Satirical Instagram page ‘The Savala Vada’ withheld in India
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The Instagram account of 'The Savala Vada', a popular satirical page known for its quirky and bold takes on politics and society, has been withheld in India. The page, which boasts over 85,000 followers, is reportedly run by a 22-year-old creator and a small team based in Kerala. Known for its meme format that mimics the front page of a newspaper—complete with dramatic headlines and topical visuals—the account had gained attention for its critical commentary on government policies, societal issues, and online discourse.
Visitors to the account are now met with a message that reads: “Account withheld in India. This is because we complied with the legal request to restrict this content.” Following the restriction, 'The Savala Vada' took to X to post: “Sup we just got banned from the world’s largest democracy,” along with hashtags such as #MotherOfDemocracy, #NotSatire, and #SavalaVadaFried.
In a series of now-deleted posts, the team responded with pointed sarcasm. One such post featured a photoshopped image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi wielding a hammer over the account’s logo, with the headline: “World’s Largest Democracy Bans Satire Meme Page.” Another deleted caption read:
“As India reels from issues concerning the foundations of its Constitution, Kangana Ranaut, civil unrest, plane tragedies, flooding in Assam, recent Bollywood movie plots, human rights abuses in the peripheries, food insecurity, Vir Das, caste atrocities and having the largest population of people below the poverty line, the Republic of India strongly asserts its priorities by politely asking Meta to take down a satire news page on Instagram.”
The team behind the account called the ban “ridiculous” and added that while they had anticipated such a move, the timing and extent of it reflected the current state of democratic freedom in India. “While we may have anticipated this coming from afar, the timing and reach of such an action seems ridiculous, but then so is the state of our democracy,” they said.
Reacting further, the team criticised the government's priorities, stating that amidst various pressing national issues, taking down a satire page seems to have been given undue importance.
'The Savala Vada' was launched on July 21, 2023, by a creator who identifies simply as “J.” The page draws inspiration from 'The Onion', a well-known American digital media outlet that specialises in satirical takes on local and global news.
The incident has triggered discussions online about freedom of expression, censorship, and the shrinking space for satire in India’s digital landscape.
