Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has ignited a fresh debate on personal choice and religious attire with his candid comments on the burqa, calling it a product of "peer pressure." A video from his appearance at the SOA Literary Festival in November 2025 has gone viral, coinciding with the controversy surrounding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's act of pulling a Muslim woman doctor's hijab.
Akhtar's Unfiltered Views at Literary Festival
During a session at the SOA Literary Festival 2025 held in November, Javed Akhtar was questioned by a student about his past statement regarding being raised by women who did not wear burqas. The student challenged his perspective, suggesting that a woman's choice to cover her face does not diminish her strength.
In his characteristic forthright style, Akhtar responded with a series of pointed questions. "Why should you be ashamed of your face?" he asked. He elaborated that while he believes both men and women should dress decently, he could not comprehend the need to cover one's face. "What is so vulgar, obscene, undignified about her face that it is covered?" he questioned the audience.
Akhtar firmly attributed the practice to societal coercion. "This is peer pressure. If given a choice, she is brainwashed. If she says that she is doing it on her own, then she is brainwashed," he stated, arguing that the choice is influenced by the expectation of approval from certain peers.
Timing Coincides with Nitish Kumar Hijab Controversy
The resurgence of Akhtar's video is significant due to its timing. It gained widespread traction just as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced severe criticism for an incident in Patna. During a public event, Kumar was seen pulling down the hijab of a newly recruited AYUSH doctor, an act that sparked nationwide outrage.
Opposition parties condemned the Chief Minister's conduct, calling it a violation of personal dignity and religious freedom. The incident added fuel to the ongoing discourse about a woman's autonomy over her attire.
Celebrity Reactions and Public Debate
The twin controversies have drawn reactions from various public figures. Former actor Zaira Wasim, known for her role in Dangal, strongly criticized Nitish Kumar's actions on social media platform X. She demanded an unconditional apology, writing, "A woman’s dignity and modesty are not props to toy with. Least of all on a public stage."
She further emphasized, "Power does not grant permission to violate boundaries. @NitishKumar owes that woman an unconditional apology." Her statement resonated with many who saw the act as a high-handed misuse of authority.
The viral video of Javed Akhtar and the Patna incident have together stirred a complex debate intersecting themes of:
- Personal choice and religious expression
- Societal pressure and individual agency
- Political conduct and public morality
While Akhtar's comments frame the burqa as an imposed norm, the reaction to Nitish Kumar's action underscores the demand for respect towards a woman's chosen form of dress, regardless of personal opinion. The concurrent discussions highlight the delicate and often contentious space where personal belief, public policy, and social norms collide in India's diverse cultural landscape.
