My name is not Khan, I am Mr. Kaul.
Courtesy: [http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/my-name-is-not-khan](http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling)
Tarun Vijay
I am not Khan. My name bears a different set of four letters: K A U L. Kaul. As those who know Indian names would understand, I happened to be born in a family which was called Hindu by others. Hence, we were sure we would never get a friend like Karan Johar (KJ) to make a movie on our humiliations, and the contemptuous and forced exile from our homeland. It's not fashionable. It's fashionable to get a Khan as a friend and portray his agony, pains, and sufferings when he is asked by a US private to take off his shoes and show his socks. Natural and quite justifiable that Khan must feel insulted and enraged. Enough Masala to make a movie.
But unfortunately, I am a Kaul. I am not a Khan.
Hence, when my sisters and mothers were raped and killed, when six-year-old Seema was a witness to the brutal slaughtering of her brother, mother, and father with a butcher's knife by a Khan, nobody ever came to make a movie on my agony, pain, anguish, and tears.
No KJ would make a movie on Kashmiri Hindus. Because we are not Khans. We are Kauls.
When we look at ourselves as Kauls, we also see a macabre dance of leaders who people Parliament. Some of them were really concerned about us. They got the bungalows and acres of greenery, and had their portraits worshipped by the gullible devotees of patriotism.
They made reservations in schools and colleges for us in many other states. But never did they try that we go back to our homes. They have other priorities and 'love your jihadi neighborhood' programs. They get flabbier and flabbier with the passing of each year, sit on sacks of sermons, issue instructions to live simply and follow moral principles delivered by ancestors and kept in documents treated with time-tested preservatives.
They could play with me because my name is Kaul. And not Mr. Khan. I saw the trailer for this fabulous movie, which must do good business at the box office.
There was not even a hint that terror is bad and it is worse if it is perpetuated in the name of a religion that means Peace. Peace be upon all its followers and all other creatures too.
So you make a movie on the humiliation of taking off shoes to a foreign police force which has decided not to allow another 9/11.
The humiliation of taking off the shoes and the urge to show that you are innocent is really too deep. But what about the humiliation of leaving your home and hearth and the world and the relatives and wife and mother and father? And being forced to live in shabby tents, at the mercy of nincompoop leaders encashing your misery and bribe-seeking babus? And seeing your daughters growing up too sudden and finding no place to hide your shame?
No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie, a telling, spine-chilling narration on the celluloid, of five-year-old Seema, who saw her parents and brother being slaughtered by a butcher's knife in Doda. Because her dad was not Mr. Khan. He was one Mr. Kaul.
Sorry, Mr. Kaul and your entire ilk. I can't help you.
It's not fashionable to side with those who are Kauls. And Rainas. And Bhatts. Dismissively called KPs. KPs means Kashmiri Pandits. They are a bunch of communalists. They were the agents of one Mr. Jagmohan who planned their exodus so that Khans can be blamed falsely. In fact, a movie can be made on how these KPs conspired their own exile to give a bad name to the loving and affectionate Khan brothers of the valley.
To voice the woes of Kauls is sinful. The right course to get counted in the lists of the Prime Minister's banquets and the President's parties is to announce from the rooftop: hey, men and ladies, I am Mr. Khan.
The biggest apartheid the state observes is to exclude those who cry for Kauls, wear the colors of Ayodhya, love the wisdom of the civilizational heritage, dare to assert as Hindus in a land which is known as Hindustan too and struggle to live with dignity as Kauls. They are out and exiled. You can see any list of honors and invites to summits and late-evening gala parties to toast a new brand. All that the Kauls are allowed is a space at Jantar Mantar: shout, weep and go back to your tents after a tiring demonstration. Mr. Kaul, you have got the wrong name.
A dozen KJs would fly to take you atop the glory - posts and gardens of sympathies if you accept to wear a Khan name and love a Sunita, Pranita, Komal or a Kamini. Well, here you have a sweetheart in Mandira. That goes well with the story.
And you pegged the movie plot on autism.
I wept. It was too much. I wept as a father of a son who needed a story as an Indian. Who cares for his autistic son, his relationship with the western world, his love affair with a young sweet something as a human, as someone whose heart goes beyond being a Hindu, a Muslim or a proselytizing Vatican-centric aggressive soul. Not the one who would declare in newspaper interviews: "I think I am an ambassador for Islam". Shah Rukh is Shah Rukh, not because he is an ambassador for Islam. If that was true, he could have found a room in Deoband. Fine enough. But he became a heartthrob and a famous star because he is a great actor. He owes everything he has to Indians and not just to Muslims. We love him not because he is some Mr. Khan. We love him because he has portrayed the dreams, aspirations, pains, anguish and ups and downs of our daily life. As an Indian. As one of us.
If he wants to use our goodwill and love for strengthening his image as an ambassador for Islam, will we have to think to put up an ambassador for Hindus? That, at least to me, would be unacceptable because I trust everyone: a Khan or a Kaul or a Singh or a Victor. Who represents India represents us all too, including Hindus. My best ambassadorship would be an ambassadorship for the tricolor and not for anything else because I see my Ram and Dharma in that. I don't think even an Amitabh or a Hritik would ever think in terms Shah Rukh has chosen for himself. But shouldn't these big, tall, successful Indians who wear Hindu names make a movie on why Kauls were ousted? Why Godhra occurred in the first place? Why nobody, yes, not a single Muslim, comes forward to take up the cause of the exiled and killed and contemptuously marginalized Kauls whereas every Muslim complainant would have essentially a Hindu advocate to take on Hindus as fiercely as he can?
If you are Mr. Khan and found dead on the railway tracks, the entire nation would be shaken. And he was also a Rizwan. Maybe it's just a coincidence that our Mr. Khan in the movie is also a Rizwan.
Rizwan's death saw the police commissioner punished and cover stories written by missionary writers. But if you are a Sharma or a Kaul and happened to love an Ameena Yusuf in Srinagar, you would soon find your corpse inside the police thana and NONE, not even a small-time local paper would find it worthwhile to waste a column on you. No police constable would be asked to explain how a wrongly detained person was found dead in police custody?
Because the lover found dead inside a police thana was not Mr. Khan. No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie on 'My name is Kaul. And I am terror-struck by Khans'.
Give me back my identity as an Indian, Mr. Khan, and I would have no problem even wearing your name and appreciating the tender love of an autistic son.
From India, Madras
Courtesy: [http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/my-name-is-not-khan](http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling)
Tarun Vijay
I am not Khan. My name bears a different set of four letters: K A U L. Kaul. As those who know Indian names would understand, I happened to be born in a family which was called Hindu by others. Hence, we were sure we would never get a friend like Karan Johar (KJ) to make a movie on our humiliations, and the contemptuous and forced exile from our homeland. It's not fashionable. It's fashionable to get a Khan as a friend and portray his agony, pains, and sufferings when he is asked by a US private to take off his shoes and show his socks. Natural and quite justifiable that Khan must feel insulted and enraged. Enough Masala to make a movie.
But unfortunately, I am a Kaul. I am not a Khan.
Hence, when my sisters and mothers were raped and killed, when six-year-old Seema was a witness to the brutal slaughtering of her brother, mother, and father with a butcher's knife by a Khan, nobody ever came to make a movie on my agony, pain, anguish, and tears.
No KJ would make a movie on Kashmiri Hindus. Because we are not Khans. We are Kauls.
When we look at ourselves as Kauls, we also see a macabre dance of leaders who people Parliament. Some of them were really concerned about us. They got the bungalows and acres of greenery, and had their portraits worshipped by the gullible devotees of patriotism.
They made reservations in schools and colleges for us in many other states. But never did they try that we go back to our homes. They have other priorities and 'love your jihadi neighborhood' programs. They get flabbier and flabbier with the passing of each year, sit on sacks of sermons, issue instructions to live simply and follow moral principles delivered by ancestors and kept in documents treated with time-tested preservatives.
They could play with me because my name is Kaul. And not Mr. Khan. I saw the trailer for this fabulous movie, which must do good business at the box office.
There was not even a hint that terror is bad and it is worse if it is perpetuated in the name of a religion that means Peace. Peace be upon all its followers and all other creatures too.
So you make a movie on the humiliation of taking off shoes to a foreign police force which has decided not to allow another 9/11.
The humiliation of taking off the shoes and the urge to show that you are innocent is really too deep. But what about the humiliation of leaving your home and hearth and the world and the relatives and wife and mother and father? And being forced to live in shabby tents, at the mercy of nincompoop leaders encashing your misery and bribe-seeking babus? And seeing your daughters growing up too sudden and finding no place to hide your shame?
No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie, a telling, spine-chilling narration on the celluloid, of five-year-old Seema, who saw her parents and brother being slaughtered by a butcher's knife in Doda. Because her dad was not Mr. Khan. He was one Mr. Kaul.
Sorry, Mr. Kaul and your entire ilk. I can't help you.
It's not fashionable to side with those who are Kauls. And Rainas. And Bhatts. Dismissively called KPs. KPs means Kashmiri Pandits. They are a bunch of communalists. They were the agents of one Mr. Jagmohan who planned their exodus so that Khans can be blamed falsely. In fact, a movie can be made on how these KPs conspired their own exile to give a bad name to the loving and affectionate Khan brothers of the valley.
To voice the woes of Kauls is sinful. The right course to get counted in the lists of the Prime Minister's banquets and the President's parties is to announce from the rooftop: hey, men and ladies, I am Mr. Khan.
The biggest apartheid the state observes is to exclude those who cry for Kauls, wear the colors of Ayodhya, love the wisdom of the civilizational heritage, dare to assert as Hindus in a land which is known as Hindustan too and struggle to live with dignity as Kauls. They are out and exiled. You can see any list of honors and invites to summits and late-evening gala parties to toast a new brand. All that the Kauls are allowed is a space at Jantar Mantar: shout, weep and go back to your tents after a tiring demonstration. Mr. Kaul, you have got the wrong name.
A dozen KJs would fly to take you atop the glory - posts and gardens of sympathies if you accept to wear a Khan name and love a Sunita, Pranita, Komal or a Kamini. Well, here you have a sweetheart in Mandira. That goes well with the story.
And you pegged the movie plot on autism.
I wept. It was too much. I wept as a father of a son who needed a story as an Indian. Who cares for his autistic son, his relationship with the western world, his love affair with a young sweet something as a human, as someone whose heart goes beyond being a Hindu, a Muslim or a proselytizing Vatican-centric aggressive soul. Not the one who would declare in newspaper interviews: "I think I am an ambassador for Islam". Shah Rukh is Shah Rukh, not because he is an ambassador for Islam. If that was true, he could have found a room in Deoband. Fine enough. But he became a heartthrob and a famous star because he is a great actor. He owes everything he has to Indians and not just to Muslims. We love him not because he is some Mr. Khan. We love him because he has portrayed the dreams, aspirations, pains, anguish and ups and downs of our daily life. As an Indian. As one of us.
If he wants to use our goodwill and love for strengthening his image as an ambassador for Islam, will we have to think to put up an ambassador for Hindus? That, at least to me, would be unacceptable because I trust everyone: a Khan or a Kaul or a Singh or a Victor. Who represents India represents us all too, including Hindus. My best ambassadorship would be an ambassadorship for the tricolor and not for anything else because I see my Ram and Dharma in that. I don't think even an Amitabh or a Hritik would ever think in terms Shah Rukh has chosen for himself. But shouldn't these big, tall, successful Indians who wear Hindu names make a movie on why Kauls were ousted? Why Godhra occurred in the first place? Why nobody, yes, not a single Muslim, comes forward to take up the cause of the exiled and killed and contemptuously marginalized Kauls whereas every Muslim complainant would have essentially a Hindu advocate to take on Hindus as fiercely as he can?
If you are Mr. Khan and found dead on the railway tracks, the entire nation would be shaken. And he was also a Rizwan. Maybe it's just a coincidence that our Mr. Khan in the movie is also a Rizwan.
Rizwan's death saw the police commissioner punished and cover stories written by missionary writers. But if you are a Sharma or a Kaul and happened to love an Ameena Yusuf in Srinagar, you would soon find your corpse inside the police thana and NONE, not even a small-time local paper would find it worthwhile to waste a column on you. No police constable would be asked to explain how a wrongly detained person was found dead in police custody?
Because the lover found dead inside a police thana was not Mr. Khan. No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie on 'My name is Kaul. And I am terror-struck by Khans'.
Give me back my identity as an Indian, Mr. Khan, and I would have no problem even wearing your name and appreciating the tender love of an autistic son.
From India, Madras
What you wish to communicate. What the Moderators doing for this Post,,, An action can be taken,,,,
From India, Coimbatore
From India, Coimbatore
I thought this was a platform for HR, a truly global community. Mean-minded people fanning communal hatred should be outlawed here.
Movies are movies. Today, the Khan story inspires, maybe tomorrow it will be another one. The purpose of the blog as posted here beats me! I could come up with so many examples from the other side to counter these jealous ravings. But then, to have a positive attitude, one tries to see positivity in everyone. Never try to take on the garbage other people try to dump on you because of their frustrated, miserable life. It just spoils your day and is truly not worth the effort!!! Have a good day.
Jai Hind!
From United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Movies are movies. Today, the Khan story inspires, maybe tomorrow it will be another one. The purpose of the blog as posted here beats me! I could come up with so many examples from the other side to counter these jealous ravings. But then, to have a positive attitude, one tries to see positivity in everyone. Never try to take on the garbage other people try to dump on you because of their frustrated, miserable life. It just spoils your day and is truly not worth the effort!!! Have a good day.
Jai Hind!
From United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Excellent Article! I dont think anyone should deserve special treatment based on their religion or surname.
I've never noticed Mr. Mohammed or Mr. Faisal resorting to such protests on any non-HR article on Citehr in the past! We can guess what their desperation is all about.
It may not be the right forum, but no problem, Mr. Kaul. We are not insensitive to human crisis. Omar Abdullah has invited people back home who crossed over to P.O.K. (on their own wishes to join an Islamic land) but no effort has been made till date for Kashmiri Pandits who were FORCED to flee. Omar ain't got any intention either to welcome KPs back! Your article gives a good insight into the double standards of media, politics, and people alike.
From India, New Delhi
It may not be the right forum, but no problem, Mr. Kaul. We are not insensitive to human crisis. Omar Abdullah has invited people back home who crossed over to P.O.K. (on their own wishes to join an Islamic land) but no effort has been made till date for Kashmiri Pandits who were FORCED to flee. Omar ain't got any intention either to welcome KPs back! Your article gives a good insight into the double standards of media, politics, and people alike.
From India, New Delhi
Thank you, Mamta, for reading this article objectively without adding any bias towards any religion. Hopefully, Peer and Faizal would comprehend the suffering of Kashmiri Pandits, who are now refugees in their own country. It truly is a shame for all of us.
From India, Madras
From India, Madras
It's not about Khan or Kaul, it's about mankind... when we feel sorry for "Rizwan," why not for KPs? How can you ask a person to live a refugee's life in his own country... It doesn't matter whether he is Khan, Kaul, or Robert... Members, please don't take the article as a personal attack.
From India, Madras
From India, Madras
I agree with what Kaul is saying. Is Hindu bashing okay in this country? I personally feel that there is nothing communal in this blog. Let us not, in the garb of secularism, brand this outpouring of grief as communal.
Regards,
Vgane
Regards,
Vgane
Don't Kauls get minority quota benefits? It's all about the minority, minority. Maybe the story of KP's should be portrayed by a KP. Aren't there any good KP writers? The whole blog is just rambling on. It starts out by accusing, then tries to keep a political balance. Everyone feels sorry for the oppressed. I guess KP are no worse off than Palestinians or Sudanis, etc. I don't know about refugee life though. A lot of us hard-core Indians are worse off!
Anyway, the film "My Name is Khan" is great, a true blockbuster. I didn't see any Hindu bashing in that. Like the blogger said, if it was "My Name is Kaul," it wouldn't carry a punch at all and would be the biggest flop in history. If this blog hadn't been posted here, nobody would have glanced at it. I hope this doesn't become a habit.
By the way, don't KPs have other generic surnames or is it only Kaul? I thought Kauls were Punjabis!
And Hindu bashing! And overly sensitive people! Where does that happen? If the responses to the thread objected, it's not against Hindus for God's sake! Guess who are the most racist people on this planet? Do a Google search.
From United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Anyway, the film "My Name is Khan" is great, a true blockbuster. I didn't see any Hindu bashing in that. Like the blogger said, if it was "My Name is Kaul," it wouldn't carry a punch at all and would be the biggest flop in history. If this blog hadn't been posted here, nobody would have glanced at it. I hope this doesn't become a habit.
By the way, don't KPs have other generic surnames or is it only Kaul? I thought Kauls were Punjabis!
And Hindu bashing! And overly sensitive people! Where does that happen? If the responses to the thread objected, it's not against Hindus for God's sake! Guess who are the most racist people on this planet? Do a Google search.
From United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Dear Mamta, Refrain from your statements & Usage of Words Dont Jump into Conclusion & try to Judge... The statement of yours shows your character & maturity,,,,
From India, Coimbatore
From India, Coimbatore
This YOu must have done before releasing of My Name is Khan.. Its just a mere Publicity..Axsion..
From India, Madras
From India, Madras
I think the thread starter just wanted to present his side of view; it's just what he and people like him faced during those tough times. Let us respect his feelings on this, and we hope all Indians should get what they deserve as citizens of this country.
I request all not to take this personally.
From India, New Delhi
I request all not to take this personally.
From India, New Delhi
Thanks for your support. As you rightly said, this thread is created only to create awareness among our people about the inequality meted out by our politicians and media persons. Hope you know that Omar Abdulla, Kashmir CM, has invited people from POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) to come back to Kashmir, but not Kashmiri Pandits who are inherently the sons of the Kashmir soil.
Regards, Krishna
From India, Madras
Regards, Krishna
From India, Madras
Krishna and others,
Every argument has two sides. Both sides think they are right. There is a famous saying, "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist!"
Let us not stoke any unwanted feelings on this site. By arguing, there is no end. We are all just armchair enthusiasts. If anyone feels strongly, why not get up and search for the nearest KP camp and do something to uplift them, including this in your CSR. Just typing a few lines won't do any good for anybody.
All of us, let us ignore these posts and move forward. Peer and Faisal, you both need to relax. There are many such barbs that will come and go. If you take cognizance, it's an issue; otherwise, it's just any other post. By the way, the response to MNIK in Mumbai during the opening day is a vindication that our people have started realizing the futility of fundamentalists to create rifts.
Let us look forward with hope.
Regards,
Sajan
From India, Hyderabad
Every argument has two sides. Both sides think they are right. There is a famous saying, "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist!"
Let us not stoke any unwanted feelings on this site. By arguing, there is no end. We are all just armchair enthusiasts. If anyone feels strongly, why not get up and search for the nearest KP camp and do something to uplift them, including this in your CSR. Just typing a few lines won't do any good for anybody.
All of us, let us ignore these posts and move forward. Peer and Faisal, you both need to relax. There are many such barbs that will come and go. If you take cognizance, it's an issue; otherwise, it's just any other post. By the way, the response to MNIK in Mumbai during the opening day is a vindication that our people have started realizing the futility of fundamentalists to create rifts.
Let us look forward with hope.
Regards,
Sajan
From India, Hyderabad
Hi Guys,
I would like to begin with Dr. Farooq Nazki's free verse... Som Nath Sadhu Tere Naam....
Tu Janta hai,
Teri maa Kamli, mere darr se Kashmir chhod kar bhag gayi hai
Aur wo thaal
jismai wo hum donoo ke liye khana parosa karti thi
Wo bhi sath le gayi hai
Faqat tumhara dost ....Farooq....
I understand, and my heart goes out to all those people, not only Kashmiri Pandits, but to all those from Kashmir to Poonch, Doda, Palestine, Iraq, East Africa, and many more, for they have seen the days. We will never be able to feel the pain they have suffered, as mentioned by my brother Mr. Kaul. But at the same time, it's important to understand the fact that movie directors make movies on the subject which appeals to their directional sense and not on the subjects which we, as common people, believe can be great movies.
An idea can flash in anybody's mind at any point in time, as we all know that Karan Johar has made this movie not because he feels that a particular religion is misinterpreted, but just because Shahrukh happens to be his friend who has been subjected to disgrace at some airport in the US and also because of the media hype that this particular religion is a religion of terror, etc.
Dear brother Kaul, kindly try to understand that there is nothing to take offense to. You must be aware that one of the greatest theatre directors happens to be a Kashmiri Pandit. Has he tried to make any movie on his community? No...it does not mean that he does not love his community or he has not felt or realized this pain of exile, etc...it's just because the idea did not flash in his mind or even if it did, the idea did not appeal to him much...there can be many reasons....
I really appreciate the concern you have for your community.
But for God's sake, stop talking in terms of Kauls and Bhatts...time has changed, and we are living in the 21st century.
God Bless You, my dear brother Mr. Kaul.
From India, Delhi
I would like to begin with Dr. Farooq Nazki's free verse... Som Nath Sadhu Tere Naam....
Tu Janta hai,
Teri maa Kamli, mere darr se Kashmir chhod kar bhag gayi hai
Aur wo thaal
jismai wo hum donoo ke liye khana parosa karti thi
Wo bhi sath le gayi hai
Faqat tumhara dost ....Farooq....
I understand, and my heart goes out to all those people, not only Kashmiri Pandits, but to all those from Kashmir to Poonch, Doda, Palestine, Iraq, East Africa, and many more, for they have seen the days. We will never be able to feel the pain they have suffered, as mentioned by my brother Mr. Kaul. But at the same time, it's important to understand the fact that movie directors make movies on the subject which appeals to their directional sense and not on the subjects which we, as common people, believe can be great movies.
An idea can flash in anybody's mind at any point in time, as we all know that Karan Johar has made this movie not because he feels that a particular religion is misinterpreted, but just because Shahrukh happens to be his friend who has been subjected to disgrace at some airport in the US and also because of the media hype that this particular religion is a religion of terror, etc.
Dear brother Kaul, kindly try to understand that there is nothing to take offense to. You must be aware that one of the greatest theatre directors happens to be a Kashmiri Pandit. Has he tried to make any movie on his community? No...it does not mean that he does not love his community or he has not felt or realized this pain of exile, etc...it's just because the idea did not flash in his mind or even if it did, the idea did not appeal to him much...there can be many reasons....
I really appreciate the concern you have for your community.
But for God's sake, stop talking in terms of Kauls and Bhatts...time has changed, and we are living in the 21st century.
God Bless You, my dear brother Mr. Kaul.
From India, Delhi
I would like to request everyone to refrain from writing or encouraging these sorts of articles. Here, when we attach a file or post an informative article, we don't look or care whether it is a Kaul or a Khan who is going to read or benefit. What I am trying to say is we have communal love, understanding, and a sense of respect and care for each other. SO PLEASE DON'T TRY TO CREATE ANY NEGATIVITY OR PLEASE DON'T SOW A SEED OF HATRED AMONGST THE USERS. It is just a request.
From Netherlands
From Netherlands
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