Ohio-born comedian to take his routine to India

FAIRFIELD, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio-born standup comedian who bills himself as “The Funny Indian” will find out whether people in his ancestral homeland agree.

Rajiv Satyal will tour India Jan. 4-17 in a trip organized by the U.S. State Department. He says the comedy tour will include messages of diversity and religious harmony, with a measure of diplomacy. His routines often include jokes about being Indian-American.

The 35-year-old native of Hamilton, Ohio, honed his comedy while working for consumer products maker Procter & Gamble Co., appearing in comedy clubs and in a column for a company-produced newsletter. He moved to Los Angeles in 2006 as he made comedy his career.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the tour group will also put on comedy workshops in India.