In an emotionally charged evening at Volken Hall, Indian Social Institute, Miles2Smile Foundation and Thousand Shades of India unveiled their latest documentary, Daughter of Resilience on 6th July, earlier this month.
The documentary screening was attended by Mr. Aasif Mujtaba, Founder & CEO, Miles2Smile Foundation, Shafaat Shahbandari, Founder, Thousand Shades of India, Dr Taha Mateen, Managing Director, Acura Hospital & HBS Hospital, Mohammed Zubair, Co- Founder, Alt News, Father Denzil Fernandes SJ, Former Director of, Indian Social Institute, Delhi, and over 120 guests including activists, civil society leaders, journalists, students, and others.
A Chronicle of the Unseen
Daughter of Resilience captures stories from riot-hit neighborhoods, lynching-affected villages, and demolished settlements — sites that rarely find space in national discourse. The documentary uses interviews, vérité-style footage, and glimpses into daily life to foreground the women not just as survivors, but as agents of change.
Among them is Sajida, a widow of mob violence, who now runs a small shop rebuilt with support from Miles2Smile. “She smiles as she sells, but her eyes betray the loss she carries,” says the narrator. The camera lingers just long enough without sensationalism to let the audience feel the gravity of her resilience.
The Power of not Forgetting
Aasif Mujtaba, Founder and CEO of Miles2Smile Foundation, set the tone for the evening with a hard-hitting opening address.
“I stand before you today not just as an alumnus of IIT Delhi,” he said, “but as someone who learned life’s hardest truths on the streets — in Shaheen Bagh in 2019, North East Delhi in 2020, Nuh in 2021, Karauli, Khargone, Sendhwa, and so many others.” His voice, steady but raw, recounted scenes of communal carnage and the quiet strength of those who endured them.
“We gathered in Shaheen Bagh not just as activists, but as citizens — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh — united by the refusal to forget,” he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Shafaat Shahbandari, the Founder, Thousand Shades of India, described the documentary as a deeply personal journey.
“This wasn’t just a film for us,” he said. “It was an education. It was witnessing the strength that often goes unnoticed — the quiet, everyday heroism of women who pick up the pieces after the cameras leave.”
For Dr Taha Mateen, managing director of Acura and HBS Hospitals and a long-time supporter of Miles2Smile’s rehabilitation work, the film was a reminder of the role institutions and individuals must play in post-violence healing.
“This is not just the story of our society,” he said. “It is the story of our heroes — our women.”
A Moment of Silence and a Standing Ovation
Following the screening, the audience sat in heavy silence before rising in a standing ovation. Many wiped away tears. Survivors featured in the film, some of whom were present in the hall, were greeted with warm embraces and applause.
Zulekha, a psychologist attending the screening, said: “It was overwhelming. These women have endured so much, yet carry themselves with unimaginable strength.”
Another audience member remarked, “I had no idea this is what people in our own country are facing. This film didn’t just show me their pain — it made me feel it.”
“The steps Aasif Mujtaba has taken, the path he has chosen, have truly made a difference in people’s lives. Listening to the documentary, you realize his work is nothing short of healing, like a balm on deep wounds. May Allah reward him for it. But it shouldn’t stop with just one individual. We need more people like him. Our society needs more such work, more compassion, and more courage like this.,” said Tanveer Ahmad, a social activist based in Banglore.
Memory as Resistance
Throughout the event, the walls of the foyer were lined with haunting yet hopeful photographs portraits taken during the film’s production. Lit with soft, ambient lighting, the gallery added another layer to the evening’s reflection: that remembrance itself is an act of resistance.
The message of Daughter of Resilience is clear — that resilience is not merely survival, but transformation. The women portrayed in the film are not footnotes to a tragic story; they are rewriting it.
As the guests stepped out into the Bangalore night, many spoke of a renewed commitment to remember these stories, to speak their names, and to stand in solidarity long after the applause fades. In an era where statistics often eclipse human stories, Daughter of Resilience offers a powerful counterpoint: one that centres humanity, honours pain, and celebrates the indomitable will to rise.
About Miles2Smile Organisation
Established nearly five years ago, the Miles2Smile Foundation is dedicated to making a positive impact on marginalized communities in India. From the crisis response during the pandemic to ongoing efforts in education and advocacy, the foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
