The Widow Colony
    India's Unsettled Settlement

“I hope you’ll lose some sleep tonight. But when the dust and the emotions settle, do something on behalf of all unrepresented and downtrodden people.”

“The Widow Colony – India’s Unsettled Settlement”, borrows its name from a settlement in Tilak Vihar on the west-side of New Delhi that is commonly known as the Widow Colony or Vidhvā Colony. The film takes viewers to the streets of Trilokpuri, Kalyanpuri, Himatpuri, Sultanpuri and Mongolpuri, the same localities that suffered the major brunt of the Sikh killings in November, 1984.

The Widow Colony is a film that takes an in-depth look into the lives of the widows of Sikh men who were killed in the anti-Sikh massacre of November, 1984. In recognition of the community’s difficulty in dealing with the tragic events that occurred in 1984, this documentary presents a venue to raise awareness and sensitivity to the plight of riot victims.

This project was started by Sach Productions in October 2003. In September 2005, the Sikh Research Institute selected The Widow Colony as a research, awareness, and fiscal sponsorship project under its Strategic Solutions focus area. Although the movie focuses mainly on the experience of widows in the post-pogrom period, it raises several questions about the commitment and willingness of the global community to help those in need.  Support and promotion of the film is aimed at raising awareness about the current problem in Delhi .

The film, directed by the US-based Harpreet Kaur, explores these women’s suffering, battle for justice and struggle for survival in India . “It is surreal to stand in the center of Tilak Vihar and be told that every home that surrounds you is that of a Sikh widow, every home has a picture of their ‘martyred’ husband on the wall and that every November, this colony goes into mourning. Then all of a sudden you realize that November 1984 is not ‘a long time ago,’ but for these victims, it happened just yesterday,” says Harpreet Kaur.

Harpreet has had extensive experience in the field of news journalism and worked for several years as a reporter and producer for her own show in the Washington DC area. Harpreet helped in starting a media organization, Sach Productions, two years ago with the goal to make films on contemporary political, religious, cultural and economic issues relating to South Asia . Harpreet’s initial goal with this project was to make a film on the killings and causes for the attacks on the Sikh community in November ‘84; however, when she realized the miserable conditions that these widows live in, she quickly shifted her focus to the survivors instead.  The film is provocative and scintillating in its effect but, its real genius lies in Harpreet’s ability to effectively convey the trauma that still haunts innumerable widows. Undeniably, in years of analysis and discussion that has surrounded this issue, the need for rehabilitation of the survivors has been forgotten. For the past 21 years, these women have been trapped in mourning and will only be able to move forward when the perpetrators are punished. Although over 4,000 Sikhs were killed in the capital city alone, the Government has yet to deliver any justice.  

The documentary maintains a fair balance and illustrates the state’s direct participation in the violence. This argument is reinforced by intellectual pundits who confirm that the government’s silence on the organization of this carnage and its delay in delivering justice only exposes its own involvement. Notable personalities such as Patwant Singh , Kuldip Nayar, Justice Sach ar, Madhu Kishwar, Jaskaran Kaur , and H.S. Phoolka make it clear that by not addressing the November 1984 massacre of Sikhs , India will only encourage the repetition of such atrocities as a political tool for the attainment of power.  India has an opportunity to exit the rhetoric of democracy and become an advocate for Human Rights by delivering justice and this documentary will hopefully become a catalyst for this much needed progress.

The film was made possible due to the kind gifts of the following sponsors:

• Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center (New York)
• Beyond Borders (Dallas)
• Nanak Prachar Sabha (Los Angeles)
• Project 84 (Toronto)
• Sidak-e-Sikh (San Antonio)
• Sikh Education & Welfare Association (Toronto)
• Sikh Spirit Foundation (San Antonio)
• Sikhpoint.com (Los Angeles)

For screenings, please contact us at info@sachproductions.org.
For sponsorship and project details, please contact us at info@sikhri.org.