#TheDeshBhakt with Akash Banerjee

<h2>The DeshBhakt Story So Far... </h2> 
June 2018 - Quit comfy Job as VP at a big media company - sold off house to fund an Independent digital startup - bet on the fact that people will stop watching TV and would appreciate simplified data / facts (laced with blunt satire and fun!) 
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June 2020 - The Deshbhakt cracks over 2.5 Millions subscribers on various social media platforms - has a dedicated team of 6 - is being run almost fully on crowdfunded money with crowdsourced ideas, feedback &amp; guidance.&nbsp; 
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- Mocking and questioning politicians may be a cornerstone of any progressive democracy - but in India it's seen as a personal insult. 
- Satire as a form of social / political expression may be established in the west - but is often confused with comedy here. 
- Crowdfunding is an alien concept with most of the media being funded by politicians or industrialists for their own purposes. 
 
Even in such a scenario #TheDeshBhakt has been able to survive and grow. Thanks to Deshbhakt Members and Patrons who want to hear the truth / listen to the facts / laugh a bit at where we are.&nbsp; 
 
 
<h2>What does the #TheDeshBhakt do??!!</h2><h2>(besides being anti-national)</h2>
 
The DeshBhakt attempts to challenge the way political discussions happen in India - i.e heated, bitter, one-sided &amp; acrimonious. (The mainstream media is agenda driven and the parties themselves want more confrontation and polarisation - atleast there is no debate there!) 
 In a country where the Army &amp; Nationalism is dragged in to defend the indefensible - The DeshBhakt is attempting to make politics a fun thing... where there is no 'agenda' / no 'paid media' / no 'sides' / and some simple facts to make some simple points. In less than 2 years - we have been able to win the trust of scores of people and now we are hungry for more. If you would like to support an initiative that talks TO you - not AT you ... if you value independent and free speech... if you think that satire in news is the future - then do become a Patreon DeshBhakt and unlock direct access / collaborations / podcasts / Q&amp;As and a lot of other goodies! <h2> </h2><h2>Why become a DeshBhakt Patreon Member?</h2> Forget the fact that Mainstream Media has largely been taken over political / business interests....also ignore the fact that no one is watching TV News and Newspaper readership is on the decline. The real worry is direct and Indirect censorship - that is on the rise - giving serious concerns over Freedom of Speech.&nbsp;Satire as mode of making a point is the most trusted in the west and will soon become one in India too. To beat a system that is controlled by powers that be - CONTENT HAS TO BE PAID FOR / SUPPORTED BY individuals who can. While this model of public funding was not viable for large media companies - The DeshBhakt has shown that its is possible to do so in the digital world and that of micro - publishing. What do I get out of my Membership?&nbsp; 
Patreon members can contribute anything from $3 to $99 every month. They will get the following benefits according to the contributions they give. (see DeshBhakt tiers for more details)&nbsp; 
 
<ul>
	<li>Ultimate Deshbhakts - get direct mobile connection access via a Whatsapp Group / Name in the End Credits / Monthly video chat and access to Exclusive Ultimate Deshbhakt meetings.&nbsp;</li><li>Editor Deshbhakts - get a say over what episodes we build next and access to the highest room on the discord server.&nbsp;</li><li>Dabangg &amp; Pukka Deshbhakts - Access to Livechats /&nbsp; Q&amp;A sessions / access to voting and right to ask the first questions to the personalities&nbsp;who we being on the channel</li><li>Mai Bhi DeshBhakt - the base level itself gives access to the Deshbhakt Discord Server ... that is a safe space for debate discussion and networking. They also get access to our new Deshbhakt Podcast!&nbsp;</li><li>+++ our new Sponsor Deshbhakt tier - for those members wanting to extend one time support or wanting to sponsor an episode in their name&nbsp;</li></ul> <h1>KINDLY NOTE -&nbsp;</h1>patreon.com operates best with international credit cards - however it accepts most international debit cards too. However in order to work - your CC or DB must have 'international - transactions' as switched ON.&nbsp; If you do not have / do not want to use an international card - then you can also become a member on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/thedeshbhakt/JOIN">www.youtube.com/thedeshbhakt/JOIN</a> .... YT membership offers almost the same perks with many more payment options including domestic cards!&nbsp; Also note - after becoming a member - head to <a href="http://www.bit.ly/thedeshbhakt">www.bit.ly/thedeshbhakt</a> and log-in. Then head to hello-new-user chat room and follow the INSTRUCTIONS TO LINK YOUR PATREON ACCOUNT TO DISCORD!&nbsp;

Free

<ul><li>Access to our members only Deshbhakt Discord server - where u can meet / debate / exchange ideas with fellow DeshBhakts</li><li>Access to Members only Podcast - Not the 9pm News ... that wraps up with the Prime Time news shows missed. </li><li>Also get access to patreon-only posts / behind the scenes happenings / updates on what's next. </li></ul>

BASIC LEVEL - Mai Bhi Desh Bhakt!

<ul><li>Chat/Give feedback -  with the Patreon.com/TheDeshBhakt chat feature.</li><li>Access codes to the exclusive Deshbhakt Livestreams we do only for members!</li><li>PLUS -  all the benefits of the previous tier </li></ul>

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL - Pukka Desh Bhakt!

<ul><li>Dabangg DeshBhakts get the first right to ask questions to celebs / guests we get on our shows. </li><li>Vote on Videos / Issues / Direction the Channel should take</li><li>Priority response to Patreon Messages </li><li>PLUS all previous benefits</li></ul>

ADVANCED LEVEL - Dabangg Desh Bhakt!

<ul><li>Our popular tier where members can personally involved with Team DeshBhakt and have a say in what stories are being planned / scripted / executed</li><li>Suggest your own story WITH - tweet / research / pointers - with verified data links. If we get enough mails on the same topic - we will make an episode! </li><li>Critique published videos and how do we better that on mail - direct to our team and we will incorporate that feedback.  (mail id will sent after you join the tier)</li><li>PLUS all previous benefits.</li></ul>

PRO LEVEL - Editor Desh Bhakt!

FULL ACCESS TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF ULTIMATE DESHBHAKTS -  Ultimate DB benefits.... <ul><li>One on One - direct access - via direct WhatsApp group connect </li><li>Physical meet ups - with UD group meetings in Delhi (soon going international)  </li><li>Credit in every show - at the end </li><li>Monthly Ultimate Deshbhak video concall </li><li>PLUS all previous benefits</li></ul>

#TheDeshBhakt with Akash Banerjee

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