Latest news with #HeeraMandi
India.com
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This woman was daughter of tawaif from Heeramandi, became highest-paid item girl, did mujra on screen, was brutally murdered by..., she was..
When Sanjay Leela Bhansali released Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, a different and rebellious side of courtesans was shown to the world. The audience loved the reel version of the courtesans. However, do you know that even in real life, there was a woman who belonged to the lanes of real Heeramandi in Lahore? She rose to fame and became Pakistan's famous item girl. But, as it is said that fame comes with a cost, and this is exactly what happened with this woman—she had to pay a higher price than what she could ever imagine. For many, the name Niggo aka Nargis Begum does not ring a bell, whereas for others who have a keen interest in history and have studied deeply about Heeramandi, knew who Niggo was. Niggo was born in Lahore, Pakistan. During that time, women belonging to Lahore were often the first choice of filmmakers for their movies. Women who knew how to dance joined the industry. Called Lollywood, the industry began pre-partition but after 1947 became a dominant film industry, producing films in Punjabi and Urdu. At that time, it was a common trend among filmmakers to bring in tawaifs from Heera Mandi and cast them as lead actresses in their films. Niggo also came from the lanes of Heeramandi. Her mother was a courtesan and she used to do Mujra. Initially, Niggo also followed in the footsteps of her mother. However, during one of her performances, she was noticed by a film producer who gave her a chance to become an actress. After this, Niggo's career reached its peak, and she fell in love with film producer Khawaja Mazhar. The two eventually got married. However, it was Niggo's mother who did not approve of this relationship, as tawaifs getting married was frowned upon. In order to save her daughter from being with the person she got married to, Niggo's mother faked illness and got her back to Heeramandi. Later, she brainwashed her to stay in the same place. On the other hand, it was Niggo's husband Mazhar who wanted her to come back. But due to family pressure, Niggo refused to do so. On January 5, 1972, Niggo's husband reached Heera Mandi at her kotha. While trying to persuade her to return home with him, Niggo refused, which enraged him. In a fit of anger, he opened fire, killing Niggo. Her uncle, a musician, was also killed in the attack.
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Time to rethink our Kashmir policy: Demographic change is no longer a choice
A square peg doesn't fit a round hole. And expecting Pakistan to behave like a responsible nation has always been a delusion. It was never meant to be one. As Wali Khan, son of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, wrote in 'Facts Are Facts: The Untold Story of India's Partition', Pakistan was carved out as a vassal Islamic state to serve British interests after Bharat's independence. In the 1980s, the United States converted it into a jihadi factory, breeding Islamic Jihadists for their Cold War against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Then, the 2021 withdrawal of American forces left behind a nuclear-armed, ideologically radicalised state teetering on collapse. Today, as Col. Ajay K Raina—veteran, author, and leading commentator on regional geopolitics—puts it, Pakistan resembles 'Heera Mandi'—a brothel of ideologies where everything is up for sale. From its political class to terror groups, its establishment dances to the tune of whoever funds them. The recent killing of innocent tourists in Pahalgam is a painful reminder of Pakistan's proxy war against India. And it's not just across the border—there is complicity, or at the very least passive support, from within the valley. Terrorists need local logistics and intelligence networks. Time and again, we've seen a section of Kashmir's population provide exactly that. The harsh truth Although demographic change is inevitable, this has been a conversation we've never had since 1947. And perhaps now, we must. After decades of investment, special status, appeasement, and security operations, Kashmir remains vulnerable to Pakistan-sponsored terror. The reality is, without changing the demography of Kashmir, we will continue to be held hostage by a section that benefits from India's generosity while betraying its very idea. Currently, Muslims make up approximately 97 per cent of Kashmir valley's population, compared to around 20 per cent in the rest of the country. This imbalance is neither healthy nor sustainable for national integration. We must strive for demographic parity reflective of our diversity—Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists, and Parsis should be encouraged and supported to make Kashmir their home. If Article 370 can be abrogated and if the Indus Waters Treaty can be revisited, then demographic restructuring is also within the reach of policymakers. Full integration requires economic and social normalisation—not just constitutional paperwork. Global precedents exist Pakistan violated the UN resolution on Jammu & Kashmir by settling Punjabi Muslims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). Like some Pakistan's political leaders have admitted, this was done to alter the region's demography and tighten Islamabad's grip on the area. China has executed similar policies in Tibet and Xinjiang, systematically changing the ethnic makeup of those regions. From colonial eras to the modern age, globally contested zones have witnessed demographic restructuring—nations have used population policies to ensure long-term security and integration. So why should India hesitate to do what's necessary for its sovereignty? The practical measures With the right incentives and secure green zones for industries, commercial hubs, and residential areas, Kashmir's demography can be reshaped over a couple of decades. The initial wave will be tough, but once settlements take root, momentum will build. We need 1,000 early willing movers to pioneer this shift. My living in Afghanistan for 12 years showed me how Indians thrived across Afghan society, growing in every sector, despite palpable risks. Taliban kidnappings and brutal killings of some Indians didn't stop them. I've seen the same in Iraq and South Sudan, where Indians ventured into businesses and made homes despite all dangers. If they could do that in foreign lands, we can surely do it in our own homeland. Identify the willing migrants Ex-servicemen, nationalist citizens, business owners, and entrepreneurs can be encouraged to settle in Kashmir. In a nation of 1.3 billion, finding a million committed citizens over a decade is not a challenge. Remember the Mars One mission? Over 20,000 Indians applied for a one-way ticket to Mars. Surely, we can find brave, patriotic individuals ready to secure the country's future. And once Kashmiri Hindus feel safe and see ideal opportunities, they will return to their roots. Support business relocation The startups, MSMEs, and industrialists can be incentivised to move to Kashmir. With over 1.5 lakh startups, we can easily find a thousand founders ready to build businesses, provided there's government backing in the form of security and funding. Special economic packages, GeM preferences, and fast-tracked permissions will create jobs and build trust on the ground. Protected urban clusters—ring-fenced by DSC personnel (retired and re-employed armed forces veterans)—can serve as launchpads for settlers. These zones would ensure security, infrastructure, and access to capital. Gradually, they will expand outward. Integrate the willing Not all Kashmiris are separatists. Many yearn for peace, development, and opportunities. Engage them. Make them stakeholders. Those who believe in India must be empowered—politically, economically, and socially. The Pahalgam attack was not just a failure of security—it was a wake-up call. Pakistan's strategy hasn't changed in 75 years. It's time ours did. No nation has survived by feeding snakes in its backyard. It is time to de-radicalise the valley—not just through counter-terror operations but via social restructuring and demographic inclusion. Let us not wait for another tragedy. The time to act is now. (The author is founder of MyStartup TV)
