Despite the communications blackout in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has found its way into millions of Kashmiri households. Despite four months without Internet connectivity, watching Diriliş: Ertuğrul has now become a popular family activity.
According to Images, Kashmiris are sharing the hit television show via USB flash drives. The serial was popular in the Valley prior to the lockdown, and due to this, people had downloaded all the seasons.
Even people coming in from outside the Valley had the series downloaded and are sharing the files.
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A Hit Drama
Diriliş: Ertuğrul or ‘Resurrection: Ertugrul’ is popularly known as the ‘Turkish Game of Thrones’. The period drama narrates the quests of the Muslim Oghuz Turks and how they laid the foundation of the Ottoman Empire as it was later known. The show is a cinematic gem with its stunning visuals, and the story woven with traditional Islamic values.
Diriliş: Ertuğrul is a global hit. Despite local cable operators being prohibited from airing content from Pakistan, Turkey and Iran among other countries, the show even found its way into Kashmir.
The ban on foreign content was imposed because the Indian administration wants to clamp down on ‘any possible law-and-order situation.’
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Despite the Central Indian administration’s claims that life in the Valley is normal as usual, the reality is different. The complete communications blackout imposed on Kashmir has turned it into the world’s largest open-air prison.
Landline services had been restored in certain regions as well as cellular services,. However, cellular services were re-suspended within 24 hours.
With the restriction on movement and people being prohibited from gathering even for prayers, Kashmiris are virtually under house arrest.
In this dismal scenario, it seems they’ve found comfort in Diriliş: Ertuğrul.
