Atre, Pu La and now Kamra: A look at how satirists found themselves in political crosshairs in Maharashtra

One of the most prominent figures who drew political ire was Pralhad Keshav Atre (Acharya Atre), a journalist, politician, and humorist, whose sharp wit and satire led him into several run-ins with Maharashtra’s politicians, including Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Atre, through his writings in his newspaper “Maratha” and public speeches, often used humour to lampoon various political leaders. One of his most memorable satirical pieces targeted then President V V Giri, who had fourteen children. Maratha published a piece with a family photograph of Giri and his children, titled “Giri yanchi kamgiri”. The humour arose from the dual meaning of the word “kaam”, which could imply both “work” and “sexual desire”, while “giri” referred to the President’s surname and his performance (number of children).

Atre’s wit was also evident during the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in the late 1950s. When the popular slogan “Mumbaicha samyukta Maharashtra zhalach pahije (Mumbai must become part of united Maharashtra)” came under criticism from then Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan. In response, Atre said: “Remove the “Ch” from your surname and see what remains—”vhan”, which means footwear!” This became a staple example of Atre’s satirical brilliance.

Atre’s most significant verbal duels were with Bal Thackeray, whose rise to prominence in the state’s politics in the 1960s was met with Atre’s vocal criticism. Atre used satire to criticise the Shiv Sena’s regionalist and nativist stance, which he believed to be divisive. He was particularly critical of the party’s anti-migrant rhetoric and its aggressive political tactics. Through his columns and public speeches, Atre’s humour challenged the party’s approach to Marathi pride, highlighting the polarising effect of their politics.

This conflict with Thackeray, a satirical cartoonist himself, led to Atre being depicted as a pig in the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Marmik, with the Shiv Sena founder even referring to Atre as “Worli cha dukkar” (The pig of Worli). Atre’s sharp criticism also provoked violent reactions from Sena activists, culminating in an assault on him. Despite their tumultuous relationship, after the Sena came to power, the Shiv Sena honoured Atre by erecting a full-size statue of him at Worli.

Another notable satirist who faced the ire of Maharashtra’s political class was Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (Pu La Deshpande). Deshpande, known for his iconic contributions to Marathi literature and humor, found himself at odds with the Shiv Sena when he openly criticised political violence. In 1995, while accepting the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Deshpande took a jibe at the growing “goondaism” in the state’s politics, condemning political parties that used hooliganism to gain power. Thackeray responded sharply, remarking that awarding him had been “their folly.” Thackeray hit back with his own wordplay, commenting on how “old bridges are falling, but new ones must come up”, a dig at Deshpande’s name “Pu La” (which resembles the Marathi word for “bridge”). However, the duo later buried their differences.

A clash also occurred in 2003 over the satirical show “Ghadle Bighadle (Done Undone)”, which aired a skit that mocked NCP leader and then state Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The skit, which parodied Bhujbal with a character named “ArmStrong” (a play on Bhujbal’s name), angered the NCP, leading to Bhujbal’s supporters vandalising the channel’s office. Bhujbal eventually resigned from the Cabinet in wake of the controversy.

The latest episode in Maharashtra’s long history of political clashes derived from humorous comments involves Kamra and his outspoken remarks against Shinde. While many past conflicts between humorists and politicians have been resolved with reconciliations, the Kamra incident continues to simmer in Maharashtra.