Summary Security concerns or emotional stress, it is great loss for his huge fan following in Pakistan.
KARACHI (AFP) – Leading Indian poet who won an Oscar for writing song lyrics for the smash hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire" has pulled out of Pakistan s top literary festival at the last minute, organisers said Wednesday.
Vishal Bhardwaj, an Indian director travelling with Gulzar, said there was "nothing political" about the withdrawal.
The 76-year-old was simply "emotionally overwhelmed and stressed" after visiting his birthplace, in Pakistan, for the first time in 70 years, Bhardwaj insisted.
But a Pakistani film director who met Gulzar during his visit, told AFP on condition of anonymity that he left the country "because of some security concerns".
Gulzar was scheduled to read from his poetry as well as take part in discussion groups and Shah said his absence would disappoint millions of admirers in Pakistan.
Oxford University Press confirmed that Indian poet Gulzar, along with director Vishal Bhardwaj, had gone back to India soon after reaching Pakistan through the Wagah border.
“Regretfully, Gulzar returned to India via Wagah border Wednesday. It is a great loss for his readers and admirers in Pakistan,” Managing Director of OUP Ameena Saiyid said.
Saiyid added that she did not have any direct information about a security threat. “I was taken by surprise by his sudden unplanned departure. I was getting ready to receive him at the Karachi airport tomorrow when I heard that he has returned to India.”
The move follows weeks of tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours sparked by the killings of five soldiers along the de facto border in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Syed Ahmed Shah, one of the organisers of the Karachi Literature Festival, confirmed Gulzar had pulled out -- just two days before the start of the event.
"We can t say about the reasons and circumstances that led to his return home without attending the festival," Shah told AFP.
Indian officials denied Pakistani media reports that they had advised the poet to return to India.
"Pakistan had welcomed him with great warmth and zeal two days ago as he is hugely popular as well in our country," Shah said.
"His arrival was a great confidence building measure between the two neighbours and had boosted morale of the people living across the border for a better future relationship."
First Secretary Press and Information of Indian High Commission Janardan Singh said that Gulzar’s visit was private and they were not aware of his itinerary. He refuted media reports which suggested that Gulzar was sent back to India by the high commission.
Bhardwaj said that their return from Pakistan was not due to political reasons. He said that Gulzar was emotionally overwhelmed after visiting his birthplace in Dina after 70 years, and had to be escorted back to India immediately.
The trip was made to record a song for his new film ‘Dedh Ishqia’ but the recording was cancelled as well, he added.
“There is nothing political about it. We plan to visit Pakistan again for recording as soon as Gulzar Saab feels better,” Bhardwaj was further quoted as saying.
