8th June 2023, Mumbai: Actor Mansha Pasha, hailing from Pakistan, has responded to a recent assertion made by seasoned Bollywood performer Naseeruddin Shah regarding the status of the Sindhi language in Pakistan. Expressing her disagreement, Mansha took to Twitter to counter Naseeruddin’s claim.
Naseeruddin Shah’s comments on the linguistic landscape of Pakistan were brought up during the recent promotions for the second season of the web series Taj: Divided By Blood. The actor remarked that Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan, asserting that languages like Balochi, Bari, Siraiki, and Pushto have taken precedence. However, Mansha Pasha, proud of her Sindhi heritage and actively speaking the language within her household, respectfully differed from Naseeruddin’s viewpoint on Twitter.
Mansha’s response drew both praise and criticism, as many individuals accused her of making uninformed statements. The feedback to Naseeruddin’s comment highlighted the significance of Sindhi as the official language of Pakistan’s Sindh province, spoken by millions of Pakistanis. Comments from various people expressed their love for Sindhi, with one individual sharing their experience of being part of a Sindhi family where the language thrives, expressing hopes of passing it on to their children. However, the frustration with Bollywood actors feigning knowledge about Pakistan and a request to stay within their domain of discussing films was also voiced.
Another comment sarcastically credited Bollywood personalities for their confidence in asserting that Pakistan lacks knowledge, particularly regarding Sindhi, emphasizing that passing a Sindhi exam is a requirement for high school graduation in Sindh. The remark highlighted the presence of Sindhi television, poetry, music, dramas, and newspapers, further contesting Naseeruddin’s claim.
It’s worth mentioning that Naseeruddin Shah last appeared in Taj: Reign of Revenge’s second season, alongside Aditi Rao Hydari, Rahul Bose, Sandhya Mridul, and Zarina Wahab. The series premiered on Zee5 on May 12, 2023.
-by Kashvi Gala