Wit and Humour

Even where kings once ruled supreme, there existed a curious counterbalance—the court jester. This figure, permitted to mock even the sovereign, made possible one of humanity's most enduring social truth telling mechanism: humour. Far from being merely a source of entertainment, wit and humour serve as essential elements of human connection, social critique, and personal resilience.

As Gandhi wisely observed, "If I did not have a sense of humour, I would have ended my life long back." This profound statement reveals how humour functions as a survival mechanism in the face of life's greatest challenges. When confronted with adversity, the ability to laugh provides perspective and resilience that can sustain us through our darkest hours.

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The power of wit extends beyond personal comfort. Throughout history, humour has served as a social critic, challenging authority and puncturing pretension. The court jester's role was not merely to entertain but to speak truth to power through the disarming vehicle of laughter. This tradition of using comedy to critique those in positions of authority—the wealthy, the scholarly, the powerful—has been a healthy practice across diverse societies and eras.

The Sufi tradition embraces this understanding with the saying, "If there is no joy, there is no Sufi." Through figures like Mulla Nasruddin, Sufis demonstrate how humor reveals the triviality and insignificance of power, riches, pride, luxuries. Their jokes, directed both at themselves and others, expose the impermanence of worldly concerns and invite a more profound perspective on what truly matters.

Yet humour carries ethical responsibilities. As Kutti Krishna Marar thoughtfully notes in his book Hasya Sahithyam, genuine humour requires empathy. Before laughing at another's expense, we must ask: would we laugh if we found ourselves in the same situation? Authentic humour arises from this self-reflective stance—what we can laugh at in ourselves is the only true humour. Without this consideration, laughter degrades into mockery and scorn.

Wit teaches us humility. It reminds us: Life is not complicated. I am not indispensable. I need not be the last word, I too can make mistakes. In a world often consumed by self-importance, humor offers liberation from the prison of ego. It creates space for connection, vulnerability, and shared humanity.

As Shakespeare observed, "Brevity is the soul of wit." The most potent humour strikes with precision, requiring no elaborate explanation. Like a flash of lightning, it illuminates truth suddenly and brilliantly, leaving lasting impressions through thought-provoking expressions.

In our contemporary world, where power dynamics grow increasingly complex and human connection faces new challenges, the role of wit and humour remains vital. They serve as tools for critique, sources of resilience, and bridges between diverse perspectives. Through laughter, we acknowledge our shared humanity and recognise the impermanence of our individual concerns.

The court jester may no longer occupy formal positions in governance, but the spirit of constructive irreverence continues to thrive wherever people gather. In this capacity to laugh—at ourselves, at power, at life's absurdities—we discover not only joy but also wisdom, not merely entertainment but essential social critique.

Inspired by a lecture by MN Karassery, Marmam Pokunna Narmam.

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