Shobhaa De at KLF 2012. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS/FILE
The KLF organisers tweeted from their account:
“Shobhaa De cancelled because she said her visa was issued too late. She'd like to attend #KLF next year and we hope very much that she does”
The Mumbai-born writer tweeted from her own account late on Wednesday that the delay in her visa was the main cause for her decision. Though, she gave into some conspiracy talk speculating whether the visa was deliberately delayed.
“Pakistani visa was too late! Gulzar had his reasons for not attending the KLF. I was so looking forward to it. Someone didn't want me there?”
Earlier in the day, Gulzar and Bhardwaj returned to India apparently over security fears.
Last month, Pakistani diplomats were unable to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival when they were not given the required travel permissions to attend the event.
COMMENTS (28)
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@Aman ki Asha(Indian): Please read full statement of Gulzar as to why he had to go back on the web.... ET please take notice and stop spreading false news....
http://dawn.com/2013/02/15/gulzar-apologises-to-people-festival-organiser/
Event is organized in the most peaceful area of the city so there are no security risks. Karachi is the heart of Pakistan there are problems in some areas of the city but rest of the city is as lively as Mumbai.
@ecopakistani:
The perception of Pakistan has taken a beating in recent times and that is the reason
I do genuinely belive things can be improved but some one has to show courage
Pakistan should highlight its natural beauty, its cuisine, arts to the world
@Billoo Bhaya:
I think many people are hyping the security situation,Karachi is a mega city,i am sure some areas are dangerous and most of the city is safe to go for foreigners too
@irfan khan:
Sir things will improve soon and many Indians would be keen to visit your country including me
@Rana:
Thanks Sir, i always hear that Pakistanis are very hospitable. I will like to visit your beautiful country and i do not care about the security issues which are overhyped anyway
apparently, this seems a tit for tat action.
We do care & respect all the literary personalities like Great Gulzar Sahib including Shobhaa De, we expect there may not be any dirty political game involved in sudden exit of Gulzar Sahib. According to my observation, organizers of the event found to be least capable of handling such a prestigious event and failed to provide proper security to respectable guests. It’s not hidden from anyone that there are some serious security risks here, so it’s understandably necessary to be mentally prepared for such kind of threats at first place if any, because millions of people including me are feeling shocked and heartbroken specifically by quick exist of Gulzar Sahib without providing and reasons to his admirers!! We have great respect for Gulzar Sahib, Kaifi Azmi (Late), Javed Akhtar Sahib, Lata Sahiba and many more!
Personally I have always dreamed about seeing Lata Sahiba more than anyone else! She is a true legend & asset of India possessing something magical which no else one can even imagine!
@make an example: "Tit for tat. Indian government did this first as stated in report. But our Pakistani VIPs don’t want to be mentioned."
Actual Indian government did not stop Pakistani authors and poets. They participated in Jaipur literary festival and then proceeded to Calcutta literary festival. Visas were only denied to Pakistani bureaucrats.
How can visa be too late when it was issued on Feb 13, two days before the event starts? It takes a few hours, at most half a day, of logistics to get here from India, wherever Shoba De is. Seems she didn't want to come or was told not to by someone in her country not to and she's blaming Pakistanis. I have my 'shuba' jee.
Aman Ki Asha Aman Ki Asha
Aman Ki Asha Aman Ki Asha
Aman Ki Asha Aman Ki Asha
Aman Ki Asha Aman Ki Asha
Aman Ki Asha Aman Ki Asha
Sad! Wish Gulzar Sahib & Shobhaa De Sahiba would have attended the festival!
This lady is a veru well known writer. Its a big loss.
And our Pakistani artists are dying to go to our neighbouring country....What a shame!
Whats wrong with us? Why cant we arrange for proper security for foreigners? India is arranging sports events, literary events,arts events and even international conferences while we are being shown the door. Security situation is indeed worrisome due to which we lose a lot of revenue.
My friend Saaz Agarwal is there in Karachi releasing her book Stories of Sindh. Wonder what she will say about KLF when she returns. In any case, Best of Luck for the Success of KLF. I could not come to release my book One Life to Ride but its on Amazon in case anyone is interested in travelling through India on a motorcycle and reaching Kargil through the pages of a book! Will certainly attend KLF next time - when hopefully relations between governments is better.
who is she?
@GS@Y: You are right. De is not a writer who should be invited to a literary meeting. She writes sensational novels. There are much better Indian writers who write in English or other Indian languages.
It seems like tit for tat, it is sad that the governments of both countries are not serious to normalize relations, well the hate goes on.
Tit for tat. Indian government did this first as stated in report. But our Pakistani VIPs don't want to be mentioned.
So many people live safely and happily in Karachi. Indians are essentially saying that everyone visiting Karachi will be killed. Does Pakistan really want such people visiting Karachi?
"Last month, Pakistani diplomats were unable to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival when they were not given the required travel permissions to attend the event"
ET: Misleading. You should have mentioned that the authors and poets were allowed - it is just bureaucrats that were denied permission.
Apparently mutual fingering is the state policy of both the counties!
Hopefully, next year in better atmosphere , Pak will have more participants from neighboring countries..
I don't feel safe in Karachi and try not to go there, why would anyone in the world want to go there?? Anybody visiting Karachi is putting their life at risk. Pakistan needs to get is security services and judiciary in line, so that terrorists are sent to jail and not given bail to run a riot. Until then its not worth living in this country.
Who cares.....!!!
Sad, but since it's a literary festival, perhaps Shobha De being there would have been a bigger irony.
Kalti Litrature Festival.