On 29 August, 2026, a group of as many as 110 people sat together in Bhatkal, Karnataka, Majlis e Islah wa Tanzeem, to witness the stories of women who, despite being put through immense atrocities and hate crimes, showed resilience and challenged the oppression. The stories were presented through the documentary, Daughters of Resilience, made by Thousand Shades of India in collaboration with Miles2Smile.
The documentary sheds light on the untold stories of women who have endured communal violence, mob lynching, demolitions, and hate crimes yet have risen above trauma with strength and dignity. The documentary, running for 42 minutes, is an evocative portrayal of survival and healing. It focuses on women who were once victims of violence, displacement, and loss and who, through the relief and rehabilitation work of the Miles2Smile Foundation, have become powerful voices of resilience in the communities.
The event flagged off with the holy word of the Quran, soothing the souls present. Soon after this felicitation ceremony of Aasif Mujtaba, Founder & Director, Miles2Smile. A shawl and garland of flowers were wrapped around the neck, providing a warm welcome.
Continuing this, Mumbai-based advocate Inaam Shaikh introduced Mujtaba and his work by covering various areas like education, social reforms, justice, sustainability, media, awards, and grants.
Moving further, Mujtaba highlighted the journey of Miles2Smile and said, “Over the past six years, we have worked with people affected by more than 36 communal riots. We have helped create livelihoods for over 150 survivors of mob lynching and supported them in sustaining those livelihoods.”
While conducting relief and rehabilitation work in the span of six years, Mujtaba said he believes the strongest community in the country is of Muslim women.
“If there is any community that has shown immense strength, it is Muslim women—women whose husbands have been killed in the name of the cow, women who have lost their sons to communal riots, and women who have suddenly found themselves carrying the entire responsibility of their families. But, they continue to move forward. This documentary is dedicated to those women.”
Talking about the brutal killing of Nasir and Junaid, he revealed how Junaid’s 13-year-old daughter could not bear the grief of her father’s death, fell sick, and subsequently died of the grief.
Proceeding with his address, he highlighted the brutal death of Musharraf in the Delhi riots 2020.
“Musharraf was killed in front of his family. He was thrown off a rooftop and then burned inside an auto-rickshaw,” he said.
As the words of resilience ended, stories of it were presented through a documentary. The documentary features stories from riot-hit neighborhoods, demolished homes, and lynching-affected rural communities. The documentary emphasizes the life of survivors, tweaking from hatred moving towards resilience.
In one heart-wrenching segment, a woman, Sajida, who lost her husband to mob lynching sits in her shop, established by the Miles2Smile Foundation. The segment depicts Sajida selling goods with a broad smile. But as we say, eyes are the windows to the soul; her eyes speak of the pain her soul carries. Each story in the documentary is tied together not just by shared suffering but also by collective strength, solidarity, and hope. As the documentary ended, an interaction session was conducted, highlighting the life of these women beyond documentary.
Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem is a historic socio-political and welfare organisation based in Bhatkal, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. It serves as a prominent representative socio-welfare and umbrella institution for the Muslim community in Bhatkal, with over a century of legacy.
About Miles2Smile: The Miles2Smile Foundation, established six years ago, is committed to making a meaningful difference in marginalized communities across India. From responding to the crisis during the pandemic to its continuous work in education and advocacy, the foundation remains devoted to fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. The foundation work for the survivors of mob lynching, communal violence, demolition, and hate crime, creating their lives better than their devastation.
Other Glimpses of the Screening
