Om Puri turned 66 on Tuesday and spent the day with the family of Nitin Yadav (in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh), the 24 year old jawan martyred in the Baramulla attack. At the end of the day, the actor said that he felt forgiven and cleansed.
It was something I had to do after my unforgivably sensitive remarks about the soldiers.Om Puri, Actor
In a widely condemned television interview, Om Puri in a fit of annoyed rage had said, “Who had asked the soldiers to pick up guns and go to the border?”
After what I had said I never expected forgiveness from the jawan’s family. I went to his village to do prayashchit (penitence). I had taken along a learned pundit, and I did a full-fledged havan in front of the family.Om Puri
Apparently villagers from Etawah and surrounding areas had gathered at the martyred soldier’s residence before Puri arrived, after an arduous journey from Mumbai to Lucknow and thereafter to Etawah.
I had only informed the martyred jawan’s family about my visit. They informed the media. By the time I reached the village there were more than 400 people waiting for my arrival. But let me tell you, they had not come to stare at Om Puri the actor. They had come to see what I intended to do in the way of my penance.Om Puri
Puri was accompanied by a pundit who conducted a full-fledged havan which lasted several hours.
I did not want shortcuts. In fact I didn’t want forgiveness. It’s easy to say sorry, to give money and appease your conscience for the wrong done. I didn’t want the easy way out. I didn’t want to apologise and compensate monetarily and be done with it. I wanted the martyr’s family to feel my pain and self-loathing for my stupid careless remarks. They’ve chosen to forgive me. But I will never forgive myself.Om Puri
Om feels he has now acquired a whole new family.
I can’t explain how close I feel to the soldier’s family. It’s as though this horrible incident where I showed my insensitivity had to happen only so that I could connect with the jawan’s family. I can feel their pain even now after I’ve left their home.Om Puri
Puri’s journey for shuddhi (purification) and prayashchit (penance) made this the best birthday of his life.
It is so silly to cut a cake and hear my friends sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for me at my age. This birthday I felt good to be alive. It is the best birthday of my life.Om Puri
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