Filmmaker Karan Johar has strongly condemned Caroline Dyer, the great-granddaughter of General Reginald Dyer, for her recent remarks referring to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as “looters.” Johar expressed his outrage, stating that such comments are not only absurd but also deeply offensive.
“Not just as an Indian, not just as a humanitarian, but just like anyone who has even an aorta of empathy, and aorta of humanity within yourself—it will anger you,” Johar said. He added, “I don’t want to mince my words… how ridiculous was she to say that, and how dare she? She was calling those thousands of people looters? They were innocent people who conglomerated right there for what was meant to be the auspicious day of Baisakhi.
Caroline Dyer’s comments have sparked widespread criticism, with many demanding a formal apology. The controversy comes ahead of the release of “Kesari 2,” a film produced by Johar, which depicts the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the legal battle led by C. Sankaran Nair against the British Empire.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which occurred on April 13, 1919, resulted in the death of hundreds of unarmed Indian civilians. The incident remains one of the most tragic events in India’s colonial history.
Johar emphasized the importance of acknowledging historical injustices and the need for empathy when discussing such events. He called for a collective remembrance of the victims and a rejection of narratives that seek to diminish their suffering.
