Salman
Subhash K Jha (DNA; August 18, 2015)

Salman Khan became a superhero on both sides of the border by carrying a lost six-year Pakistani girl back to her family in the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Movies have a way of ironing out the stickiest of situations. Now, there is a real-life Munni, (the name of the little girl who Salman rescues in BB) who goes by the name of Geeta, is an Indian and is stuck in Pakistan for the last 16 years. And now, inspired by the film wants to return to her parents. Salman was right when he ticked the girl off on NDTV during his long-distance interaction with Geeta and foster family in Pakistan on Barkha Dutt’s show. He also stoutly commended the girl’s adopted family for taking good care of the girl for all these years. He rightly pointed out that home for the girl was not India, a country she had not known or visited since her childhood, but Pakistan where she lives with her adopted family.

But more importantly, Geeta’s story raises these pertinent points.
- Her predicament is more infuriating than poignant. If the girl is stuck in Pakistan away from her biological family in India for so long why did she wake up to the fact that she wanted to go “home” now?

- Her simple, loving foster-parents in Pakistan who have looked after her for so many years, say Geeta decided she wanted to go back “home” after watching Bajrangi Bhaijaan. There she is in the seemingly impeccable care of a warm and loving family. And she wants to go “home”. Girl, you are home!

- The adoptive family seems caring, warm, secular and accommodating. They’ve given the girl the freedom to choose her faith – Hinduism and her nationality. And yet Geeta, sitting on Barkha’s show dressed up like a wannabe bride, was seen turning her nose up at the people who gave her a home and a place in their hearts. Apparently, she kept telling her adopted family that she doesn’t like being there with them anymore. Frankly, as a poster girl for Indo-Pak relations, Geeta’s stance doesn’t do any good.

- Her plea to go home doesn’t ring true. What is home to her? Isn’t that home with a loving, caring, indulgent family who seem to have spoilt her silly with their affections. How else does one explain her dismissive attitude towards her family? Geeta is neither little, nor lost. She just seems to be stuck with disease common to girls of a certain age in India. Salmania.