Chicago – August 16, 2026
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has expressed solidarity with students and young people facing hardship in Jharkhand, criticizing the lack of coverage of their plight in mainstream media.
In a recorded message, Shah said he had initially chosen not to comment because he did not believe it was necessary to speak on every issue or express every emotion publicly. However, he said the suffering of young men and women had become impossible to ignore, particularly because, in his view, their situation was receiving little attention in mainstream news coverage.
Addressing the students, Shah dedicated a recitation of the poem The Wall by renowned poet Zehra Nigah to them. The poem portrays people whose hands are bound and tongues have become powerless, yet who gradually realize that meaningful change requires unity, courage and collective action rather than words alone.
Shah urged the students to stand together, join hands and challenge the forces he described as obstacles to the country’s future. He concluded by saluting their courage and offering his prayers and best wishes, saying that they were the people capable of guiding the nation safely through the storm.
