Are Migrant Labourers Aliens?
The decision to cancel Question Hour in Parliament has become a subject of discussion in the media. But people have not been specially concerned about this as the government not been giving the right answer to any question. In many instances, the government provided questions as the answers to questions! Even when the government answered some questions, the country’s media did not show any interest in them. Besides, when the answers to all the questions is just one name, Modi, the government must have realized that there is no need to waste time by allowing time for questions and must have done away with Question Hour.
The response to the questions on lockdown and the deaths of migrant labourers shows the prevalent atmosphere in the country. Although the heart-wrenching plight of migrant workers who walked for miles together during the lockdown to reach their destinations, their struggles, and battle for life and death caught the attention of the global media, this government does not have any information about this it seems! The government has said that it does not have any mechanism at the district level to collect information about the migrant labourers. At the same time, officials have also been claiming that mechanisms are in place at the municipality levels to collect the information of births and deaths according to the parameters developed a few years ago. The government has also clarified that it has not taken any action to rehabilitate migrant labourers who have lost their jobs or done anything for those who died during the lockdown.
There are two ways in which the government’s answer can be interpreted. First, the government does not consider migrant labourers as citizens of the country and therefore has shirked away from its responsibility of reacting to their plight. Second, it is reluctant to reveal the numbers that it has. According to a source, the government has collected information about migrant labourers. This has been revealed through an RTI application filed by ‘The Wire’. In its answers to RTI applications filed in 18 divisions of the Indian Railways, it has been confirmed that about 80 people – including two newborn babies and one 86-year old person - have died in Shramik Trains. But this number does not reflect their true struggles. These migrant labourers were forced to return to their hometowns in a situation where it was impossible for them to live in cities. But as there were no vehicles to travel, they had to walk hundreds of kms. Their long journeys on road was reported extensively on the front pages of the media. Some of them died mid-way during their journey and some even died of hunger. Even after they reached their hometowns, it was difficult for them to gain entry into their villages as villagers were not willing to accept them. They found themselves in precarious situations where they had to be quarantined under trees or on the side of roads. Had the government extended a helping hand to these migrant labourers, it should have known the numbers. The government’s statement that it has no records shows that it has not provided any succour to them.
The answers to the question as to why lockdown has failed in the country or how the Coronavirus has reached the community level can be found in the government’s response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced lockdown unilaterally without making any preparations as he did during demonetization. The objective of a lockdown is to stop people from coming in touch with each other and thereby making sure that the Coronavirus does not spread. But the government’s objective failed within one week. Similar to how honeybees leave their honeycombs in cities due to the smoke that emanates from fire, soon after the lockdown was announced migrant labourers started gathering in bus shelters and on roads. With shops shut, markets closed, and people hiding in their homes, migrant labourers threw the rules to the wind and appeared to have decided they would rather die of the Coronavirus instead of perishing in hunger. Some of them who were walking along railway lines died on the tracks with trains running over them. Lockdown failed as it was announced hastily without considering the problems that migrant labourers, who make up such a huge chunk of our population, could face.
The Coronavirus spread and reached the community level through migrant labourers. The sacrifices made by people during the lockdown failed due to the irresponsibility of the government. The government’s statement that it has no information or data about migrant labourers reveals that the government has not yet woken up to the reality of the problems of labourers and still believes that ‘Ambanis’ and ‘Adanis’ comprise the country.
It seems that the government considers migrant labourers as aliens. The government has also forgotten that these migrant labourers are the foundation for the development of cities. How will a building survive when it does not have a sound foundation? The migrant labourers who lost their livelihood after demonetization were completely destroyed after lockdown. Rebuilding the lives of migrant labourers should be the first priority of the government. To achieve this, the government should gather the relevant information, including the number of people who died, and the present situation of those who are alive. It is high time the government realizes that the country cannot make progress without rebuilding the lives of migrant labourers.
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Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol unveil ‘DDLJ’ sculpture at London’s Leicester Square
London (PTI): Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol huddled under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in London to unveil their bronze likeness from an iconic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ scene.
The sculpture of the duo joins Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail depicting memorable shots from some of the world’s most famous films, with ‘DDLJ’ marking a Bollywood first and the 30th anniversary of the 1995 box-office hit. It is in this popular London square that SRK as Raj and Kajol as Simran first cross paths unknowingly.
“DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why 'DDLJ' has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now," said Khan.
“Personally, 'DDLJ' is part of my identity, and it is humbling to see film, and Kajol and me, receiving so much love since it was released,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Heart of London Business Alliance, behind the cinematic trail at Leicester Square, for celebrating ‘DDLJ’ and “immortalising” its lead stars.
“Seeing ‘DDLJ’ become the first Indian film to be honoured in the iconic Scenes in the Square trail is an emotional moment and has brought back so many memories.
"I feel immense pride knowing the film has been embraced around the world, and I want to share this moment with the entire cast and crew of ‘DDLJ’, my friend and director Aditya Chopra and the Yash Raj Films family. This is a moment I will never forget,” added Khan.
Kajol, joined by her daughter Nysa and son Yug, posed with Khan in front of the statue as she braved the rain in a green saree.
“It’s incredible to see ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ continue to receive so much love, even 30 years later. Watching the statue being unveiled in London felt like reliving a piece of our history - a story that has truly travelled across generations,” said Kajol.
“Seeing it find its rightful place in Leicester Square, a location of such enormous significance to ‘DDLJ’, makes this moment even more special. For the film to be honoured in this way in the UK – the first Indian film to receive such recognition – is something that will forever stay in the hearts and minds of all the ‘DDLJ’ fans across the world,” she said.
Their statue, captured in a dancing pose from the hit song ‘Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna’, joins the likes of Harry Potter, Bridget Jones, Mary Poppins, and Batman in what is dubbed as an ever-growing celebration of movie magic in a square packed with multiplex cinema screens.
“When ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, DDLJ, was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe," said Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films.
“We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in UK.
“We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognised on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema,” he said.
Since its release in 1995, ‘DDLJ’ has become the longest-running film in Hindi cinema history.
Ros Morgan, Chief Executive at Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “We’re proud to welcome global megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to our Scenes in the Square trail.
"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a cinematic phenomenon that has shaped generations, and London’s first tribute to Indian cinema honours a story whose magic continues to captivate audiences worldwide.”
It is a particularly special year for the film, with a musical based on the romance playing to packed houses at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year. Aditya Chopra reprised his role as director of the English language stage production, ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical’, which revolved around the love story of Simran and Roger.
The script was a nod to the original as it followed Simran as a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India in an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger.
Bade Bade Deshon Mein, Aisi Chhoti Chhoti Baatein Hoti Rehti Hain, Senorita!
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 4, 2025
Thrilled to unveil the bronze statue of Raj & Simran at London’s Leicester Square today, celebrating 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)!
Incredibly delighted that DDLJ is the first Indian… pic.twitter.com/8wjLToBGYc
