Teen's documentary on 2020 Delhi riots tells stories of compassion at Kolkata event
2
Kolkata: A US-based documentarian of Indian origin, Zara Bharadwaj—who was barely 12 years old during the 2020 Delhi riots—had witnessed both scenes of humanity as well as brutality during the conflict.
She was living in Delhi back then.
She was a witness to harrowing scenes of violence—people fleeing for their lives, a bus being set ablaze. But powerful moments of compassion—people of different communities answering the call for humanity, staying by each other's side—are also a part of her memories of those days.
She chose to tell these stories of hope and kindness to the world and thus filmed 'Humanity Over Hate.' Bharadwaj was in the city on Sunday to attend an event, where a glimpse of her documentary was shown to attendees from different religious backgrounds at a city hotel.
The documentary had won the award for best non-fiction at the 2025 California Student Media Festival recently. It was also screened in AMC Theatre in Times Square in New York.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
Bharadwaj, who has familial and emotional roots in Kolkata, is now 17. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Bharadwaj revealed that the documentary took shape during her international law class at a US school, where she studied 'why people get displaced.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
A strong believer of communal harmony, the teenager also conducts workshops on interfaith collaboration at NGOs and schools in India. Students in the age group of 13 to 18 years attend her workshops, where they discuss stories of intercommunity solidarity.
They create a 'harmony tree' in which people write their ideas to promote solidarity. These workshops are an integral part of her 'Together We Rise' movement, aimed at creating youth ambassadors, who can teach people to 'live in harmony and dignity.'
To Bharadwaj, religion gives hope. "More than the ritualistic aspect of religion, it's the belief in greater good that attracts me," she said, adding that social media now amplifies rage and controversy. Sunday's event that drew a crowd of religious heads and youths was organised by FACES president Imran Zaki. It was attended by Utpal Chatterjee, Shahanshah Mirza IRS, Bhishambhar Newar, Kunal Sarkar, among other dignitaries.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Friendship Day wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
'If you love your culture, why leave India': Firefighters arrive after Havan at Texas home; viral video sparks debate
An Indian woman living in Texas recently shared a video showing firefighters arriving at her residence after her family conducted a Havan during a housewarming ceremony. The video, posted on Instagram, shows a fire truck parked outside the family's garage where the Havan was taking place, as several fire officials observed the ritual. The woman named Samta Hadimba captioned the video as 'Cultural misunderstanding 101: Hindu Puja is not a fire emergency. When you're having a Hindu housewarming puja and the fire department pulls up.' The Havan took place in the family's garage in Texas. The original footage shows the family performing the ritual as the Bedford Fire Department arrives to investigate the smoke-filled garage. Officials were seen speaking with the family members. However, no official information was given about whether any action was taken or if the family violated local fire safety regulations. The video, shared by the user on Reels, quickly gained traction. There were mixed reactions to the situation as many users bashed the family for performing the puja at their home, while some also defended the family's right to practise their religious customs. One user said, 'If you love your culture this much, why leave India then?' Another user made a similar point by stating the harms of starting a fire in some countries' houses by stating, "Unnecessary trouble. Knowing that the structure is wooden' The firefighters lined up outside the family's home due to the smoke build-up. A third person also said, 'It's not cultural misunderstanding, it's nothing but forcing our culture on others and causing unnecessary attention from locals.' Some people also defended the family. In one such instance, a user said, "To all those abusing the family. You need to learn the basics. These people didn't hurt anyone or didn't do anything that harm people or property. They were having simple pooja. Now what about those people who use a grill in their garage and have smoke out of those.' A Hindu group from Canada called for sensitivity training for the local police and emergency services. 'Community needs to start engaging with local Police. Book a cultural sensitivity training of Police Services in your city,' they wrote.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Guru-Shishya Parampara has a revered place in Indian culture, students told
Retired principal Narendra Badaseshi has said that in Indian culture, the Guru (teacher) holds a place of utmost reverence. 'The ancient tradition of the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher-student relationship) remains an inseparable and deeply respected aspect of our heritage,' he emphasised. He was addressing students as the chief guest at an orientation and reorientation programme for freshers at the HKE Society's Pre-University College for Girls in Kalaburagi on Sunday. 'Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have,' he said, urging students to embrace the values of Indian tradition while preparing for the challenges of modern life. 'Decisions should be made by choice, not by chance,' he noted, appealing to the youth to take responsibility for decisions that shape their futures. Stressing the power of positive thinking, he said that challenges can be transformed into opportunities with the right mindset. He encouraged students to read biographies of great individuals to draw inspiration and guidance. Quoting the popular phrase 'Think globally, act locally', he reminded the audience that meaningful change begins within one's own community. Retired professor Shanta Math, who also addressed the gathering as guest of honour, encouraged students to recognise and nurture the unique talents within themselves. She cautioned against blind beliefs and stressed the need to develop rational and critical thinking. Warning about the dangers of excessive mobile phone use, she described books as 'true friends for life' and advised students to cultivate the habit of reading. 'Respecting teachers leads to shaping a bright future,' she added, highlighting the vital role educators play in the lives of students. The event was presided over by member of the HKE Scoiety's management and coordinator of the college Naganna Ghanti. On the occasion, students Soumya, Gayathri, Bhuvaneshwari and Lakshmi were felicitated for their exceptional academic performance in the 2025 II PU exams. Also present on stage were Polytechnic College principal N.G. Patil and lecturers Ashok Patil, Preeti S., Shilpakala, Shubha, Savita Patil and Anasuya and college principal Usha Patil.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Small plane crashes into ocean near Oak Island Pier; pilot rescued, FAA investigates
A small plane crashed into the ocean near Oak Island Pier around 7:30 pm on Saturday. The pilot was the only person on board and was rescued with only minor injuries. He got medical help after being brought to shore. The aircraft was pulled out from the water after the incident. WECT, a local news channel, got a video of the crash from a witness who was fishing on the pier. The woman recording can be heard saying, 'Oh my God, a plane just crashed into the ocean, it's going down', as stated by the TOI report. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program 🚨 #BREAKING : Officials have confirmed that everyone onboard a small plane that crashed into the ocean near Oak Island NC has been rescued. The appears to slowly land directly into the ocean. What happened here?! — Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) August 3, 2025 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Shocking plane crash caught on video by witness The same witness added that she saw the plane go under water but said emergency help was already on the way. She said in the video, 'Police are already coming, come on guys.' The Oak Island beach safety unit had just finished another water rescue nearby, so they responded quickly and pulled out the pilot. ASLO READ: What did Charlamagne tha God say to Fox News that has rattled Donald Trump Live Events A bystander told WECT that at first, they thought it was just a normal water plane landing. But then they realized it crashed and started shouting, 'Call 911, what do we do?' At first, the U.S. Coast Guard started the investigation, but it has now been handed over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for further review, as mentioned in the report by TOI. FAQs Q1. What happened to the plane near Oak Island Pier? A small plane crashed into the ocean, and the pilot was rescued with minor injuries. Q2. Who is investigating the Oak Island plane crash ? The investigation was first handled by the Coast Guard but is now with the Federal Aviation Administration.
