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BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Jallianwala Bagh: C Sankaran Nair called out a massacre - and shamed the British Empire
Long before India gained independence, one defiant voice inside the British Empire dared to call out a colonial massacre - and paid a price for Chettur Sankaran Nair, a lawyer, was one of the few Indians to be appointed to top government posts when the British ruled the country. In 1919, he resigned from the Viceroy's Council after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in Punjab, in which hundreds of civilians attending a public meeting were shot dead by British troops. On the 100th anniversary of the massacre, then UK Prime Minister Theresa May described the tragedy as a "shameful scar" on Britain's history in criticism of Punjab's then Lieutenant Governor, Michael O'Dwyer, led to a libel case against him, which helped spotlight the massacre and the actions of British a biography of Nair, KPS Menon, independent India's first foreign secretary, described him as "a very controversial figure of his time". Nair was known for his independent views and distaste for extremist politics, and spoke critically of colonial rule and even of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian independence hero who is now regarded as the father of the nation. Menon, who married Nair's daughter Saraswathy, wrote: "Only [Nair] could have insulted the all powerful British Viceroy on his face and opposed Mahatma Gandhi openly."Nair was not a familiar name in India in recent decades, but earlier this year, a Bollywood film based on the court case, Kesari Chapter 2- starring superstar Akshay Kumar - helped bring attention to his life. Nair was born in 1857 into a wealthy family in what is now Palakkad district in Kerala state. He studied at the Presidency College in Madras, acquiring a bachelor's degree before studying law and beginning his career as an apprentice with a Madras High Court 1887, he joined the social reform movement in the Madras presidency. Throughout his career, he fought to reform Hindu laws of the time on marriage and women's rights and to abolish the caste some years, he was a delegate to the Indian National Congress and presided over its 1897 session in Amraoti (Amravati). In his address, he held the British-run government "morally responsible for the extreme poverty of the masses", saying the annual famines "claimed more victims and created more distress than under any civilised government anywhere else in the world". He was appointed public prosecutor in 1899 and writes in his autobiography about advising the government on seditious articles in newspapers, including those by his close friend G Subramania Iyer, the first editor of The Hindu newspaper. "On many occasions… I was able to persuade them not to take any step against him."He became a high court judge in 1908 and was knighted four years moved to Delhi in 1915 when he was appointed a member of the Viceroy's Council, only the third Indian to hold the position. He was a fierce proponent of India's right to govern itself and pushed for constitutional reforms during his time on the council. Through 1918 and 1919, his dissent and negotiations with Edwin Montagu, then secretary of state for India, helped expand provisions of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms which laid out how India would gradually achieve wrote in his diary that he had been warned "that it was absolutely necessary to get him on my side, for Sankaran Nair wielded more influence than any other Indian". A pivotal moment in Nair's career as a statesman was the massacre in Jallianwala Bagh, when hundreds of unarmed Indians were shot dead in a public garden on the day of the Baisakhi festival. Official estimates said nearly 400 people were killed and more than 1,500 wounded by the soldiers, who fired under the orders of Brigadier General REH Dyer. Indian sources put the death toll closer to 1, writes in his 1922 book Gandhi and Anarchy about following the events in Punjab with increasing concern. The shooting at Jallianwala Bagh was part of a larger crackdown in the province, where martial law had been introduced - the region was cut off from the rest of the country and no newspapers were allowed into it."If to govern the country, it is necessary that innocent persons should be slaughtered at Jallianwala Bagh and that any Civilian Officer may, at any time, call in the military and the two together may butcher the people as at Jallianwala Bagh, the country is not worth living in," he wrote.A month later, he resigned from the council and left for Britain, where he hoped to rouse public opinion on the his memoir, Nair writes of speaking to the editor of The Westminster Gazette which soon published an article called the Amritsar Massacre. Other papers including The Times also followed suit."Worse things had happened under British rule, but I am glad I was able to obtain publicity for this one at least," Nair wrote. Nair's book Gandhi and Anarchy drew the ire of several Indian nationalists of the time after he criticised Gandhi's civil disobedience movement, calling it a "weapon to be used when constitutional methods have failed to achieve our purpose".But it was the few passages condemning Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, that became the basis for the libel suit against him in 1924. Nair accused O'Dwyer of terrorism, holding him responsible for the atrocities committed by the civil government before the imposition of martial law. A five-week trial in the Court of King's Bench in London ruled 11:1 in favour of O'Dwyer, awarding damages of £500 and £7,000 in costs to him.O'Dwyer offered to forgo this for an apology but Nair refused and paid of the depositions in the hearing were published daily in The Times. Nair's family says despite losing, the case achieved his purpose of having the atrocities brought to public attention. Nair's great-grandson Raghu Palat, who co-wrote the book The Case That Shook the Empire, with his wife Pushpa, says the case helped spark "an uproar for the freedom movement".It also showed that "there was no point in having a dominion status under the empire when the British cannot be expected to deal with their subjects fairly", adds Gandhi referred to the case several times, writing once that Nair had showed pluck in fighting without hope of victory, historian PC Roy Chaudhury later pointed losing the case, Nair continued with his career in India. He was chairman of the Indian Committee of the Simon Commission, which reviewed the working of constitutional reforms in India in died in 1934 at the age of his career, Menon notes, Nair "bent all his thoughts and energies on the emancipation of his country from the bondage of foreign domination and native custom. In this task, he achieved as much success as any man, wedded to constitutional methods".
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Akshay Kumar's Kesari 2 earns over Rs 15 Crore in North America
Kesari 2, starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, has achieved significant box office success, earning USD 1.79 million in North America and crossing Rs 80 crore in India. The film, based on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, has resonated with audiences. Akshay Kumar's fans are now anticipating his next release, Housefull 5. Akshay Kumar , R. Madhavan , and Ananya Panday 's Kesari 2 based on the life of Sir C Sankaran Nair is proving to be a long-distance runner at the box office. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi , the courtroom drama — based on Raghu and Pushpa Palat's acclaimed book The Case That Shook the Empire — has continued to attract audiences even 21 days after its release. The film has now amassed an impressive USD 1.79 million (Rs 15.33 crore) from the North American market alone in 20 days , reaffirming Akshay Kumar's solid fanbase and how the story about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre has connected with the masses. Operation Sindoor IPL suspended indefinitely amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan Pakistan appeals for loans citing 'heavy losses', later says X account hacked Can Pakistan afford a war with India? Here's a reality check Back home, Kesari 2 has been holding its ground steadily. In India, the film's total collection has crossed the Rs 80 crore mark, standing at Rs 83.15 crore after three weeks in theatres. Bringing to life a landmark legal battle during the British Raj that left a lasting mark on Indian history, Kesari 2 has earned praise for its gripping narrative and compelling performances. Akshay Kumar delivers a powerful portrayal of the lead protagonist, while R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday have impressed with their nuanced performances in crucial supporting roles. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo As Kesari 2 continues its respectable run, Akshay Kumar fans are now gearing up for his next release, Housefull 5 . Directed by Dostana fame Tarun Mansukhani, the fifth installment in the popular comedy franchise promises to be a laughter-packed entertainer, reuniting Akshay with his old co-stars Riteish Deshmukh , Abhishek Bachchan , and Fardeen Khan . Kesari 2 has now gone on to become the third biggest hit of Akshay's career since the pandemic, biggest being Sooryavanshi which earned Rs 195.55 crore and Sky Force being second with Rs 112.75 crore. His other big films have been Ram Setu with Rs 74.7 crore collection, Samrat Prithviraj with 68.25 crore and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Rs 65.96 crore.
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Business Standard
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Kesari 2 plagiarism row 'amicably resolved', shares poet Yahya Bootwala
Kesari 2, which stars Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday was earlier surrounded by controversy. Yahya Bootwala, a poet and YouTuber, accused the film's makers of stealing lyrics from his original poem on Jallianwala Bagh without his consent. Yahya posted a video of himself reciting the poetry on social media, alongside with a video clip from the movie in which Ananya Panday uses the same lines in her conversation. He later issued a statement, though, claiming that the matter between him and the filmmakers had been settled. So, what was the controversy all about? Know what happened and why this issue has recently gained media attention. 'Kesari 2' faces plagiarism allegations Bootwala previously posted a video on Instagram that contrasted the performance of his poem with a sequence from the movie in which Ananya Panday delivers remarkably similar lines. He also accused Sumit Saxena, who wrote the dialogue for the movie, of copying his work in his post. Yahya wrote on his Instagram, 'Sumit Saxena. I am sure you know this. The worst you can do as a writer is steal some other writer's work without crediting them for it." In order to demonstrate the remarkable resemblance between his original lines and the dialogue used, he also uploaded the video proof along with the note. In the message, Yahya Bootwala said, 'So @nisoooooooooorg sent me a clip 4 days back from the movie Kesari 2 of dialogues he felt were copied from my poem, titled Jallianwala Bagh, published 5 years ago on @unerasepoetry YouTube channel." ALSO READ | The poet added, 'Here are the two clips, and honestly, this is a clear copy-paste, and it's not like they've tried to hide it as well; matlab phusphusana jaisa shabd bhi uthaya hai. Yes, logo ke khayal mil sakte hai; people can think in a similar way, but kisi ek topic par bilkul ek jaisi lines likh dena is anything but a coincidence". Yahya Bootwala further added while slamming Sumit Saxena, 'As writers, the worst thing you can do to a fellow writer is pick their material up, blatantly use it without giving credits, and this is what I feel dialogue writer @ has done here. If you've ever felt attached to my work, please tag @karanjohar @karanstyagi @dharmamovies @akshaykumar and @ananyapanday so that this reaches them." 'Kesari 2' plagiarism row: Later post According to the spoken word artist's recent post, the issue has been resolved. Now, the post has been deleted. Using his Instagram account, Yahya wrote, 'So dosto, the producers and I have managed to amicably solve the issue in the best interest of both parties. Thank you guys for your support in these 2 days, you guys have been very kind." Later, the social media account, Instagram deleted his video post of him reciting the poetry together with a scene from the movie in which Ananya Panday utters the same lyrics as part of her speech. Produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the historical courtroom drama of 'Kesari 2' tells the tale of C. Sankaran Nair, a lawyer who opposed the British Raj following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Ananya Panday portrays young lawyer Dilreet Gill, R. Madhavan plays British barrister R. Neville McKinley, and Akshay Kumar plays Nair. The film was released on April 18, 2025.
News18
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kesari 2 Plagiarism Issue Resolved Amicably, Reveals Poet Yahya Bootwala
Last Updated: Kesari Chapter 2 faced controversy when Yahya Bootwala accused the makers of plagiarizing his poem. The issue has now been resolved amicably, as Yahya shared on Instagram. Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday, had earlier hit controversy when YouTuber and poet Yahya Bootwala accused the makers of lifting lines from his original poem on Jallianwala Bagh without permission. Taking to social media, Yahya shared a video showing himself performing the poem alongside a clip from the film where Ananya Panday delivers the same lines as part of her dialogue. In the latest update, the spoken word artist has revealed that the problem is solved now. Taking to his Instagram handle, Yahya wrote, 'So dosto, the producers and I have managed to amicably solve the issue in the best interest of both parties. Thank you guys for your support in these 2 days, you guys have been very kind." Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yahya Bootwala (@yahyabootwala) Earlier, Bootwala shared a video on Instagram comparing his poem's performance with a scene from the film, where Ananya Panday delivers strikingly similar lines. In his post, he also called out the film's dialogue writer, Sumit Saxena, accusing him of plagiarising his work. Along with the note, he also posted the video proof to show the striking similarity between his original lines and the dialogue used. In the note, Yahya Bootwala wrote, 'So @nisoooooooooorg sent me a clip 4 days back from the movie Kesari 2 of dialogues he felt were copied from my poem, titled Jallianwala Bagh, published 5 years ago on @unerasepoetry YouTube channel." 'Here are the two clips, and honestly, this is a clear copy-paste, and it's not like they've tried to hide it as well; matlab phusphusana jaisa shabd bhi uthaya hai. Yes, logo ke khayal mil sakte hai; people can think in a similar way, but kisi ek topic par bilkul ek jaisi lines likh dena is anything but a coincidence," the poet added. While slamming Sumit Saxena, Yahya Bootwala said, 'As writers, the worst thing you can do to a fellow writer is pick their material up, blatantly use it without giving credits, and this is what I feel dialogue writer @ has done here. If you've ever felt attached to my work, please tag @karanjohar @karanstyagi @dharmamovies @akshaykumar and @ananyapanday so that this reaches them." On his Instagram stories, Yahya wrote, 'Sumit Saxena. I am sure you know this. The worst you can do as a writer is steal some other writer's work without crediting them for it." The post has now been deleted. First Published:
News18
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kesari 2 Box Office Collection Day 10: Akshay Kumar's Film Earns More Than Its Opening Day
Last Updated: Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, is excelling at the box office, earning Rs 65.45 crore in 10 days. Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh is on fire at the box office! Akshay Kumar's action-packed sequel has managed to outdo its opening day earnings by a huge margin, showing no signs of slowing down even on Day 10. The film's steady rise in numbers continues to surprise. The period courtroom drama, which also stars R Madhavan and Ananya Panday, has been steadily drawing crowds. The film, which tells the gripping story of a lawyer challenging the British Raj post the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, is now seeing the rewards of its hard work on the big screen. Kesari 2 is back on track and how! After facing a slight dip during the weekdays, the film has roared back to life over the weekend. On its second Sunday (April 27), it raked in a stellar Rs 8.5 crore, surpassing its opening day collection of Rs 7.5 crore. With this impressive boost, the film's total earnings have surged to Rs 65.45 crore, as per Sacnilk. The historical drama, which brings to light the untold stories of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, saw an impressive 29.02 per cent Hindi occupancy on Sunday. Kesari Chapter 2 serves as a spiritual successor to Akshay Kumar's 2019 hit Kesari. This time around, Akshay steps into the shoes of lawyer C Sankaran Nair, taking on the British Empire in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. R Madhavan plays his courtroom rival, Neville McKinley, while Ananya Panday takes on the role of Dilreet Gill. Since its release, the film has been receiving positive reviews from both critics and audiences. A part of the film's review by News18 read, 'Kesari Chapter 2 is just a spiritual sequel to Kesari and has no connection to the Battle of Saragarhi. The only common link between both the films is Akshay Kumar and his story of relentless courage. But to be honest, Kesari Chapter 2 brings to the table so much more than chest-thumping patriotism and narabaazi. It largely is a courtroom drama and that precisely is what sets it apart from the plethora of other patriotic films. To put it more correctly, Kesari Chapter 2 is a historical film." First Published:
