Javed Akhtar: Lyricist writer Javed Akhtar recently drew lot of attention with his remarks that he made at an event in Pakistan. His comment about the 26/11 attackers roaming free in Pakistan went viral on social media and since then everyone has been praising him in India. The veteran lyricist writer addressed the issue at a recent event in Mumbai where he repeated his statement and elaborated further on it.
He said he was ‘embarrassed’ by the response that his statement received. “Aisa maine kya teer maar diya that people are reacting so much,” he wondered.
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Javed’s comments in Lahore
For the unversed, Akhtar was addressing a gathering in Lahore to commemorate poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz. He said that it is wrong for Pakistanis to expect Indians to ignore that the perpetrators of the attacks are still roaming freely in Pakistan. Though the crowd reportedly applauded his comments, but several Pakistani celebrities slammed Akhtar for what he said on their soil.
Back home in Mumbai, Akhtar said that his statement became too big and he feels embarrassed. He also said that he feels he should not go to such events. “Yaha aya to laga pata nahi third World War jeet ke aya hoon (as if I won the third world war). The people and the media have so many reactions. I was embarrrased aisa kya keh diya? Itni baat to kehni padegi, chup rahein kya (we have to say as much, should we just shut up)?” said Akhtar.
He further added that he had received messages informing him that people in Pakistan were being questioned on how he even got a visa.
‘Why was he given visa?’
“I got to know that people are abusing me there. They are asking, ‘Why was he given visa?’ Is tarah ki baatein, jo thodisi sensitive aur controversial ho… jis mulk mein paida hue, jisme rehte hain aur jisme marenge waha karte rehte hai toh do din wahaa gaye the, wahaan kya darna? Jab yaha nahi darte toh wahaan kya darenge? (I have been saying things that are slightly controversial and sensitive in nature in the country where I was born, I live and where I will die [India], then what was to fear there? When I don’t feel scared here, then why would I fear anything there)?”
He was asked where he got the courage to make these remarks before in Pakistan. Akhtar responded by saying, “I’m sure the youth of Pakistan will embrace you with open arms. I’ll tell you one thing — No country is a monolith. What happens is that we start believing that the policies of their government and establishment is what the country is about. But that’s not true.”
‘Pakistanis curious about India’
Akhtar said that an average Pakistani citizen is curious about India because of the way the country has developed post-independence. He said, “The fact is that it is very unfortunate that we are unaware that there is a huge segment in Pakistan that wants to have a good relation with India and that is totally understandable, not because they are saints, but because they are seeing a country next door jahaan itna development hai, itni industries hai, jahaan par corportate world itna develop kar gaya, jahaan culture itna hai, jahaan music aur films itni peak pe hai. So, an average citizen of that country would obviously be curious and would want to come here and see and if given an opportunity of a job or a presentation, he’ll run to do it and it totally understandable.”
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