About

Samson Koletkar (aka Mahatma Moses) was born in Mumbai and raised Jewish. Growing up in the world's most crowded city, he spent most of his childhood years burning the midnight candles for earning a Masters Degree in Computer Software, thereby fulfilling his parent's dreams. He then moved half-way across the world, to the technology headquarters and a hotbed for emerging comics - San Francisco. 

In his very first year he finished a Finalist in Rooster T Feathers Amateur Comedy Competition. He has won the International Society of Humor Studies Comedy Competition and the Asian American Theater Company Comedy Competition, and was a Semi-Finalist in 36th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition. He has toured all over USA, Canada & India with Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour, Desi Comedy Fest, Pundits With Punchlines, Funatical Comedy Tour, Sultans of Satire, & You're Funny But You Don't Look Jewish Tour.

He is the Founder of Comedy Oakland, voted "Best Place for Comedy" in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, & 2021 East Bay Express Reader's Poll. SF Chronicle published a cover article on him ​"India-born stand-up builds comedy utopia in Oakland".  With 250+ shows featuring 500+ comedians entertaining 13,000+ audiences for 400+ hours every year, Comedy Oakland is a live stand-up comedy experience you don't want to miss!

He is the Co-Founder & the brains behind Desi Comedy Fest - the biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. The SF Bay Area based Fest has showcased 100+ comedians from 6 continents and has entertained 10,000+ audiences. The Fest has also run a 20-show tour of India, and satellite events in Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle & New Jersey.

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Credit: Mohita Bhatnagar

​(Right click on headshot to download low res image for online use. Click the "Download Hi-Res" link below the headshot for print.)

Bookings & Inquiries

Looking to hire Samson for your event. Send a message below and you might just get a funny response.

​Here are some past clients: Amazon, Cisco, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Engineers Without Borders, Hewlett Packard, IIT, ImmigrationVoice, Intel, MuslimFest Toronto, Pratham USA, Shankara Eye Foundation, Singapore Airlines, TieCon, Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival, Wells Fargo.