From the Hindi film industry to those celebrating the Taliban’s return in Afghanistan, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah clearly has a very strong opinion about things happening around him which he doesn’t flinch from expressing. However, some of his comments are met with applause and some with backlash.
The latter is something which happened recently. In a recent interview with journalist Karan Thapar, Naseeruddin Shah called the Mughals “refugees” who gifted us the tradition of music, dance, literature, etc. India Today quoted him saying:
“The so-called atrocities of the Mughals are being highlighted all the time. We forget that the Mughals are people who have contributed to the country. They are people who have left lasting monuments in the country, who have left the tradition of dancing, music, painting, literature. Mughals came here to make this their homeland. You can call them refugees if you like.”
Have a look at the video here:
Mughals came here to settle. They Contributed to India's Culture, Music and Left lasting Legacies. You can call them refugees: #naseeruddinshah to Karan Thapar #2DaysToBirthMonth #FitBharat pic.twitter.com/vncc9m8qij
— Dr. Priyanshi Mishra #हिंदुत्व_मेरी_पहचान (@Priyanshi135) December 30, 2021
However, his statement received tremendous backlash online. He soon started to trend on Twitter as many people reminded him that Mughals were “invaders” and not “refugees”.
I think it’s his age that’s why he is not capable to reminds that what type of monuments, scripts were destroyed by mughals.most of existing monuments of mughal era are build by destroying temples of ancient Bharat..Their role models are babur, Aurangzeb not dara shikoh,kalam sir
— Parmjeet Singh (@Parmjitbnl) December 29, 2021
Naseeruddin Shah is simply saying if a thief breaks into your home don’t react or defend, u should infact give him bed and food, take care of him and atlast transfer all you holdings in his name. Also you should be proud that he chose your house instead of others.
— Niranjan Biradar (@NiranjanBiradar) December 29, 2021
If a dacoit takes over my property, relageates me to a small part of my own property and decides to stay on in my property – that means he has valid legal claims to my property?
— Tea Lover (@unknowncorner) December 29, 2021
No we can’t call them refugees they were invaders. Yes they left legacies of destroyed temples, conversions & genocide. It’s time2 claim our lost heritage & erase evrything left by them like getting back our temples, reclaiming places named after them & re-writing school books!
— 🦋Anjna🦋🇮🇳 (@Anjna116) December 29, 2021
Imperialists aren’t the same as refugees. And those who torched universities, absolutely crippled the traditional learning traditions and structures could never have contributed to culture. Contribution to kotha culture, objectification of women, aren’t cultural contributions!!!
— Saurabh Kishore😷🇮🇳 (@wdamidoinhere) December 29, 2021
If a refugee comes, kills natives, destroyed their temples and force them to convert, there is a dictionary term for them – Colonizers and Invaders! #naseeruddinshah
— Che Mir (@cheez_m) December 30, 2021
#NaseeruddinShah says Moguls were Refugees! What all is left to hear, Oh God. Moguls were monsters, that's it.
— Adithya 🌞 (@adhi_anecdotes) December 30, 2021
Mughals were the barbaric invaders who destroyed much of Hindu civilisation, religion, demography, culture etc. They are a root cause for creation of Pak, BD & of most other problems India has been facing. And you call them settlers or refugees? Shame on you #naseeruddinshah https://t.co/u08kRmePpL
— M. Nageswara Rao IPS(R) (@MNageswarRaoIPS) December 30, 2021
And this contribution to music and culture wasn’t possible without taking the indigenous population as slaves and destroying their places of worship. https://t.co/6RREXezezM
— Nivedita Tiwari (@TiwariNivedita) December 29, 2021
You can watch the entire video of his interview here.
Do you agree with what Naseeruddin Shah has to say? Tell us.