As the controversy over Javed Akhtar's remarks last month at the International Faiz Festival 2023 had barely died down, the Indian lyricist's comments back home about his visit to Pakistan have generated even more heat on social media.
In a video, a moderator asked Akhtar about the environment and atmosphere of Pakistan, whether it was really in a state of chaos and disarray as the media had been painting it, or whether "all was well" in the deeply troubled country.
Not surprisingly, Javed Akhtar said that he could not see any poverty or poor people in Lahore. He said he visited Lahore thrice, and could not see any beggars on the street or slums in the neighbourhoods. He contrasted it to Delhi and Mumbai, where he said that the wealthy and the poor existed side-by-side, and the poverty could not be hidden away.
https://twitter.com/nighatdad/status/1631097753584701441
Akhtar, however, conceded that Pakistan might have become efficient at managing or hiding its poverty, if it hadn't truly dealt with it.
At this, many Pakistanis commentators are quick to point out that the Indian celebrity would have been hosted in a manicured, manufactured 'bubble' of niceties and beautiful scenery, rather than the harsh realities of life that the average Pakistani had to face.
Netizens also said that Javed Akhtar would not be able to see the poverty and slums of Lahore, or anywhere in Pakistan, if he wasn't able to escape the 'bubble' of 'old money' elites that host him whenever he visits the country.
Given the growing trust deficit between the rival South Asian neighbours, both armed with nuclear weapons, it seems unlikely that such 'people to people' exchanges can lead to any meaningful thaw in the bilateral relationship.
In a video, a moderator asked Akhtar about the environment and atmosphere of Pakistan, whether it was really in a state of chaos and disarray as the media had been painting it, or whether "all was well" in the deeply troubled country.
Not surprisingly, Javed Akhtar said that he could not see any poverty or poor people in Lahore. He said he visited Lahore thrice, and could not see any beggars on the street or slums in the neighbourhoods. He contrasted it to Delhi and Mumbai, where he said that the wealthy and the poor existed side-by-side, and the poverty could not be hidden away.
https://twitter.com/nighatdad/status/1631097753584701441
Akhtar, however, conceded that Pakistan might have become efficient at managing or hiding its poverty, if it hadn't truly dealt with it.
At this, many Pakistanis commentators are quick to point out that the Indian celebrity would have been hosted in a manicured, manufactured 'bubble' of niceties and beautiful scenery, rather than the harsh realities of life that the average Pakistani had to face.
Netizens also said that Javed Akhtar would not be able to see the poverty and slums of Lahore, or anywhere in Pakistan, if he wasn't able to escape the 'bubble' of 'old money' elites that host him whenever he visits the country.
Given the growing trust deficit between the rival South Asian neighbours, both armed with nuclear weapons, it seems unlikely that such 'people to people' exchanges can lead to any meaningful thaw in the bilateral relationship.