Gulzar goes back to India

OUP confir­ms Gulzar and Vishal Bhardw­aj have return­ed, Indian High Commis­sion denies involv­ement in sendin­g him back.

 

Published: February 13, 2013

Indian poet Gulzar. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE

KARACHI: Oxford University Press (OUP) confirmed that Indian poet Gulzar, along with director Vishal Bhardwaj, has gone back to India soon after reaching Pakistan through the Wagah border.
“Regretfully, Gulzar returned to India via Wagah border today. It is a great loss for his readers and admirers in Pakistan,” Managing Director of OUP Ameena Saiyid told The Express Tribune via email.
Saiyid added that she did not have any direct information about a security threat. “I was taken by surprise by his sudden unplanned departure. I was getting ready to receive him at the Karachi airport tomorrow when I heard that he has returned to India.”
Another OUP official also confirmed that Gulzar and Bhardwaj have returned to India.
The Indian High Commission, when contacted by The Express Tribune, however denied involvement in sending Gulzar back.
First Secretary Press and Information of Indian High Commission Janardan Singh said that Gulzar’s visit was private and they were not aware of his itinerary. He refuted media reports which suggested that Gulzar was sent back to India by the high commission.
Bhardwaj told NDTV that their return from Pakistan was not due to political reasons.
He said that Gulzar was emotionally overwhelmed after visiting his birthplace in Dina after 70 years, and had to be escorted back to India immediately. The trip was made to record a song for his new film ‘Dedh Ishqia’ but the recording was cancelled as well, he added.
“There is nothing political about it. We plan to visit Pakistan again for recording as soon as Gulzar Saab feels better,” Bhardwaj was further quoted as saying.
Earlier during the day, media reports suggested that Gulzar was sent back to India from Wagah border due to certain “security concerns”.
Gulzar and Bhardwaj were due to participate in the fourth Karachi Literature Festival.
The festival will be attended by more than 200 literary luminaries from Pakistan and overseas. The event is free-of-charge and will run all day long from 10am to 7pm over a three-day period from February 15 to February 17.
British-Pakistani novelist Nadeem Aslam will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the festival.