Comedian Manjeet Sarkar on caste system and comedy

Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour.

Connect with Manjeet:

https://www.instagram.com/manjeet_not_sarkar

https://x.com/notsarkar

Video Chapters

0:00 – Highlight Reel (Key Moments)
0:41 – Mike’s Introduction & Guest Overview
1:05 – Weather Talk & First Impressions of Canada
2:01 – Comparing Vancouver & Toronto
3:02 – Beginning the Caste System Discussion
5:00 – Historic Oppression of Dalits
6:00 – “Can’t You Just Move Away?”: Name & Identity Issues
8:04 – Power Structures & Media Representation
9:16 – Privilege & Upper-Caste Diaspora
10:18 – “Two Indias”: Rich vs. The Other 80%
11:50 – Social Media Stereotypes & Indian Street Scenes
13:50 – Extreme Contrast: Luxury Hotels Beside Slums
15:00 – Manjeet’s Invitation to Perform at the UN
18:50 – Earning Respect from Veteran Comedians
20:45 – The High Cost of Doing Comedy in India
21:35 – Overcoming Inferiority: Comedy as Empowerment

23:52 – Embracing Bold Confidence Over Feeling “Less Than”
25:45 – First Open Mic: 300km Road Trip & Bombing
28:00 – Advice for Aspiring Comics: Practice on Stage
30:00 – The 6-Year Journey to Finding Your “Voice”
32:40 – Drunken Revelation: Embracing True Stories Onstage
34:30 – Owning One’s Upbringing & Identity in Comedy
36:00 – Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr & Doug Stanhope
39:01 – Why Doug Stanhope Kept Manjeet in Comedy
41:30 – Toronto’s Diverse Yet Tricky Comedy Scene
43:40 – Pushing Through When Comedy Seems Unsustainable
45:50 – That Onstage “High” & Dopamine Rush
47:00 – Awkward Silences, Uncomfortable Truths
48:10 – Making Upper-Caste Audiences Squirm

50:18 – “Savarna Guilt” & Copying Western Wokeness
53:30 – Intersectionality vs. Real Activism
55:00 – Does Cancel Culture Exist in India?
58:40 – Twitter Fury Over a “Taboo” Joke
1:02:00 – Facing Attacks from Both Left & Right
1:04:00 – More Online Hate & “Pseudo-Feminism”
1:08:00 – Balancing Identity vs. Comedy Agenda
1:10:00 – Imagining a Post-Caste Future
1:12:20 – Favorite Indian Films (Satyajit Ray)
1:14:00 – Outro & Social Links