On India’s 79th Independence Day, veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar took to X (formerly Twitter) to extend his wishes. He shared a message, reminding his followers that freedom was earned through immense sacrifices by numerous freedom fighters, not simply given. A troll reacted to Javed Akhtar’s message with a disgraceful comment suggesting he should celebrate Independence Day on August 14 instead. For those unaware, India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15, while Pakistan’s is on August 14. Javed Akhtar shut down the troll with a powerful reminder that his ancestors laid down their lives fighting for India’s freedom.
On August 15, Javed Akhtar wished his fans on Independence Day, and wrote, “Happy Independence Day to all my Indian sisters and brothers . Let’s not forget this independence was not given to us on a platter . Today we must remember and salute those who Went to jails and those went to gallows for getting us Azaadi . Let’s see that we never lose this precious gift." Soon after, a troll commented, “Aapka happy independence to 14th August hai," insinuating that he should celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Undeterred, Javed Akhtar retorted, “Beta jab tumhare baap dada angrez ke joote chaat rahe thay mere buzurg desh ki aazadi ke liye kaala pani mein mar rahe thay . Apni auqat mein raho (Son, while your forefathers were licking the boots of the British, my ancestors were dying in Kala Pani for the country’s freedom. Know your place)."
Kaala Pani refers to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, where freedom fighters faced harsh imprisonment during British rule. For the unversed, Javed Akhtar’s great-grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1797–1861), was a distinguished Indian Islamic scholar, poet, and freedom fighter who opposed British rule and supported the Indian Rebellion of 1857 through a fatwa, leading to his exile to the Andaman Islands, where he passed away. His paternal grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, and father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, were also celebrated poets known for their works on freedom, resistance, and social justice.
Source: News18
