Javed Akhtar silences troll with fiery response on Independence Day: Apni auqat mein raho...

Javed Akhtar's reply on slamming troll goes viral

Renowned lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar used the social media platform X to provide a moving reminder of the sacrifices made during the country's fight for independence on the occasion of India's 79th Independence Day, which was observed on August 15. Many people were moved by his message, but it also angered an internet troll who tried to discredit his patriotism.

Jawed Akhtar’s original post carried both celebration and caution. He 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.”

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…

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) August 15, 2025

While many responded with appreciation, one user mockingly suggested that Akhtar ought to observe Independence Day on 14 August, the date associated with Pakistan’s independence.

The veteran writer did not hold back in his response. He retorted sharply:

“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).”

His reference to Kaala Pani alluded to the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, where countless Indian revolutionaries endured brutal imprisonment under colonial rule.

Jawed Akhtar’s words were not merely rhetorical. His family lineage is steeped in the history of India’s freedom struggle. His great-grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a poet and staunch nationalist who issued a fatwa endorsing the revolt of 1857.

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For this, he was exiled to the Andamans, where he eventually perished. His grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, and father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, also made their mark as poets, penning verses that championed liberty, justice, and resistance against oppression.

By invoking both his personal heritage and the sacrifices of countless unnamed martyrs, Akhtar underscored the value of independence and the responsibility of safeguarding it. His exchange serves as a powerful reminder that India’s freedom was not easily won, and should never be taken for granted.