Should Pakistan Artistes Be Allowed To Showcase Their Talent in India

Art is a form of human expression. It won’t be wrong to say that it signifies human evolution. In
Leo Tolstoy’s words: “To evoke in oneself a feeling one has experienced, and… then, by means
of movements, lines, colors, sounds or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling - this
is the activity of art.” In my opinion there are no boundaries for an artist. An artist is known for
his art, his work and nobody has the right to ban him. Artists are those people who are talented
and god gifted and that’s why we call them the artist.

Reasons to allow Pakistan artistes in India:

It’s a very serious issue and big enough to be discussed but artists, they are simply artists who
are working hard day and night just to entertain us. Be it from Pakistan or India, talking about
Pakistani artists they have their own families in Pakistan Artist like Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hassan,
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Amrish Puri etc has always glorified Indian music industry. Now also,
artists like Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali khan usually have high demand in Major concerts all
over the country.

They have families living back at Pakistan, a nation which is not known for its understanding
and compassion. It is clear that the artists are silent only because they do not want to risk the
lives of their dear ones and also face hatred and life threatening welcome in their country. They
should not be judged based on their silence. There are so many other ways in which India is still
dealing and trading with Pakistan. We love their lawn fabric to the core. We are all for their
Coke Studio music. It is only the actors who have nothing to do with politics and diplomacy that
are being made scapegoats of.

It is unfortunate that all this kicking out actors and singers are somewhere diverting the main
agenda of stressing on the need to keep retaliating with Pakistan. One counter strike is definitely
not enough to maintain pressure. The terror outfits needs to be tracked all the time and shown
their right place, despite Pakistan being unhappy about it.

Extremists wouldn’t be affected if we kick out the artists. A silent protest from the nation that
has taken enough of mindless terrorism from this diplomatic and sadistic nation would be a ban
on the artists of Pakistan. This would send out a strong message that we wouldn’t in any case
tolerate the ones who do not have compassion for humanity and lives of our soldiers.
We Indians strongly believe and follow the saying “ATHITHI DEVO BHAVA”. These artists
are also like our guest. What we are required to do is, acknowledge and appreciate their talent
than to blame them on the basis of crime committed by a bunch of persons. Pakistan as a country
as we all know always has evil stances towards India but that does not make all Pakistani’s bad
or evil. Artist also should not be addressed or famed by the name of his/her country but by the art
provided by him/her.

Reasons for not to allow Pakistan artistes in India:

Interestingly the Pulwama Terror Attack and Surgical Strike 2 isn't the first time when Fawad
and other Pakistani artists did not respond. It is to be noted that Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and
Ali Zafar were the ones to denounce terror attacks in Paris but they didn’t react when it came to
offering condolence to the victims of Pathankot and Uri. It clearly shows that though they earn
their bread in our country while staying safe due to our soldiers, they have no empathy for the
lost lives of Indians. Fawad released a statement for World peace, but did not condemn the act
of terrorism. In comparison, Mahira Khan strongly condemned the act of terrorism on any soil.

It would have been understandable if they were asked to speak against Pakistan and they refused.
Essel Group chairman Subash Chandra approached the Pakistani actors and asked them to
simply condemn the terror attacks but they straightaway denied. Our fellow citizens, actors and
even politicians condemned the Peshawar attack on the school that killed hundreds of children.
Even those who openly bear enmity to Pakistan stood against the cruelty.

The best example among many Indian movies banned in Pakistan is Phantom which portrayed
26/11 attack took place in Mumbai. JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed filed
a plea against the movie and Pakistan was quick to act like the good pet it is to terrorists. They
cannot stand the truth against a terror group. When we want a global isolation of the terror
breeding country, Pakistan, we need to remember to begin the charity at home first. We need to
send back their artists to send a strong message to the whole world that we are very much serious
about the global isolation and not just into some family drama where we fight and make up.

Soldiers fighting at the borders, is their duty towards their motherland but what about our duties?
As the citizens of a country whose people and soldiers have bled at the hands of mindless
terrorism from this sadistic nation, we need to do our own peaceful but powerful protest.
Banning them is not spreading hatred, but showing that we care more for the lives of our soldiers
than our love for the artists. The United States boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and the
Russians did likewise when they boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. This is what
happens when national interest is held paramount. And this must happen now.

Bollywood actors and producers are unknowingly helping Pakistan to build up its anti India
propaganda machine. When Bollywood celebrities are showcasing their movies in Pakistan due
to their greed to increase their revenue shares, these celebrities and our government should know
to calculate the ripple effect it can cause. For our nation's interest, Indian series and movies
industry should suspend every tie with Pakistan because it can revive the anti India propaganda
machine. Well, the main point is to retaliate Pakistan. Our surgical strike is not enough for them.
To remove the roots of terrorism, we have to fight unanimously against the terrorism.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) announced a ban on Pakistani artists in the
country, saying they will resort to strong action against anyone who collaborates with talent from
Pakistan. The announcement comes in the aftermath of the February 14 terror attack on Central
Reserve Police Force troopers in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. Henceforth Music label T-
Series has pulled down all the songs by Pakistani artists from its YouTube channel.

When the nation is going through tough times, when its sovereignty is challenged and humanity
is compromised, as a citizen, there must prevail a stronger and collective sense of sympathy,
solidarity with fellow citizens and a larger sense of justice in the wake of national interest.

Hence, ban on Pakistani artists might send a strong message all over the globe that we Indians
are not going to tolerate those people who are uncompassionate for Indian soldiers and humanity.

“Nation comes first, we stand with our nation.”

Bibliography:

1. CarrerRide.com
2. Scoopwhoop.com
3. Dailyo.in