Is it necessary to crucify me: Naseeruddin Shah apologises to Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan

Renowned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has found himself embroiled in a heated controversy after making statements claiming that Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan. The comments, which were made during recent promotions of his web series Taj: Divided By Blood, sparked a wave of criticism and led to a strong backlash from the Pakistani community.

Taking to his official Facebook page on Sunday, Shah once again issued an apology to the Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan, acknowledging his mistake and expressing regret for any offence caused. Shah wrote on Facebook, "Okay, okay. I apologise to the entire Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan who I seem to have deeply offended by my mistaken opinion." 

Speaking on the matter further, he continued, "I admit I was ill-informed but is it necessary to crucify me for that? “Let him who is free from…” as Jesus said. Actually, I’m quite enjoying being called ‘ignorant’ and ‘pretend intellectual’ after many years of being mistaken for an intelligent person. It’s quite a change!"

Pakistani actor Mansha Pasha, who hails from a Sindhi background, took to Twitter to express her disagreement with Shah's claims. She tweeted, "As a proud Sindhi, who speaks the language within her household, I beg to differ." Pakistani actor Yasir Nawaz also joined the criticism and shared a video of himself lip-syncing to a Sindhi song, showcasing his support for the language.

Shah's comments, response, and level of backlash - all highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity. However, it is also a lesson, perhaps, in the importance of owning up to one's mistake. The entire matter requires nuance, given that an entire community was mistakenly overlooked by the actor. However, given that the actor has apologised twice, it will be interesting to note if forgiveness is on the cards.

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