Prime Minister declares 14th August as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

Source: The Hindu, PIB, PIB  

Synopsis:

In a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives due to the partition of the nation and were displaced from their roots, the Government has decided to observe 14th August as the day to commemorate their sacrifice.

Background:

• The country celebrated 75th Independence Day on 15th August 2021. Nonetheless, the pain and violence of partition remains deeply entrenched in the nation’s memory.
• Realizing this, the government has declared that 14th August would be observed as Partition Horror’s Remembrance Day.

Rationale behind declaring a Partition Horrors Remembrance Day:

• It is a way of saluting those sons and daughters of our beloved motherland who had to sacrifice their lives in the frenzy of violence.
• It would remind present and future generations of Indians of the pain and suffering faced by the people during the partition.
• Furthermore, it will keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions and disharmony.
  • For instance, the two-nation theory which was the basis of partition failed miserably with the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. 
• It will encourage the masses to strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony, and human empowerment.

Way Forward:

• Given that the trauma was felt not just in India but in three countries, an attempt to mark the day across the subcontinent might have been more inclusive. 
• It is necessary too, to remember not just the violence of 1947 but also the colonial hand that cause the Partition. 
• Steps must be taken to hold the British Empire to account for and educate successive generations on the perils of imperialism, arbitrary map-making, and inhuman policy of divide and rule.