Abhimanyu Mathur (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2020)

When filmmaker Anurag Kashyap reached Jamia Millia Islamia on Friday afternoon to address the anti-CAA/NRC protesters gathered there, people had been waiting for him for hours. “We all felt defeated for a long time,” the director said, addressing the crowd, “I had even quit social media. But when you guys started your protest, it gave me strength, enough strength that I decided to come back and speak my mind again.” Kashyap had deleted his Twitter account after being targeted by trolls early last year but joined the platform again, a few months ago. The director spoke to the protesters outside the University’s gate no. 7 for about half an hour. He said, “It is easy to start a movement but always difficult to sustain one. You people have been doing that and it is inspiring to see.” He even talked about his old association with Jamia. “This is the first time I am coming here. And that is because I could not get admission in this college. I tried but couldn’t get through. Toh ab issi tarah aana hua,” he said with a laugh.

Hundreds of protesters and bystanders swamped the road. Some even climbed walls and barricades to see the filmmaker speak. “I know you are worried about the silence of several prominent people,” he said, responding to a query from one of the protesters, “But let me tell you, there are many who’re supporting you despite being silent. Kuch logon ki majboori hai ki woh bol nahi sakte hain. Bas itna hai!” When some protesters on stage asked him to raise slogans to boost the morale of the protesters, he quipped, “Inko kya himmat doon. Inse toh mujhe himmat milti hai.”