There is nothing funny about his life. On the contrary, it’s been rather tragic. Comedian Maheep Singh’s deadpan expression is testimony to his despair; one that even made him contemplate becoming a serial killer. “I was teased as a child in school because I was a Sikh boy. Jokes were made, leg-pulling was routine and name-calling was rampant. When I was 13, I was witness to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and all the agony that came with it. In college, I ruined my father’s publishing business. Then, the biggest tragedy of them all happened: I got married,” he says, adding, “As if that wasn’t enough, I got divorced. One failure after the other turned me into a really angry person, who felt depressed and dejected. In that state, I could have easily shot anybody who tried to mess with me anymore. The choice was clear—killing or comedy, and I chose the latter,” says Singh. He confesses he never set out to become a comedian. He just got the right opportunity at the right time, purely out of luck.
All through the years, one thing remained constant: his strong sense of association with Delhi. The city gave him a chance to indulge his poetic aspirations. In the lyrical language of words, he found solace for his troubled reality. “It’s a great way to channelise one’s grievances, just like it is with humour, and being in a city where distinguished poets like Mirza Ghalib lived and wrote their thoughts seemed truly inspiring to me,” says Singh, who pens his thoughts on his blog titled ‘God of Slightly Bigger Things’.
His learnings have never been just limited to poetry. The city, he says, has proved to be a centre of knowledge. “When all else failed in my personal life, a new professional prospect knocked at my door. It came as the biggest surprise and continues to be one even now,” he says. More than anything else, Delhi has made him a survivor. When he looks at the world around him, he senses pain, angst and betrayal, but he also sees the inimitable spirit with which Delhiites continue their march towards seeking happiness. It’s also a city of hope for him. Perhaps that’s why he refused to settle abroad. “Almost all of my family is settled in Canada and parts of America, but I never felt the need to step out of my comfort zone,” he says, adding, “Even when our house was attacked during the 1984 riots, there were many people standing strong, willing to help us. That was reassuring. It gave my family and me hope that there would be deliverance. Even now, when my faith begins to dwindle, I remind myself that there are thousands of people like me, grappling with uncertainty but still continuing to believe fervently,” he says.