YouTube angers I&B with Gandhi video

New Delhi: A tasteless video clip on Mahatma Gandhi by New York-based NRI comedian Gautham Prasad has got the government’s knickers in a twist. Outraged by the video, the government is seeking to shoot the medium: YouTube, currently the hottest video-sharing website.
I&B minister P R Dasmunshi is understood to have taken up the matter with the IT ministry for “action’’ against YouTube. Sources said YouTube would be either blocked or asked to take off the video.
The government has also taken “serious exception’’ to two TV channels, IBN-7 and Sahara, for airing the video. Dasmunshi on Friday demanded a “profound apology’’ from the channels — which came pronto. The move to act against YouTube has a throwback to the government’s action in October against Orkut for messages by a Pakistan-based ‘Hate India’ community.
The offending video has Gandhi doing a pole-dance, stripping, playing with daggers and dining with two beautiful women. An angry I&B ministry has decided the issue will be discussed by a committee headed by the additional secretary. As for the channels, they are likely to be let off after their unqualified apology. However, it is the YouTube issue that is of greater interest. With new technological breakthroughs, nation-states are being pitted against a borderless virtual world.
Interestingly, civil society leaders had a mixed reaction. Filmmaker Anand Patwardhan said: “Gandhi would have been upset by atrocities on dalits and the celebration over the nuclear deal. He would not have been the least bit upset by this video.’’ Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said Gandhi would’ve “laughed’’ at this. “The video is akin to graffiti. Gandhi is not a form that can be insulted. He does not require to be protected.’’
Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, however, felt that repeating the video clip again and again for “sensational value’’ was wrong. “Why should they telecast it at all,’’ she asked. Bapu’s great grandson Tushar Gandhi has also called for action against the offenders.
BLOCK TALK
I&B ministry seeks to block website YouTube, for featuring a clip showing an NRI comedian as Gandhi
Govt also takes ‘serious exception’ to two TV channels airing the video
The clip shows Gandhi doing a pole dance, bashing up hoodlums, stripping & dining with women


***?? .. THEY ALWAYS TARGET GOOD SITES,,,,

Author of Gandhi Video Answers

Author of the controversial Gandhi video on YouTube.com, Gautham Prasad, has responded to the outrage in India. The New York based NRI, who makes a living by teaching Yoga and performing stand-up comedy acts says he did not think the video would be taken so seriously and that the video has been blown out of propotion.

Bangalore born Prasad told tat, "At this point I don't think pulling the video from YouTube would do much good. So many people have already seen it and many more people want to see it. I am still considering the matter. As an artist it is difficult to ascribe "reasons" to creativity. I thought of something effective and I performed it. Gandhi doing a pole dance is effective because Gandhi would NEVER DO a pole dance. The contrast creates the humor. The character I portray on stage is foolish enough to think this dance would be a good idea."

In an official statement in response to the controversy, Prasad said that he made this video and posted it on the internet as a marketing tool for his business as a performer. He stated, "If you look closely, you can see that I am wearing a clown nose. Why is this? I do this because I am not playing Mahatma Gandhi, I am playing a CHARACTER who is playing Gandhiji. I am playing a fool who thinks it would be a good idea to dress up like Gandhi and do this dance. In reality, I'm making fun of myself. I realize this distinction may be difficult to understand, but as a performer it is crucial”.

He says, "Nobody is above parody, and the clowns would parody kings and monarchs with no consequences. Furthermore, if Gandhiji were alive today what would he find more upsetting, my video or the violence in Darfur? What would hurt him more, my video, or the violence in Iraq? We have become so intent on idolizing Gandhiji that we have forgotten what he said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." We have confused the messenger with the message. If we truly want to honor him, we must uphold the principles he lived and died for. We must embody peace, compassion, and non-violence. So many of the people who criticize my video have threatened to stone me, hit me, or kill me. I don't think Gandhiji would approve."

Prasad has appealed to the public, to give him more feedback about the video. “Let them respond honestly, but remember that there are much more pressing issues in the world than a video that one can choose not to watch. I encourage those who did not like the video to tell their friends and family not to watch it. If they so choose, they have my support in telling the Indian government to ban the video from India entirely. It was not my intention to offend, only to entertain.”

_______________________________________
knoughtyd's Signature:

yeah .. blown out of proportion the video is.. sheesh.. they just need stupid reasons to keep the indian public occupied while they shy away from thier real responsibilities..

_______________________________________
chic_magnet's Signature:

Any Link to d Video ?

_______________________________________
Bluffmaster's Signature:

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. No one needs a smile as much as a person who fails to give one.

yA! reps to anyone who can share the link or upload the blasted video

No Link here plz

_______________________________________
Saiyan's Signature:

^^ On the other hand, a similar video featuring Saiyan should be available


j/k dude

_______________________________________
Vince's Signature:

There is somethin' I wanna ask you--------- Do ya wanna funk,Won't you tell me now
And to this question you have the answer------- If you wanna funk, Let me show you how,
So tell me what I want to know,------------------ Do you wanna funk with me

Ahh well.. People don't have much to do these days other than poking their noses in the most idiotic matters rather then paying attention to the criticals ones!! First orkut, now YouTube. What is gonna be next?

_______________________________________
skylark's Signature:

Blank!!

maybe your nickname... it hurts the sentiments of the birds.. that a human uses thier names without respecting thier feelings.....(yeah.. crappy issue nah.. but then that is wat the govt would be looking for)

_______________________________________
chic_magnet's Signature:

I need the video. FE is better than our conservative dumbass government....
right?

Oh and btw, somebody link up government to Uncyclopedia. They're gonna go berserk on India and Gandhi's page, ban uncyclopedia. Then have them search stuff like 'nekkid free pr0n' on Google with a study that shows how many 12yr olds are surfing through internet like this. Ban google. Sooner or later, they are gonna end up banning the internet itself.

_______________________________________
params7's Signature: