SRINAGAR, Aug 14: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said the wounds inflicted by the 1947 Partition have not completely healed even after nearly eight decades, stressing that remembering those who suffered and lost their lives during the division of the country is a “duty towards humanity”.
Addressing a programme organised at Tagore Hall in Srinagar on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Sinha said the occasion was not merely about revisiting a painful chapter of history but also about introspection, national resolve and ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated.
“Even after eight decades of Partition, this wound has not healed completely. Even today, in the collective consciousness of India, there is a pain that has not been washed away by generations,” he said.
Sinha paid homage to the millions of people who endured violence, displacement and loss during Partition, saying their suffering must not be allowed to disappear from public memory.
“We will not let their pain be buried in the dust of history. Remembering them will be a duty towards humanity,” he said.
He said the memories of Partition victims must be preserved with honesty, truthfulness and compassion, describing this as the “holiest tribute” that could be paid to them.
The LG expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for observing August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day and said the occasion should remain part of the country’s collective consciousness.
Sinha stressed the need to ensure that younger generations understand the immense human cost of Partition.
He said the division was not merely a change in geographical boundaries but resulted in families being separated, communities being uprooted and countless people being forced to rebuild their lives in unfamiliar surroundings.
“Countless people were forced to leave their homes. Countless lives were engulfed in darkness,” he said.
Referring to the violence that accompanied Partition, Sinha said the younger generation must understand the scale of the suffering endured by ordinary people.
He said society must preserve the stories of those who were displaced and forced to start their lives afresh.
Sinha said the history of Partition was not only one of suffering but also reflected courage, resilience and determination.
He said families who lost everything managed to rebuild their lives through hard work, courage and self-confidence, while also contributing their languages, traditions and values to the places where they eventually settled.
“Their struggle gives us the confidence that no matter how difficult the circumstances, the courage of the human soul can triumph over all darkness,” he said.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, the LG said Partition had a deep and lasting impact on the region, dividing families and displacing communities from their ancestral homes.
He said people who arrived in Jammu and Kashmir after being displaced from different parts of the subcontinent made significant contributions to the region’s social and cultural landscape.
“Partition divided families, and many communities were displaced from their own homes,” Sinha said.
He paid tribute to displaced families who rebuilt their lives in Jammu and Kashmir despite the hardships they had faced.
Sinha also appreciated the J&K Cultural Department for organising programmes to preserve the memories and lessons of Partition and make them accessible to different sections of society.
Addressing the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said Partition should not be viewed merely as a historical event but as a legacy carrying important lessons for future generations.
“Partition is not only an event in your history, but also the memory of those lakhs of families whose legacy is in your hands,” he said.
He urged young people to learn from the experiences of Partition survivors and ensure that the mistakes and divisions of the past are not repeated.
“You have to learn from their experiences. You have to ensure that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir never repeat those mistakes in the future,” he said.
Sinha called for greater social harmony, coexistence and national unity, urging the younger generation to build bridges of trust rather than divisions.
“You have to build a strong bridge of faith where walls have never been built,” he said.
He called for a collective commitment to building a peaceful, harmonious and strong Jammu and Kashmir and India.
On Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Sinha urged people to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence, social harmony, ethical values and national unity.
“Today, on the anniversary of Partition, we must once again take an oath that we will dedicate our talents towards peaceful coexistence, social harmony and national unity,” he said.
