In a solemn yet stirring tribute to history, identity, and resilience, the Embassy of Ukraine in India hosted a special screening of the critically acclaimed film Haytarma to mark Crimean Tatar Flag Day. The event, held at Alliance Française de Delhi, brought together members of the diplomatic community, scholars, cinephiles and friends of Ukraine, and served as a powerful reminder of the suffering and strength of the Crimean Tatar people.
Haytarma (meaning “Return” in Crimean Tatar) is based on the life of Amet-Khan Sultan, a Crimean Tatar pilot and decorated Hero of the Soviet Union. The film revisits the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin’s regime—a tragedy that saw nearly 200,000 people uprooted from their homeland, forced into exile under brutal conditions, and denied their identity for decades.
“People want peace. People seek prosperity.”
H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to India, during a discussion opened up about the emotional weight the film continues to carry for him—even after multiple viewings.
“This is probably the fifth time I’m watching this film, and yet it still moves me deeply every single time. It touches my heart in ways words can hardly express,” he said.
Speaking of his personal ties with the Crimean Tatar community in Ukraine, Ambassador Polishchuk explained the symbolic importance of screening Haytarma on this particular day.
“We chose Haytarma for this special screening tonight because we wanted to remind everyone of a simple but powerful truth: people want peace. People seek prosperity. But sadly, in today’s world, we are still witnessing dictatorship, oppression, and conflict—forces that seem unable to exist in harmony with peace.”
He described the film not merely as a work of art but as a historical document that serves to inspire resilience.
“This film is not just a cinematic work; it is a powerful reminder that people must be resilient. That we must fight for our independence, our values, and our identity,” he emphasised.
Recalling the long, painful chapter of Crimean Tatar deportation and the later return to their homeland, he noted: “After 45 long years, the Crimean Tatar return began in 1989. And following Ukraine’s independence in 1991, many reintegrated into society, contributing meaningfully to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.”
Ambassador Polishchuk paid tribute to the film’s director and others who continue to fight Russian aggression today, describing Haytarma as “a story rooted in historical truth.”
“Cinema fills the silences.”
Also deeply moved was H.E. Ms. Sena Latif, Ambassador of Romania to India, who shared her personal connection to the Crimean Tatar story. Of Tatar descent herself, Ambassador Latif reflected on her family’s links to Bakhchysaray, the historic city featured in the film.
“When the storyline reached Bakhchysaray—whose Crimean Tatar name means ‘Garden Palace’—I felt an immediate connection. My great-grandfather once served as the governor of that historic town. As I watched, I imagined what life must have been like before the tragedy unfolded,” she said.
Though her ancestors left Crimea before the mass deportations, she recounted the intergenerational trauma experienced by her community during Romania’s communist era.
“In communist-era Romania, individuality was an inconvenience the state tried to erase. Tatars, like many minorities, had to keep their identity quietly alive. My parents and grandparents speak Tatar fluently, but I grew up during the harshest years of dictatorship. They insisted I speak perfect Romanian to avoid discrimination.”
She emphasised the role of storytelling in preserving memory: “That is why films like Haytarma matter. They keep memories vivid and stories honest. Even we, the descendants, often do not know every detail of what happened. Cinema fills those silences.”
Ambassador Latif also shared a tragic family story that echoed the fear instilled by totalitarian regimes:
“My brother-in-law’s grandmother died of a heart attack after the secret police knocked on her door late one night. Just the sound of it, the terror—that’s what she lived through. That’s the legacy that lives on.”
Her closing message resonated with shared hope: “Today, Ukrainian soldiers, Crimean Tatars, and many other minorities are fighting not only for their own liberty but for all of ours. May their courage lead us back to better times—together.”
A Reminder and a Responsibility
As the credits of Haytarma rolled, the silence in the room was not of indifference but reflection. The screening was more than a cinematic event—it was a call to remembrance, resilience, and solidarity.
Both ambassadors’ remarks gave the broader message of the evening: that the suffering of oppressed peoples, whether in the past or present, must not be forgotten—and that storytelling, whether through film, memory, or speech, remains one of the most potent tools for justice.
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