Akash Banerjee (Hindi: आकाश बनर्जी) is an Indian YouTuber, journalist, radio jockey and political satirist. He is known for his YouTube channel "The Deshbhakt" a satirical show focusing on social, political and environmental issues and his caricature "Bhakt Banerjee".[2] As of 2023 he has over 3 million regular viewers,[3] with The Washington Post calling Deshbhakt "one of the biggest YouTube channels in India".[4]
Akash Banerjee | ||||||||||
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Nationality | Indian | |||||||||
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Years active | 2002–present | |||||||||
Known for | Caricature Bhakt Banerji | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
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Subscribers | 4.17 million[1] | |||||||||
Total views | 622.8 million[1] | |||||||||
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Last updated: 30 April 2024 |
Initially working in Radio Mirchi and Times Now, Banarjee started working in India Today as a senior correspondent covering stories like the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the Naxal insurgency. Disillusioned by TV journalism he moved back to Radio Mirchi where he worked till 2018.[2]
While working in radio; Banerjee was inspired to start his YouTube channel as a satirical show mixing humour with political commentary.[5] One of Banarjee's popular caricatures is Bhakt Banarjee who is portrayed as a fervid supporter of the BJP government and often berates the opposition and people critical of the government.[6] Bhakt Banarjee is often seen interviewing journalists like Ravish Kumar, politicians and other YouTubers like Dhruv Rathee.[7][8]
He has also authored the book "Tales from Shining India and Sinking India" in 2013 about events that took place in recent India and the inner-workings of broadcast television in India.[9] In a review, the Sunday Guardian described it as "lacking substance" and "self-aggrandizement",[10] while Rekhta described it as a "realistic and detailed account on how broadcast media works in the country".[11]