The recently released film Jawan has left a profound impact on viewers, particularly through the character portrayed by Sanya Malhotra. Playing a doctor fighting to resolve a dire oxygen supply crisis in a government hospital, which tragically results in the deaths of 63 children, her character finds herself incarcerated by the government, accused of neglecting her duties. Interestingly, this narrative bears a striking resemblance to the real-life ordeal of Dr. Kafeel Khan during the 2017 Gorakhpur hospital tragedy.
In a gesture of appreciation and recognition, Dr. Kafeel Khan has expressed his gratitude to the makers of Jawan, including the film’s producer and actor, Shah Rukh Khan, and director Atlee. Through a heartfelt video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Khan thanked them for raising awareness about a significant social issue, even though he has not had the opportunity to watch the film yet.
In his message, Dr. Kafeel Khan stated in Hindi, “I haven’t seen Jawan, but people have been messaging me, saying they missed you. There is a lot of difference between the film world and real life. The culprits in the army, health minister, etc., get punished, but here I and those 81 families are still wandering for justice. Thank you @iamsrk sir and @Atlee_dir sir for raising the social issue.”
Dr. Kafeel Khan’s own experience is a harrowing tale of his efforts to address the oxygen supply crisis at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in Gorakhpur. When the hospital’s oxygen supply was disconnected due to unpaid bills, he tirelessly sought to bring the issue to the authorities’ attention. Tragically, 63 children lost their lives to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome during this period. Instead of acknowledging the oxygen supply’s crucial role, the Uttar Pradesh government held Dr. Kafeel Khan responsible for dereliction of duty, leading to his arrest.
In 2021, Dr. Kafeel Khan authored a book titled The Gorakhpur Hospital Tragedy: A Doctor’s Memory of a Deadly Medical Crisis, providing an in-depth account of the events surrounding the 2017 Gorakhpur hospital tragedy.
The acknowledgment from Dr. Kafeel Khan underscores the film’s powerful impact in shedding light on critical social issues, bringing them to the forefront of public consciousness, and highlighting the disparities between real-life consequences and cinematic representations. It also recognizes the importance of films in advocating for justice and raising awareness about pressing social matters.
Sources By Agencies
