Celina Jaitly Reveals Childhood Memories Of Kashmir Are 'Deeply Tinged' With Fear: 'Could Not Freely Play With Friends'

Actress Celina Jaitly, who spent her childhood in Kashmir, revealed that her memories of Kashmir are 'deeply tinged' with fear. In an emotional post on social media, the actress shared how her memories of the beautiful valley are tinged with the constant fear and insecurity she faced as an army officer's daughter. She recalled her school days, where she would be accompanied by armed guards, and as a young girl, she failed to understand why her family had to live in such circumstances.

Celina took to her Instagram handle on Monday and shared a childhood photo, where she wrote, "I often asked my late mother, "Ma, why do we have to ride to school with armed guards? Army brats will relate to military three-ton truck or a Shaktiman school bus. I always thought Why must we live in fear like this?" I did not understand why."

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The Apna Sapna Money Money actress wrote, "I still vividly remember the protocols drilled into us..how to duck, how to stay silent if firing broke out around us. Having spent my earlier childhood in the peaceful hills of Ranikhet and Shimla, it broke my heart that in #kashmir , I couldn't freely wander the meadows, pick wildflowers, or play safely with friends."

It was even harder to understand how a land once known as Rishi Vaer, the "Valley of Saints," a cradle of ancient Hindu wisdom, Shaivism, and Kashmiri culture, could fall into such sorrow. Kashmir, once a beacon of spirituality, philosophy, and natural beauty, had been slowly consumed by violence and terror," she added.

Celina's post further read, "The recent terror attacks in #pahalgam have brought back many of these fleeting memories, a haunting reminder that for decades, terror has overshadowed the peace and grand beauty of our beloved Indian mountains. It is now or never. We must put an end to this cycle of fear that has gripped generations. Only then can we reclaim the true spirit and purpose of these sacred mountains to be places of peace, wonder, and spiritualism once again. Jai Hind !!."

Jaitley's post comes days after the tragic attack on tourists in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 people.