond Pocket Books/Fusion Books
year = 2004
isbn = 818918265X
pages = 159-160]

Santa Singh and Banta Singh (Santa-Banta) are two popular names for the stock characters in the Sardarji jokes. [cite book
last = Singh
first = Khushwant
authorlink = Khushwant Singh
coauthors = Rahul Singh
title = Around the world with Khushwant Singh
publisher = Orient Paperbacks
location = New Delhi
year = 1978
oclc = 7671455
pages = 86]

Researcher Jawaharlal Handoo associates some traits of the Sardarji jokes with the stereotype of Sikhs being associated with jobs where physical fitness is more important than knowledge of the English language or intellect. Another trait of the Sardarji jokes is the Sardarjis being unclean or lousy; this stereotype is probably a result of the long hair, beards and headgear of the Sikhs. Soumen Sen states that these jokes perhaps reflect the anxiety of the non-Sikh Indian elite, who may have suffered from a sense of insecurity due to the growing competition from the enterprising Sikhs. [cite book
last = Sen
first = Soumen
title = Khasi-Jaintia Folklore ; Context, Discourse, and History
publisher = National Folklore Support Centre
location = Chennai
year = 2004
oclc = 56096400
isbn = 8190148133
pages = 11]

Reaction from Sikh community

Many of the Sardarji jokes, self-deprecatory in nature, were made up by the easy-going Sikhs themselves. [cite book
last = Fishlock
first = Trevor
title = Gandhi's Children
publisher = Universe Books
location = New York
year = 1983
oclc = 9555744
isbn = 978-0876634363
pages = 72] cite web
url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2998148.ece
title = Sikhs fail to see funny side of phone jokes
publisher = The Times
date = December 4, 2007
accessdate = 2008-01-14 ( [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=27063&con=18&sec=67 archived] )] [cite book
last = Joshi
first = Manoj
title = Passport India: Your Pocket Guide to Indian Business, Customs & Etiquette
series = Passport to the World
publisher = World Trade Press
location = San Rafael, California
year = 1997
oclc = 35223049
isbn = 978-1885073235
pages = 77] [cite news
url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/07/05/stories/2004070503180100.htm
title = Those ABSURD jokes
author = Bageshree S.
work = Metro Plus
publisher = The Hindu
date = July 05, 2004
accessdate = 2007-10-29] [cite web
url = http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood6.htm
title = VI. Looking For A New Star
work = Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood
author = K P S Gill
publisher = South Asia Terrorism Portal
accessdate = 2007-10-29] [cite book
last = Mācave
first = Prabhākara
title = Literary Studies and Sketches
publisher = United Writers
location = Calcutta
year = 1979
oclc = 5776368
pages = 144] In "The Other Face of India", M. V. Kamath wrote about "the Punjabi's enormous capacity to poke fun at himself, a trait that seems peculiar to the Punjabi, especially the Sikh." [cite book
last = Kamath
first = M. V.
authorlink = M. V. Kamath
title = The Other Face of India
publisher = Konark Publishers
location = Delhi
year = 1988
oclc = 20422938
isbn = 978-8122000887
pages = 29] In his book "President Giani Zail Singh", the Sikh author Joginder Singh states "...who can enjoy a good joke against himself or against his tribe except a Punjabi and more particularly, a Sikh?" [cite book
last = Singh
first = Joginder
title = President Giani Zail Singh
publisher = Sunder
location = Chandigarh
year = 1982
oclc = 9829681
pages = 37] Several joke books containing Sardarji jokes have been compiled by Sikh authors themselves. [For example, see "The Unofficial Joke Book" series by Kuldeep Saluja, who writes: "Since I was born in a lovely and fun loving Sikh family full of love and laughter, the Santa Singh and Banta Singh inspired us to create "Billoo Badshah".(cite book
last = Saluja
first = Kuldeep
title = The Unofficial Joke Book of Canada
publisher = Diamond Pocket Books/Fusion Books
year = 2004
isbn = 8128805711
pages = 3-4) Several of the books in the series contain Sardarji jokes and feature Sikhs on the cover page:
* The Unofficial Joke Book of India (8128805800)
* The unofficial Joke Book of Smart Couples (8189182471)
* The Unofficial Joke Book of Canada (8128805711)
* The Unofficial Joke Book of UK (8128805576)]

However, in recent years, there have been several cases of Sikh groups protesting against the Sardarji jokes. In "Folk Narrative and Ethnic Identity: The 'Sardarji' Joke Cycle", Jawaharlal Handoo notes that the Sikh members in a group generally do not seem to enjoy a Sardarji joke, although they may pretend to enjoy the humor of the joke by smiling or joining the group laughter. He also states that upon hearing a Sardarji joke, the Sikh member of the group may fire a "counter-joke" about a non-Sikh ethnic group, such as the Baniyas.

In 2005, some Sikhs protested against a scene in the Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) film "Shabd". In the scene, Zayed Khan tries to cheer Aishwarya Rai by telling a Sardarji joke. As he begins the joke with the words "There was a Sardarji", Aishwarya starts giggling. A group of angry Sikhs stormed the PNC office, and demanded that the scene be deleted from the film.cite news
title = Free Speech and the Sardarji Joke"
author = Vir Sanghvi
publisher = Hindustan Times
date = February 27, 2005
accessdate = 2007-10-29] An organization called "The Sikh Brotherhood International" wrote letters to the PNC, the Central Board of Film Certification, and the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), saying that the film had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. The Pritish Nandy Communications Limited tendered a written apology, stating that they respect the Sikh community and hold it in high esteem, and they had no intention of ridiculing anybody. [cite news
url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050220/nation.htm#1
title = Sikhs irked over the use of 'Sardar' in 'Shabd'
publisher = The Tribune
date = February 19, 2005
accessdate = 2007-10-29] The Censor Board issued directions to delete the objectionable scenes in the film. [cite news
url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1032392.cms
title = Censor Board snips scenes in Shabd
publisher = The Times of India
date = February 25, 2005
accessdate = 2007-10-29]

On February 25 2005, journalist Vir Sanghvi wrote a column in Hindustan Times, saying that the NCM was curbing free speech on behalf of the "forces of intolerance", while claiming to fight for minority rights. He wrote that the Sardarji joke is part of the "good-natured Indian tradition", and not an example of anti-minority feeling. He pointed out that the best Sardarji jokes are told by the Sikhs themselves, presenting Khushwant Singh as an example. He further went on to say that the protestors should develop a sense of humor. On March 2 2005, The NCM filed a complaint against the Hindustan Times with the Press Council of India, stating that "the tone, tenor and the content of the article in question has a tendency to hurt the sentiments of Sikh community."cite web
url = http://presscouncil.nic.in/ADJUDICATIONS/july_12_2006_R.pdf
title = The National Commission for Minorities vs. The Editor, Hindustan Times (File No. 14/580/04-05-PCI)
publisher = Press Council of India
date = March 2, 2005
accessdate = 2007-10-29] The Hindustan Times responded by stating that the article was not aimed to ridicule the Sikh community in any manner, and was a criticism of the NCM, justifiable under the right of free speech under the Constitution of India. The NCM decided not to proceed with the matter, and the case was closed as withdrawn.

In March 2007, around 25 Sikh youths from Sikh Media and Culture Watch (SMCW) demanded arrest of Ranjit Parande, a Matunga-based book seller, for stocking the "Santa and Banta Joke Book", a collection of Sardarji jokes. Based on a complaint filed by a Sikh businessman, the Mumbai Police arrested Parande under section 295 of the Indian Penal Code, for "hurting religious sentiments."cite news
url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Sikhs_ask_cops_to_ban_Sardar_jokes_on_Net/articleshow/1776258.cms
title = Sikhs ask cops to ban 'Sardar' jokes on Net
publisher = The Times of India, Mumbai
date = March 27, 2007
accessdate = 2007-10-29 ( [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Sikhs_ask_cops_to_ban_Sardar_jokes_on_Net/articleshow/msid-1776258,curpg-2.cms Also see page 2] )] The SMCW members alleged that several of the Sardarji jokes border on the obscene, and have begun to have a demoralising effect on the Sikh youths. They later requested the cyber cell department of the Mumbai police crime branch to "ban jokes on the internet" which portray Sikhs as objects of ridicule. Swaranjit Singh Bajaj, the vice-president of SMCW, blamed the Sikh humorists such as Navjot Singh Sidhu and Khushwant Singh for perpetuating the stereotypical image of Sikhs.

In December 2007, India's second biggest mobile operator Reliance Communications and its head Anil Ambani were charged by Lucknow police with "insulting a religion or faith", after Reliance sent a Sardarji joke as its "joke of the day". [cite news
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7126184.stm
title = Indian businessman on joke charge
publisher = BBC News
date = December 4, 2007
accessdate = 2008-01-14 ] The joke was "What is the difference between a Sardar (Sikh) and a donkey? Answer: a tail." Many Sikhs in Meerut staged violent protests. The joke originated from the website santabanta.com, and was supplied to Reliance by OnMobile, a third party supplier. Reliance stated that the it was not responsible for content provided by OnMobile, but apologized its subscribers and the Sikh community in Uttar Pradesh. OnMobile also issued a public apology.

ee also

* Ethnic joke
* Blonde jokes

References