Afghans ‘find’ truth in Laughter Network
CNN drops Reza Aslan
KABUL, June 10, (Agencies): They are a thorn in the side of abusive Afghan warlords, corrupt policemen and double-dealing politicians, skewering them on television — with laughter.
Comedy can be a dangerous business in Afghanistan, but the stars of TV show “Shabak-e-Khanda” — or Laughter Network — are unabashed even in the face of threats of violence.
Their skits calling out wrongdoing and incompetence with tongue-in-cheek nonchalance have garnered an avid following since the series first launched on Tolo Television.
A recent episode took a swipe at a senior minister who had a reputation for drifting off to sleep in official meetings.
“Wazir sahib, when should I wake you up to defend the country?” the anchor crooned to a broken harmonium, reflecting public frustration over growing insecurity in Afghanistan.
“You were sleeping when suicide bombers came to attack us,” he joked.
Another episode parodied a military commander who bet — and lost — a government humvee in a gambling spree.
And another lampooned a policeman who was dismissed for “bacha bazi”, the entrenched practice of sexual slavery and abuse.
“Through comedy we show the reality of life in Afghanistan,” said the show’s 27-yearold producer Rafi Tabee.
“Comedy is funnier when there is truth to it. In a country full of tragedies, we make people laugh.”
The show is a rare uncensored voice that has built a reputation for poking the bear in the eye and speaking truth to power.
And it appears to be getting more daring with each episode.
Another audience favourite was a skit showing Afghanistan’s president trying to coax another former warlord over the phone not to engage in celebratory shellfire after signing a government peace accord.
“No celebratory fire is like making Kabuli pilaf without rice,” reasons the stubborn warlord, flanked by a rocket launcher.
The line between satire and reality blurred to the point of vanishing when the show parodied a powerful MP whose electricity was cut off for not paying his utility bills.
“If you don’t switch it back on, I will switch you off,” the MP is shown threatening a power company official. In reality, the lawmaker got away with not paying, the way influential strongmen in Afghanistan usually do.
But sometimes the humour cuts too close to the bone. In Afghanistan’s hypermasculine society, being laughed at is the cultural equivalent of being emasculated, the ultimate humiliation that can easily devolve into violence.
Supporters of President Ashraf Ghani also warned another star of the show, Ibrahim Abed, against mocking him. He has gained popularity for near-perfect mimicry of the mercurial leader’s sudden finger-jabbing outbursts.
But such is the power of outraged mockery that ordinary Afghans have started courting Shabake Khanda’s crew to expose wrongdoings and shame inept officials.
Humour is also a source of solace and escapism in a country where hope is fast receding, amid a worsening conflict, rising unemployment and political dysfunction.
CNN no longer believes in “Believer,” the non-fiction series it launched earlier this year with Reza Aslan, the Iranian-American author and religious scholar.
“CNN has decided to not move forward with production on the acquired series ‘Believer with Reza Aslan,’” the network said in a statement. “We wish Reza and his production team all the best. “
Aslan came under fire earlier this month after using profanity to describe President Donald Trump in the wake of remarks the President made about the terrorist attacks on London. In the tweet, Aslan called Trump “a piece of …” and expressed dismay at Trump’s use of the tragedy to promote his desire for a so-called “travel ban” on certain kinds of people hailing from specific countries in the Middle East. The author later apologized, saying, “I should have used better language to express my shock and frustration at the president’s lack of decorum and sympathy for the victims of London. I apologize for my choice of words.”
“Believer” would have entered a second season if it had been picked up.
“Obviously I am very disappointed in this decision. ‘Believer’ means a great deal to me and to the countless viewers it’s reached. Its message of religious tolerance and exploration is extremely important right now. I am deeply grateful to CNN for giving me the opportunity to launch the show and to amplify my voice on their network. I am especially grateful to the legion of people within the Turner organization who worked so hard to make the show a hit series,” said Aslan, in a prepared statement. “However, in these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated, and I recognize that CNN needs to protect its brand as an unbiased news outlet. Similarly, I need to honor my voice. I am not a journalist. I am a social commentator and scholar. And so I agree with CNN that it is best that we part ways. I look forward to partnering with another platform in the future to continue to spread my message. I wish CNN all the best.”
An Indian social business has launched the country’s first solar satellite television service, bringing clean energy powered entertainment to households and businesses through a pay-as-you-go payment scheme.
Simpa Networks, which began operations in 2011, is one of thousands of social enterprises in India tapping into the renewable energy market in a country where one-fifth of the 1.3 billion population has no access to electricity.
With the majority of those without power from poor communities in countryside, the company focuses on selling solar powered products such as LED lights, phone charging points and fans on financing to rural homes and shops in northern India.
“We see a tremendous opportunity in rural areas where demand for energy is growing even faster than supply,” said Simpa Network CEO Piyush Mathur in a statement.
“Rooftop solar has a role to play in both off-grid and on-grid areas. In many cases it’s the fastest and least expensive way to get power into the homes and businesses in rural areas.”
“Simpa Magic TV” provides over 100 satellite channels with content ranging from comedy and entertainment to news, movies and music, and costs 25,000 rupees ($390) — the same as a non-solar equivalent.