Buhay Khulay Rakhi (Keep the Doors Open): Film Screening and Conversation with Ali Usman Qasmi

Buhay Khulay Rakhi is a documentary film that narrates stories of violence, displacement, and sometimes forced reunions. It covers the experiences of people committing acts of brutal violence while also showcasing stories of affection, care, and love. Amidst the chaotic violence that erupted during the Partition, thousands of women and children were abducted or separated from their families. While there has been significant academic and literary focus on the women forced to live with their abductors, the stories of Partition’s children have often been forgotten or overlooked.

The film recounts how infants, some as young as six months old, were separated from their families during the turmoil of Partition and later lovingly adopted and raised by foster parents. These stories are told through the lives of Qari Farooq and Fazal Ahmad, who were infants when their parents, fleeing violence, were forced to abandon them. Farooq and Ahmad were adopted by Sikh and Dalit foster parents before being forced to return to Pakistan due to their Muslim heritage.

Primarily shot in the shelter home in Lahore, where Farooq, Fazal, and dozens of other children with similar backgrounds were raised after their return to Pakistan, the documentary uses personal testimonies, expert commentary, and rare archival material to tell a story of displacement, trauma, and resilience. It raises complex questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to live with the memory of violence and loss. Ultimately, it explores the possibility of reconciliation and remembrance as a process of healing and forgiveness between people across the border.