The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), (IGNCA) an autonomous trust under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, on 14 August commemorated Partition Horrors Remembrance Day at Central Park, New Delhi. To familiarise citizens with the immense suffering endured by those who paid for independence with their homes, livelihoods, and honour, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called for 14 August to be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.’ In keeping with this vision, IGNCA has been organising commemorative programmes under this observance since 2022. The occasion was graced by Shri J.P. Nadda, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Minister of Health and Chemicals & Fertilizers; Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Culture and Tourism, Government of India; Shri Vijay Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi; Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi; Shri Virendra Sachdeva, President of the Delhi State BJP; Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA; and Shri Vivek Agarwal, Secretary (Culture), Government of India.

As part of the programme, a book titled ‘As They Saw It: Partition of India 1947’, edited by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, and Prof. Ravi Prakash Tekchandani, Head, Department of Indian Languages and Literary Studies, was released, offering valuable perspectives on this watershed moment in history. A DVD titled ‘The Derwals and Partition’ was also launched, presenting a poignant visual account of experiences and narratives linked to the tragedy. An exhibition was curated for the occasion, revisiting the human cost of Partition and solemnly remembering the countrymen who were displaced. A silent march was also organised to honour the memory of the countless victims, serving as a dignified tribute to their resilience. A play titled ‘Batawara’, staged by the National School of Drama (NSD) and directed by Lokendra Tripathi, was also performed on the occasion.

It is noteworthy that during the Partition of the country, a large number of people lost their lives, many were forced to part with their immovable properties, and countless women suffered violations of their dignity. Generations of families who endured the agony of Partition continue to bear its scars even today. The Partition of India remains one of the greatest tragedies in human history. Although migration had begun before August 1947, the most devastating impact was witnessed following the formal announcement of Partition. This traumatic event had its gravest consequences in Punjab, Bengal, and Sindh, yet its effects were felt across the length and breadth of the country. According to various accounts, nearly 15 million people were displaced and about 2 million lost their lives in this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

 

 

The exhibition and the event drew considerable public interest, particularly for their detailed portrayal of the social, cultural, and emotional dimensions of the tragedy, enabling visitors to connect personal memory with collective history. Through this integration of scholarship in the form of a book release, visual documentation through a DVD launch, and dignified public participation, IGNCA seeks to strengthen the culture of remembrance, ensuring that the lessons of Partition remain an enduring part of the nation’s shared consciousness for generations to come.

 

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2156673)