Naseeruddin Shah says celebs silent on students' protest are like 'dogs with bone'
Naseeruddin Shah has backed students protesting at Jantar Mantar and questioned Bollywood's silence. His remarks came as the agitation over exam irregularities and alleged police action drew wider film industry support.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has questioned Bollywood's silence over the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar demanding education reforms, saying many celebrities may be staying quiet because it suits them. Speaking to The Wire, Shah said some A-list stars had not spoken out even as the protests dominated national headlines over the past week.
His remarks came hours after he released a video message expressing solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and criticising the police action against them. The protests, which began last month, have intensified in recent days as students demand talks with the Central government and seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the examination system.
Asked why several top film stars had remained silent, Shah said, "They’ll do it when their conscience tells them to. There’s a saying: a dog with a bone in its mouth can’t bark. As soon as the bone drops out of their mouth, or it breaks their teeth, then they will bark." When asked if he believed people were suppressing their conscience because they were benefitting from their silence, he replied, "Absolutely, yeah," and added, "And how long can they do that? Time will tell."
In his video message, Shah said, "I would like to say two things to you all. The first thing is that if an uneducated person leads this country, then his heart will want the whole country to become as ignorant, incomprehensible, and merciless as he is. After completing two illustrious acting courses from the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), what I have learned the most about the craft is from those children whom I have tried to teach."
He also condemned the alleged treatment of the protesters, saying, "I sympathise with them. I am emotional, and at the same time, my blood boils seeing how the youth are being tortured by those goons who remind me of the mask-wearing agents in America. Think about your own children too. One day, you will also have to face the consequences of your actions."
Addressing the students directly, Shah urged them to continue their movement despite the difficulties. He said, "Sometimes, think about your children, and also think that one day, you will also face the same fate. I want to tell all these children not to lose hope. Many people sympathise with you. Many people are with you. Keep fighting. I have always expected a lot from the nation’s youth, and my confidence in them has only got stronger now. I’d also like to tell the government, sab yaad rakha jayega (everything shall be remembered)."
Over the past two days, several members of the film industry have publicly backed the students, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhasker, Prakash Raj, Diljit Dosanjh, Riteish Deshmukh, Vir Das, Genelia Deshmukh, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Varun Grover, Anurag Kashyap, Vasan Bala, Seema Pahwa, Rajkummar Rao, Saumya Tandon and Ayush Sharma.
The protests at Jantar Mantar gathered momentum after educator and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike, which has now entered its 26th day. On Monday, students from across the country marched towards Parliament as the Monsoon Session began, and videos showing Delhi Police attempting to stop the march triggered widespread debate online.
Shah's comments and video message came at a time when the student protests have drawn growing support from sections of the film industry, even as he questioned the silence of many others. He backed the students publicly, criticised the alleged police action, and said the protesters should not lose hope as their demands for talks with the government continue.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has questioned Bollywood's silence over the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar demanding education reforms, saying many celebrities may be staying quiet because it suits them. Speaking to The Wire, Shah said some A-list stars had not spoken out even as the protests dominated national headlines over the past week.
His remarks came hours after he released a video message expressing solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and criticising the police action against them. The protests, which began last month, have intensified in recent days as students demand talks with the Central government and seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the examination system.
Asked why several top film stars had remained silent, Shah said, "They’ll do it when their conscience tells them to. There’s a saying: a dog with a bone in its mouth can’t bark. As soon as the bone drops out of their mouth, or it breaks their teeth, then they will bark." When asked if he believed people were suppressing their conscience because they were benefitting from their silence, he replied, "Absolutely, yeah," and added, "And how long can they do that? Time will tell."
In his video message, Shah said, "I would like to say two things to you all. The first thing is that if an uneducated person leads this country, then his heart will want the whole country to become as ignorant, incomprehensible, and merciless as he is. After completing two illustrious acting courses from the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), what I have learned the most about the craft is from those children whom I have tried to teach."
He also condemned the alleged treatment of the protesters, saying, "I sympathise with them. I am emotional, and at the same time, my blood boils seeing how the youth are being tortured by those goons who remind me of the mask-wearing agents in America. Think about your own children too. One day, you will also have to face the consequences of your actions."
Addressing the students directly, Shah urged them to continue their movement despite the difficulties. He said, "Sometimes, think about your children, and also think that one day, you will also face the same fate. I want to tell all these children not to lose hope. Many people sympathise with you. Many people are with you. Keep fighting. I have always expected a lot from the nation’s youth, and my confidence in them has only got stronger now. I’d also like to tell the government, sab yaad rakha jayega (everything shall be remembered)."
Over the past two days, several members of the film industry have publicly backed the students, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhasker, Prakash Raj, Diljit Dosanjh, Riteish Deshmukh, Vir Das, Genelia Deshmukh, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Varun Grover, Anurag Kashyap, Vasan Bala, Seema Pahwa, Rajkummar Rao, Saumya Tandon and Ayush Sharma.
The protests at Jantar Mantar gathered momentum after educator and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike, which has now entered its 26th day. On Monday, students from across the country marched towards Parliament as the Monsoon Session began, and videos showing Delhi Police attempting to stop the march triggered widespread debate online.
Shah's comments and video message came at a time when the student protests have drawn growing support from sections of the film industry, even as he questioned the silence of many others. He backed the students publicly, criticised the alleged police action, and said the protesters should not lose hope as their demands for talks with the government continue.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has questioned Bollywood's silence over the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar demanding education reforms, saying many celebrities may be staying quiet because it suits them. Speaking to The Wire, Shah said some A-list stars had not spoken out even as the protests dominated national headlines over the past week.
His remarks came hours after he released a video message expressing solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and criticising the police action against them. The protests, which began last month, have intensified in recent days as students demand talks with the Central government and seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the examination system.
Asked why several top film stars had remained silent, Shah said, "They’ll do it when their conscience tells them to. There’s a saying: a dog with a bone in its mouth can’t bark. As soon as the bone drops out of their mouth, or it breaks their teeth, then they will bark." When asked if he believed people were suppressing their conscience because they were benefitting from their silence, he replied, "Absolutely, yeah," and added, "And how long can they do that? Time will tell."
In his video message, Shah said, "I would like to say two things to you all. The first thing is that if an uneducated person leads this country, then his heart will want the whole country to become as ignorant, incomprehensible, and merciless as he is. After completing two illustrious acting courses from the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), what I have learned the most about the craft is from those children whom I have tried to teach."
He also condemned the alleged treatment of the protesters, saying, "I sympathise with them. I am emotional, and at the same time, my blood boils seeing how the youth are being tortured by those goons who remind me of the mask-wearing agents in America. Think about your own children too. One day, you will also have to face the consequences of your actions."
Addressing the students directly, Shah urged them to continue their movement despite the difficulties. He said, "Sometimes, think about your children, and also think that one day, you will also face the same fate. I want to tell all these children not to lose hope. Many people sympathise with you. Many people are with you. Keep fighting. I have always expected a lot from the nation’s youth, and my confidence in them has only got stronger now. I’d also like to tell the government, sab yaad rakha jayega (everything shall be remembered)."
Over the past two days, several members of the film industry have publicly backed the students, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhasker, Prakash Raj, Diljit Dosanjh, Riteish Deshmukh, Vir Das, Genelia Deshmukh, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Varun Grover, Anurag Kashyap, Vasan Bala, Seema Pahwa, Rajkummar Rao, Saumya Tandon and Ayush Sharma.
The protests at Jantar Mantar gathered momentum after educator and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike, which has now entered its 26th day. On Monday, students from across the country marched towards Parliament as the Monsoon Session began, and videos showing Delhi Police attempting to stop the march triggered widespread debate online.
Shah's comments and video message came at a time when the student protests have drawn growing support from sections of the film industry, even as he questioned the silence of many others. He backed the students publicly, criticised the alleged police action, and said the protesters should not lose hope as their demands for talks with the government continue.
