Seeing me sitting at my desk tearing up newspapers day in and day out, most people thought I was doing next to nothing. Explain the humourous element, in the above line. (Poets and pancakes)
Answers
There are two main sources of humour in this sentence. To begin with, when the author, Asokamitran talks about sitting at a 'desk', one assumes that he has an important job, that involves handling paperwork. However, his work involves newspapers and that too, collecting newspaper cuttings! It is completely in contrast to what we expect someone to do in an office. His job of 'tearing newspapers' sounds unimportant and even comical.
The second half of the sentence adds even more humour to the situation. Most people felt that the author's job was so silly that he was not doing anything important. The funny part is that even the readers feel that way, but what is even more fascinating is that there were people (other than 'most') who actually felt that he was doing something sensible.
Though the author's job might have have been of some consequence, his way of describing it makes it sound hilarious.