On India's 79th Independence Day, veteran writer, poet, and lyricist Javed Akhtar gave a sharp retort to an Islamophobic troll who insinuated he should be celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day. Akhtar's response became a powerful statement, reminding the troll of his family's sacrifices for India's freedom.
Akhtar had initially posted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, wishing his followers a Happy Independence Day. He reminded everyone that freedom wasn't freely given but was earned through the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters who went to jail and faced the gallows for the country's independence. He urged people to safeguard this precious gift of freedom.
In response to Akhtar's Independence Day greetings, a troll questioned why he wasn't celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day, which falls on August 14th. This remark played into the stereotype that Indian Muslims are more aligned with Pakistan.
Akhtar, known for not mincing his words, responded strongly to the troll. He reminded the troll that while their forefathers might have been "licking the boots of the British," his ancestors were suffering in "Kaala Pani" (Cellular Jail) for the freedom of India. He finished his reply with a Hindi phrase that translates to, "Stay within your limits,".
Akhtar's response quickly went viral, with many praising him for his strong stance against bigotry and for reminding people of the contributions of his family to India's freedom struggle. Akhtar's great-great-grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair for fighting against the British during the 1857 revolt.
This isn't the first time Akhtar has faced such targeting on social media. He has often been subjected to similar comments from right-wing trolls who question his patriotism and suggest he belongs to Pakistan because he is Muslim. In the past, Akhtar has responded to trolls questioning his happiness over India's win against Pakistan in a cricket match with equal firmness. He has previously called out trolls for spreading communal hatred and reminded them of his family's sacrifices for the nation.
