Culture war

Published April 28, 2025

THE heightened tensions between India and Pakistan have sealed the fate of Abir Gulaal. Slated for a May release and starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, the film now faces a ban in India. Plagued with boycott calls by extremists since it was announced, the new statement from The Federation of Western India Cine Employees not only pulls the plug on the movie but declares war on Pakistan’s cultural forays: “...we have been made aware of the recent collaboration with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan for the Hindi film Abir Gulaal. In light of the recent attack in Pahalgam, FWICE is once again compelled to issue a blanket boycott on all Pakistani artistes, singers and technicians participating in any Indian film or entertainment projects … occurring anywhere in the world.” Reportedly, the BCCI is mulling a ban on bilateral cricket with Pakistan.

India’s far-right ideologues and their supporters have worked overtime to instil animosity and hate; the venomous discourse on its mainstream media and social media platforms is at dangerous levels whereby, in a deeply prejudiced and polarised society, large swathes are pitted against the Muslim minority and ‘Pakistani’ has morphed into a slur. One can safely say that, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India, a cricket match between the two nuclear-armed neighbours or even a random cultural event is fraught with danger for Pakistani stars and spectators. We have seen worse times — the Gujarat pogrom to cite just one — but reasonable leaderships ensured that a system of checks and balances prevented a deluge of fake news and emotionally charged language in print and electronic media. But the past is indeed another country. Today, exaggerated sentiments along with a range of communal issues have afflicted daily life in India; even the opposition parties and many progressive activists sing diluted versions of the same tune. Resultantly, the perceived war on Pakistani culture is, in reality, the monster of hate turning on its own. Fanaticism breeds its own culture, which is often hard and insular, and its impacts are difficult to erase. The Indian government should do its citizens a favour, and distance itself from the binding forces of sports, arts and culture. Their core duty is to ensure that sociopolitical pressures do not rise to a point where social cohesion lies in tatters. Cultural collaborations mean socioeconomic growth, unity, and serve as social safety valves.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025

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