“My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy,” writes filmmaker Shonali Bose

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

August 19, 2019 - 5:45 PM IST

Filmmaker Shonali Bose penned down a lengthy note about the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and how she is unable to get in touch with actor Zaira Wasim, with whom she has been working on her latest project.

“My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy,” writes filmmaker Shonali Bose

In the post, Bose lashed out at the decision to split J&K into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. She wrote, “It has been two weeks since the unprecedented communication blockade of Jammu and Kashmir. My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s. The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations. But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures. I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory? Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly. For me, the shock and anger at this unconstitutional act is laced with sorrow at how our own people must be feeling in this part of our country. Feelings we can only imagine - as there is still a blackout!”

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#NotmyIndia. It has been two weeks since the unprecedented communication blockade of Jammu and Kashmir. My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s. The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations. But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures. I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory? Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly. For me the shock and anger at this unconstitutional act is laced with sorrow at how our own people must be feeling in this part of our country. Feelings we can only imagine - as there is still a blackout! On a personal level I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened. Zaira was very worried that something terrible was afoot because of the sudden influx of massive troops. I reassured her not dreaming something so draconian and unprecedented could be carried out. And since then I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in the film in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now. #NotmyIndia
A post shared by Shonali Bose (@shonalibose_) on Aug 17, 2019 at 10:16pm PDT

Shonali Bose recently wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming film The Sky Is Pink. The film has Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim playing pivotal roles. Referring to Zaira Wasim as her “child”, she wrote about how she has not been able to communicate with her for several days.

She wrote, “On a personal level I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened. Zaira was very worried that something terrible was afoot because of the sudden influx of massive troops. I reassured her not dreaming something so draconian and unprecedented could be carried out. And since then I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in the film in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now. #NotmyIndia”

On August 5, the Indian Government had announced the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. They also announced their decision of giving Jammu and Kashmir the status of a Union Territory. Ahead of the announcements, the state was put under a communication blackout, which is now being lifted in parts.

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