Anupam Kher’s recently released film The Kashmir Files, isn’t just one of the most successful Bollywood films of all time – it is also the biggest hit of Kher’s coveted career.
The versatile actor, who has vowed a generation of moviegoers with his diverse craft in films ranging from ‘comedies’ to ‘dramas’, has beautifully depicted the plight of Kashmiri Pundits in this recently released Vivek Agnihotri film.
Based on real stories and first-hand encounters of people from the mass exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley back in the early 1990’s, the hard-hitting subject and brutal depiction in the film has touched a resounding chord with the masses across the nation, making it one of the biggest hits of the past many years.
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Now as the subject of Kashmiri Pundits, is being discussed widely – like never before, a file footage from the time featuring Kher, has been going viral.
The footage is from the year 1993, and it sees the actor addressing a group of victims of the exodus and violence, in one of the first such gatherings.
Anupam, whose family was also a victim of the terror that engulfed the northern Indian state, is heard saying in the video:
“Dukh hota hai ki ye sab kaise ho gaya. Mere dada ji ka ek chota sa kamra tha… aur jab bhi vaha jata tha chhuttiyon mein. mai sochta tha ki iss kamre ki jitni bhi kitaabe hain, bo main mere dada ji ke baad mai apne sath le jaaunga… vo choti si unki almaari… jismein unki bahumulya… kitabon ka koi mulya nahi tha… jitna bhi paise de do… unn kitabo ko nahi kharida ja sakta…”
He further adds:
“Sakht afsos hua jab pata laga ki mere dada ji ke baad, mere gharwalon ko… taya ji ko, chacha ko… vo chodh kar ek tute foote truck mein… darre hue… apna hi ghar chodh ke… hazaon kilometre door rehna pada.”
He further gives assurance to the crowd that one day they will all go back to the place that is rightfully their ‘home’:
“Jab humara apna ghar hai… toh hum apne ghar jayenge… aur koi taakat humein apne ghar jaane se rok nahi sakti….”
Watch the heart-wrenching speech below:
For whatever reasons the story of Kashmiri Pundits was put in a box and never discussed for nearly 30 years, we’re now glad the plight of the community is now being heard across the world.
Every soul that suffered due to any form of radicalization deserves rehabilitation and justice.