The Final Solution is a 2003 documentary directed by Rakesh Sharma delving into the 2002 communal Gujarat Riots which stemmed from the Godhra Train Burning incident on February 27, 2002, claiming the lives of 58 Hindus. An official death toll of 254 Hindus and 790 Muslims was reported with 223 people still missing. This film consists primarily of interviews with both Muslim and Hindu individuals, young and old, male and female, who express vastly different opinions on what led to the violence, its justifications and aftermath.
The documentary further brings to light heavy criticism towards the government of Gujarat at the time under Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, accusing his party of inciting much of the rioting that occurred while not doing enough to halt it. The interviews capture an array of emotions from intense hatred to overwhelming grief as well as hope for a better future despite turbulent times. One particular scene stands out; that of a small boy who claims to have seen his relatives slaughtered in the riots and boldly states his desire to become a soldier who kills Hindus when he grows up because “they did the same”.
Unfortunately, this film has been banned in India since its release until early 2005 for fear that its contents would cause unrest among communities. The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) also denied screening this movie after it was submitted there. Nevertheless, protests such as ‘copy-and-redistribute’ movements emerged briefly in response of censorship. Therefore, despite being banned in India, it had been screened by BBC later on.
The Final Solution is an eye-opening documentary which unveils an unspoken truth about what happened during these gruesome events and how it impacted so many lives forever – something which Indian media will most likely never showcase. It captures raw moments through testimonies from those personally affected by this tragedy without any interference or bias towards either side’s narrative allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions based on facts presented instead. If you are Indian or have an interest in understanding more about current affairs then you should definitely watch this documentary as it provides valuable insight into horrific events happening in our world today that need addressing for us all to live peacefully together.
