Legendary writer and poet Javed Akhtar visited Pakistan last week to be a part of the Faiz Literary Festival organized in Lahore. There, the artist met with popular singer-songwriter Ali Zafar and had a memorable jamming session.
Even though the artist was there to strengthen the relationship between the rival nations India and Pakistan using art as the medium, he couldn’t keep himself from talking about the tragic 26/11 terrorist attack that happened in Mumbai.
To refresh your memory, in November 2008, a terrorist organization from Pakistan, ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai wherein a total of 175 people died and more than 300 were reportedly injured.
According to a report by NDTV, Javed responded to a question by a person from the audience who asked him, “You have visited Pakistan so many times. When you go back do you tell your people that these are good people, they aren’t just bombing us but also greeting us with garlands and love?”
When given the podium to talk in Pakistan, Akhtar said that there have been several big events organized for Pakistani artists in India but there were hardly any similar events arranged for Indian artists in Pakistan.
“Humney toh Nusrat (Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) ke badey badey function kiye, aapke mulk me toh Lata Mangeshkar ka koi function nhi hua. Toh ahem baat ye hai k aajkal jo itna garm hai sila vo kum hona chahiye.”
(We organized several events for Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in India but your country never invited Lata Mangeshwar to an event like that in Pakistan.)
Bringing light to the 26/11 terrorist attacks, he said:
“Hum toh Mumbai k log hai. Humney toh dekha humarey shehar pe kaise humla hua tha toh vo log Norway se toh nhi aae they? Vo log abhi bhi aapke mulk me ghoom rahey hai. Ye shikayat agar kisi Hindustani k dil me ho toh aapko bura nhi manna chahiye.”
(The important thing is that the atmosphere is tense and that should be doused. We are from Mumbai and we have seen the attack on our city. They (terrorists) did not come from Norway. They are still roaming free in your country. So, if there is anger in the hearts of Hindustanis then you shouldn’t be offended.)
Watch the video here:
वाह! शानदार @Javedakhtarjadu बहुत खूब… 👏🙌👏#JavedAkhtarInPakistan pic.twitter.com/snbXKCKmGf
— Dr. Syed Rizwan Ahmed (@Dr_RizwanAhmed) February 21, 2023
When this video reached Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, she reacted to Javed’s power-packed speech saying that he has given it back to the culprits by sitting in their own country.
“Jab main Javed saab ki poetry sunti hoon toh lagta tha yeh kaise Maa Swarsati ji ki in pe itni kripa hai, lekin dekho kuch toh sachchai hoti hai insaan mein tabhi toh khudai hoti hai unke saath mein … Jai Hind @Javedakhtarjadu saab. Ghar mein ghuss ke maara .. ha ha”
(When I hear Javed sir’s poetry I think how does he have the blessings of Goddess Saraswati? But see, there is some truth left in humans that is why they are blessed by God.)
Jab main Javed saab ki poetry sunti hoon toh lagta tha yeh kaise Maa Swarsati ji ki in pe itni kripa hai, lekin dekho kuch toh sachchai hoti hai insaan mein tabhi toh khudai hoti hai unke saath mein … Jai Hind @Javedakhtarjadu saab… 🇮🇳
Ghar mein ghuss ke maara .. ha ha 🇮🇳🇮🇳 https://t.co/1di4xtt6QF— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 21, 2023
Kangana appreciating Javed is a shocker after they got into a feud a couple of years back. Since then their relationship was hampered.
Not just Kangana, people online were proud of Javed Akhtar for using the platform to speak his mind with so much confidence.
I like what he is doing… He has his differences with India’s current leadership and is vocal about it. But having stepped out of India @Javedakhtarjadu is speaking for India, like he should. I wish the intellectuals learnt something from this.
— ScrewedLogic【BigBongTheory】 (@BigBongTheory) February 21, 2023
A patriot comes out from time to time.
— Prudhvi (@prudhvikrishna) February 21, 2023
Nice, ye hai mere hindustani.
— Dhirendra Tiwari (@tiwari4345) February 21, 2023
This I appreciate 👏👏
— Neal Grover (@juchkuduk) February 21, 2023
Roasted by Polite flow and Hard truth
— Umessh Malik🇮🇳 (@umeshm712) February 21, 2023
Wha! pic.twitter.com/NSXw8fPgIh
— Katz (@Katz4Neela) February 21, 2023
Yes , that’s a wonderful effort to unite the countries.
— Dinesh Gopal (@Hereisswarga) February 21, 2023
salute Javed ji
— Prem Tiwari proud nationalist (@PremTiw74398936) February 21, 2023
Javed Akhtar – whose integrity towards the motherland gets questioned by dumbfucks all the time – went to Lahore and dropped some truth bombs in a roomful of Pakistanis. True patriots don’t need a stamp of approval from troll bhakts. @Javedakhtarjadupic.twitter.com/dLz5pJjdTr
— Aniruddha Guha (@AniGuha) February 21, 2023
From being mocked for attending Faiz event in Lahore, Javed Akhtar is now getting praise from very same quarters for saying this.pic.twitter.com/INiPdABp9Z
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) February 21, 2023
Javed Akhtar did what many couldn’t. Embarrass the Pakistanis on their very soil. Bravo, Akhtar saheb! ✊🔥
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) February 21, 2023
Twitter seems impressed by Javed Akhtar, are you?