KOA Proudly Supports The Bengal Files | In Theaters Now
- KOA Admin
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
IN THEATERS NOW | CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS
The Kashmir Overseas Association (KOA) is honored to partner with the creators of The Bengal Files, a film that powerfully uncovers a painful and often-overlooked chapter of India's history. As an organization deeply committed to preserving the memory of our people, KOA believes this film is crucial to understanding the traumatic historical patterns that led to the Kashmiri Hindu exodus and genocide of 1990.
Unveiling a Precedent: The Bengal Files and its Echoes
The Bengal Files is a riveting and profound film that sheds light on the horrific events of 1946–47 in Bengal. Long before the more widely recognized tragedies of the Partition, Direct Action Day and the Noakhali killings tore apart Eastern India with unprecedented communal violence. Director Vivek Agnihotri, with meticulous research and powerful survivor accounts, reconstructs these painful memories with raw honesty. Characters like Maa Bharati, representing India’s wounded soul, and Shiva Pandit, the voice of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide from The Kashmir Files, serve as allegorical figures connecting these historical traumas to present-day realities.
A Shared Narrative of Silence and Resilience
For many Kashmiri Pandits, the horrors of Bengal in 1946 are not distant history, but an echo of our own lived experience. Both The Bengal Files and The Kashmir Files confront the issue of suppressed generational trauma, where victims are often silenced, and their stories are erased or distorted. These films make it clear: the tragedy in Kashmir was not an isolated incident, but part of a wider, repeated pattern of violence and political apathy that has scarred the Indian subcontinent for decades.
“While researching for The Kashmir Files, there were countless occasions when I broke down listening to the survivors. Their stories were harrowing, and each one left a deep imprint on my soul. That’s when I resolved that this truth must reach the masses. It’s not just storytelling; it’s our duty to give voice to the voiceless," shared Producer and Star Pallavi Joshi.
KOA President Uphaar Kotru stated, “By shining light on the forgotten Bengal Hindu massacres of 1946, the film strengthens our collective mission to raise awareness about ongoing Hindu suffering. Truth must be seen, heard, and remembered, for only then can justice begin.”
KOA's Engagement and Diaspora Support
KOA hosted a welcome reception for Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Agnihotri in the San Francisco Bay Area, honoring their courage and dedication to truth-telling through cinema. Our youth wing, KOA Youth, also hosted a insighful webinar with the creators, sparking vital conversations on history, trauma, and memory within our community. This was followed by a U.S. tour with premieres in multiple cities, supported by various community groups and organizations.
Director and Writer Vivek Agnihotri reflected that "while making The Kashmir Files, I could clearly see the connection between the events in Bengal and what repeated again in Kashmir in 1990. As we dug deeper into survivor stories and history, it became clear, this was not an isolated tragedy. That’s when I decided that bringing out the truth about the Hindu massacres in Bengal would be my next project.”
Both Pallavi and Vivek also expressed deep appreciation for the work KOA has been doing to uplift the community and to preserve Kashmiri Pandit heritage.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the members of the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), especially Dr. Surinder Kaul, whose unwavering advocacy for truth was instrumental in the creation of The Kashmir Files and, by extension, The Bengal Files.
🎬 The Bengal Files is now playing in theaters across the world.
We urge everyone who values the dignity of life, freedom of expression, and historical truth to watch this important film. Let The Bengal Files be more than just a cinematic experience. Let it be a step toward remembrance, justice, and healing for all victims of forgotten historical violence.
To learn more about our ongoing work and to support our mission, visit koausa.org.
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