Key facts
- Javed Akhtar responded to a social media troll
- Declared 'My qaum are all Indians', reaffirmed atheism
- Akhtar has been a longtime public advocate for secularism
Javed Akhtar fired back at an online troll with characteristic precision this week, declaring 'My qaum are all Indians' and once again making clear that he considers himself an atheist — not a member of any religious community. The exchange, which surfaced on social media, quickly gained traction, with many users applauding the veteran lyricist for his directness.
Akhtar, one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated writers, has long been an outspoken advocate for secularism and rationalism. His response was not merely a personal rebuttal but a restatement of a worldview he has championed publicly for decades — that national identity supersedes religious or communal affiliation.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of public figures being targeted online with attempts to assign them a communal identity, often in inflammatory terms. Akhtar's refusal to accept that framing, and his insistence on a pan-Indian identity, struck a chord with a wide cross-section of followers.
The exchange is a reminder of the contested terrain of identity and belonging in contemporary India, where social media has amplified both communal provocation and the voices pushing back against it. For Akhtar, the message was simple and unambiguous: he belongs to no qaum other than India itself.