Celina Jaitly's Childhood Fears in Kashmir : What Memories Haunt Celina Jaitly From Her Childhood in Kashmir?

Mumbai, April 28 (NationPress) Actress Celina Jaitly has candidly shared her reflective thoughts about her childhood in Kashmir, which was overshadowed by the constant presence of fear.

In a heartfelt social media post, Celina detailed how her memories of the breathtaking valley are marred by the persistent anxiety and insecurity she experienced as the daughter of an army officer. The 'No Entry' actress reminisced about her unsettling school days, where armed security accompanied her and her peers, a reality that was both perplexing and terrifying. As a young girl, she struggled to comprehend why her family had to endure such a life, although it was part of her father's military duties.

Celina, who frequently relocated across various army posts, noted that her upbringing was influenced by living in diverse regions of India, including Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. While she cherished the stunning landscapes, her memories were often clouded by the tense atmosphere prevalent in the region during the peak of militancy.

Accompanying her post was a nostalgic photo of her at approximately 8 or 9 years old, taken during her days at Army Public School, Udhampur. In the snapshot, a young Celina is captured in her school environment.

With the image, the Apna Sapna Money Money actress wrote, “A Soldier’s Daughter in the Land of Shaivism: Dodging Bullets, Not Fears - A glimpse into my childhood in Kashmir. Here I am as a little girl in Kashmir, studying at Army Public School, Udhampur. This photo was taken at the North Star Camp in Patni Top when I was around 8 or 9 years old. Growing up as the daughter of a #pahadi Regiment army officer, I was fortunate to explore the magnificent mountains of India from Kashmir to Uttarakhand to Arunachal Pradesh. However, my memories of Kashmir are profoundly marked by fear.”

“I often questioned my late mother, ‘Ma, why do we have to travel to school with armed guards? Army brats can relate to military three-ton trucks or Shaktiman school buses. I always wondered, why must we live in such fear?’ I found it difficult to understand.”

“I still clearly remember the drills we underwent... how to duck and how to remain silent if gunfire erupted around us. Having spent my early years in the serene hills of Ranikhet and Shimla, it pained me that in #Kashmir, I couldn’t freely roam the meadows, gather wildflowers, or play safely with my friends. It was even more challenging to reconcile how a land once revered as Rishi Vaer, the ‘Valley of Saints,’ a cradle of ancient Hindu wisdom, Shaivism, and Kashmiri culture, could descend into such despair. Kashmir, once a symbol of spirituality, philosophy, and natural beauty, had gradually succumbed to violence and terror,” she added.

Celina further expressed, “The recent terrorist attacks in #Pahalgam have resurfaced many of these fleeting memories, serving as a haunting reminder that for generations, terror has obscured the peace and magnificence of our cherished Indian mountains. It is now or never. We must end this cycle of fear that has engulfed generations. Only then can we reclaim the true essence and purpose of these sacred mountains, restoring them as places of peace, wonder, and spirituality once more. Jai Hind!”

Celina Jaitly’s reflections come just days after the tragic attack on tourists in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Militants executed a brutal assault that resulted in 26 fatalities, with reports indicating that the attackers separated victims based on their religion before carrying out the executions. The Resistance Front (TRF), a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for this appalling act.