Sir – In order to discourage confusions which have been constantly occurring, we beg herewith to state that neither of us is the other. Yours & c.,Russell (Bertrand, Earl Russell)Russell of Liverpool (Lord Russell of Liverpool) One of the stranger sights on the University College London campus is the clothed skeleton of the utilitarian philosopher… Read More The delights of mischief
No, sir, these are difficult times. I’m seriously considering two options to hedge my bets. The first is to install pictures of Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah on my front gate. According to a report in the Jansatta of 19th May, bulldozers stopped their demolition of a house in Delhi’s Khichripur when they noticed pictures… Read More Avay Shukla: The Bulldozer Blues
The Party of Moderate Progress Within the Bounds of the Law (PMPWBL, Czech: Strana Mírného Pokroku v Mezích Zákona (SMPVMZ)) was a satirical political party in Cisleithania (Austro-Hungary), founded by Jaroslav Hašek in 1911. The party campaigned satirically for election to the Imperial Council (Austria). Due to their dual nature as both a political “party”… Read More The Party of Moderate Progress Within the Bounds of the Law
The largest stadium in the world by capacity is the “Rungrado 1st of May Stadium” in Pyongyang, North Korea. Oddly enough, it isn’t named after Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Representative of the Korean People. Luckily for us, the Supreme Representative of the Indian People, unafflicted by bashfulness, stepped up to rename the second-largest stadium in… Read More Mukul Kesavan: The Absolutely Justifiable Renaming Of Stadium After PM Modi
There are two certain ways to lose a friend: one, have an affair with his wife; two, start a discussion on politics. The first can occasionally be a tempting prospect, for as the wise guy said: all best things in life are either illegal, immoral or married to someone else. Having an affair just got… Read More Avay Shukla: THE FINE ART OF LOSING FRIENDS
‘Should powerful people and institutions show an inability to tolerate rebuke or criticism, we would be reduced to a country of incarcerated artists and flourishing lapdogs’… About his tweets against the apex court, Kamra felt the suggestion that they could shake the foundations of the most powerful court in the world is an “over-estimation of… Read More ‘No defence for jokes’ — Kunal Kamra offers no apology to SC in reply to contempt notice
Why should their lordships get so infuriated by a couple of sallies targeting them – he spares no one, not even the prime minister or his pit bull anchor. Kamra belongs to a hoary tradition of court jesters – recollect Akbar and Birbal, Patch Sexton in the court of Henry VIII (who inspired Shakespeare’s fool… Read More Kunal Kamra and the Elasticity of Justice. By Avay Shukla
One day a Colonel Sa’ab from the Army fell into a well. The soldiers would throw a rope into the well and pull the Colonel Sa’ab out. The moment the Colonel would come up, the soldiers would leave the rope snap to attention and salute. The Colonel Sa’ab would fall back into the well. This… Read More Colonel Sa'ab
A groundbreaking Arabic satirical news site that skewers the Middle East’s politicians and pieties – dodging the ire of hostile governments and their online supporters – has launched an English language edition. Al-Hudood (the Limits), with deadpan headlines reminiscent of the US publication the Onion, has rankled authorities in the Arab world since launching in 2013. It… Read More Michael Safi: Arabic satirical news website launches English edition
In 2016, the Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, may have exaggerated somewhat when he declared: “The world is laughing at us. They’re laughing at us, at our stupidity.” No longer. As counting in the crisis-racked North American state entered its 10th day, around the world it had become the butt of many jokes. After decades of enduring… Read More Patrick Gathara's comments on a North American failed state
After the truth-shower 