While we laud soldiers for facing deadly situations, we need to think of those who may not be gunning down the enemy, but are stationed at risky places for a living.
Ace Anchor: Thousands risk death in war-torn countries simply to earn a living
Ever had to work in a place which could blow up any moment? Or where you could get abducted by militants on your way to the office? While we laud soldiers for facing deadly situations, we need to think of those who may not be gunning down the enemy, but are stationed at risky places for the sole purpose of earning a living.
Take the case of Arup Biswas (name changed on request) who works for a financial organisation. Posted in Kabul, Afghanistan, for three years, he has witnessed many scary situations including rocket attacks because of the US embassy situated near his office.
“Once there was this huge bombing of a US security agency in the city, about three kms away from where our office is. I still shudder to think that I had passed that area just an hour earlier,” he recounts, adding that simple chores like going to the market area gave him the jitters. “Kidnapping attempts were uppermost on my mind. Socialising was nil. We saw a kid with his face and arms scarred from a bomb blast,” he reveals, still shattered.”
Bharati M and Adik Kadam, who have set up an NGO ‘Borderless World’ in Kashmir’s Kupwara district for orphaned girls, have had their share of hair raising experiences too. “We were once stopped in Lolab valley by a group of seven gun-toting young militants. They were about to hit Adik. I started telling them about our feelings for the people in the valley. After that, we started a friendly chat with them. While departing, they told Adik, ‘Bharati is our sister too. Take care of her,’” recounts an emotional Bharati.
Manoj Desai, who produced ‘Khuda Gawah’ in 1992, most of which was shot in Kabul says, “Producers were worried as around Rs 800 crore were riding on those actors, which included Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi. There was a curfew in Kabul and we had to return thrice from Delhi. It was a huge gamble. We were all scared because we could hear exchange of fire and there was bombardment just 15 kilometres away from where we were shooting. But fortunately, the locals were wonderful. Kabul TV showed one Bachchan film everyday till we were there.”
Recently Akbar Khan’s ‘Taj Mahal’ was shot in Ladakh at 14,600 ft above sea level where temperatures hovered below minus six degree celcius. Akbar Khan says, “My unit has faced harsher conditions than the Kargil soldiers.” Arshad Warsi who is currently shooting in Kabul for Kabir Khan’s ‘Kabul Express’ discloses, “The security has been terribly strict since we came here, as we realise the danger. But the locals are guarding us with their lives.”
Films shot in Kashmir
Roja
Mission Kashmir
Yahaan
Sheen
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