"My parents bore Partition scars": Hardeep Singh Puri recalls anguish, resilience of victims on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
New Delhi, August 14
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said he had a deeply personal understanding of the anguish caused by Partition as his parents had borne its scars, while remembering the victims on 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'.
Puri paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the violence and carnage accompanying Partition and to the survivors who rebuilt their lives from scratch.
He recalled the suffering of those who were uprooted from their homes during the division of the country.
In a post on X, Puri wrote, "The Partition of our country will always be remembered as one of the most brutal, painful and violent human tragedies to unfold. The stories associated with this dark phase of history will live on in the memories of generations to come. Born to parents who bore the brunt and scars of Partition, I have grown up with a deeply personal understanding of the anguish of those who were uprooted from their homes and torn away from their land under the most harrowing circumstances."
He said their stories were a reminder of the extraordinary resilience and strength of ordinary people who endured unimaginable suffering.
"On Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, I remember all those who lost their lives to the violence and carnage that accompanied Partition. I also pay tribute to the countless survivors, including my own parents and several members of our family, who lost everything, and to many others, like my father, who escaped to India with nothing but the clothes they were wearing," the post read.
"Yet they showed indomitable courage and rebuilt their lives from scratch. Their stories are a poignant reminder of the extraordinary resilience and strength of ordinary people who endured unimaginable suffering. May we remember their pain with empathy, honour their resilience with humility, and ensure that the horrors they witnessed are never forgotten," the post further read.
Further, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the pain of Partition continues to run deep, as he remembered the millions who were rendered homeless and those who lost their lives during the division of the country.
"The pain of Partition still runs deep today. A mere line drawn on a map left millions homeless, and millions of lives were extinguished. Partition was a catastrophe for humanity, endured by countless Indians who had done nothing wrong--not even the size of a needle's tip," Shekhawat said in a post on X.
"The sacrifice and martyrdom of those innocents reminds us that no matter what happens, we must remain united... because in our culture, there is no place for division. Deepest respects and endless gratitude to all Indians who endured the horrific agony of Partition!" the post read.
On August 14, India observes 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and were displaced during the country's partition in 1947.
India attained its freedom from British rule on 15th August, 1947. Independence Day, which is celebrated on 15th August every year, is a joyous and proud occasion for any nation; however, with the sweetness of freedom came also the trauma of partition. The birth of the newly independent Indian nation was accompanied by violent pangs of partition that left permanent scars on millions of Indians.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The resilience of those who survived Partition is truly inspiring. They lost everything yet rebuilt their lives with courage. It's important we never forget this painful chapter and honor the sacrifices of millions who suffered due to decisions made far away from them.
As someone who studied Indian history in university, I find Puri ji's personal account adds a very human dimension to this tragedy. The Partition wasn't just a political event—it was millions of personal stories of loss and survival. Glad to see India remembering this day solemnly.
While I appreciate the remembrance, I wish we also acknowledged the role of certain political leaders and the haste with which the British left, which worsened the chaos. Remembering the victims is important, but so is learning from history to prevent such tragedies. Still, respect to all who suffered. 🙏
My grandfather was from Rawalpindi and he never spoke much about those days, but when he did, you could see the pain in his eyes. This day is important for all of us to remember that our freedom came at a great cost. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
I didn't know much about Partition until I read about it a few years ago. The scale of human suffering is unimaginable—millions displaced and hundreds of thousands killed. It's good that India officially remembers this day. History must not be forgotten.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.