At a moment when the memory of the Pahalgam terror attack still lingers over the Valley, Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni arrived in Kashmir with a message meant to push back against fear. Early on Sunday morning, Kulkarni touched down in Srinagar and, without delay, made his way to Pahalgam, where terrorists had recently killed 26 people. This tragedy had already begun to cast a shadow over Kashmir’s tourism, with many travellers removing the Valley from their holiday plans. Kulkarni, speaking to those concerned about safety, emphasized that cancelling trips would mean giving in to the fear that terrorists intended to spread. He described how the goal behind the violence was not just to cause harm but to discourage visitors from coming to Kashmir altogether. By altering travel plans, people would, knowingly or unknowingly, allow the attackers’ motives to gain ground. Later that morning, Kulkarni shared images of an almost empty Mumbai-Srinagar flight, once full with holidaymakers. His post carried a heartfelt plea to fellow citizens to restore the flights to their previous bustle. Tagging his message with calls such as ‘Chalo Kashmir’ and ‘Defeat Terror’, he urged the nation not to abandon a region that had always welcomed visitors with open arms. During his time in Pahalgam, Kulkarni also met a group of visitors from Tamil Nadu. Their presence was a reminder that despite the atmosphere of fear, some travellers continued to seek out the beauty and spirit of Kashmir. Earlier, popular actor Suniel Shetty had declared that his next holiday will be in Kashmir while urging tourists to visit the Valley and ‘not succumb to the fear’. Meanwhile, Abhijeet Patil, chairman of Raja Rani Travels, was particularly moved after watching a video of Adil Hussain Shah’s mother. Shah had lost his life while saving tourists during the attack. Patil, overwhelmed with emotion, travelled to Shah’s home to offer condolences alongside political leaders. He spoke of how Shah’s sacrifice should not be forgotten and how it symbolized the deep bond between Kashmiris and the rest of India. Patil also confirmed that tour operators from Maharashtra and Gujarat would not cancel planned trips to Kashmir. After an emergency meeting on April 23, the Maharashtra Tour Operators Association committed to maintaining their travel schedules. Their message was clear: isolated acts of terror would not break the bonds between Kashmir and the rest of the country. In Srinagar itself, tourists described feeling safe and cared for. The famous Dal Lake remained animated with houseboats and shikaras ferrying visitors across its still waters. As per reports in the media, visitors spoke about the warmth of the locals and the strong sense of security they felt. They expressed sadness about leaving and reassured potential travellers that Kashmir valley remained a welcoming and beautiful destination. Despite the shadows cast by recent events, voices like Kulkarni’s, Shetty’s and Patil’s offer a path forward — one where courage, empathy, and perseverance can slowly heal wounds and keep alive the spirit of connection that violence aims to break.
Spirit Strong
