Chandigarh, August 14 — Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday observed ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ (Partition Horrors Remembrance Day) in Faridabad, solemnly recalling the immense upheaval and pain endured by countless individuals during one of the most tragic chapters in India’s history.
Paying heartfelt tributes to the countless ancestors who lost their lives during the 1947 partition and to the lakhs of families uprooted in one of the darkest chapters of India’s history, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini announced that Haryana will hold an exhibition of literature and documents related to the partition to keep the memory alive. The history of the ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ will also be formally incorporated into the school curriculum, ensuring that future generations understand the suffering and resilience of their forebears.
In a significant social reform measure, the Chief Minister said the state government will introduce special provisions to address the difficulties faced by women whose names are changed after marriage, easing the process of amending official documents. He also announced to give Rs. 51 lakh from his discretionary fund for the construction of a Partition Horrors Memorial in Kurukshetra.
Partition Pain Runs Deep in Haryana, says CM
The Chief Minister said the land of Haryana bore the Partition’s wounds more acutely than most, with many families migrating to Pakistan while a large number of displaced people from erstwhile West Punjab made Haryana their new home. Faridabad itself, he noted, stands as a living testament to that tragedy, having been developed specifically to resettle those who lost their everything during partition. These families arrived with nothing, no homes, no land, no possessions, only courage and determination. However with their hard work, they not only rebuilt their lives but transformed Faridabad into one of Haryana’s leading industrial hubs, he said.
The Chief Minister underlined that memorials dedicated to Partition victims are being established across the state, including an existing site in Badhkal, Faridabad. The upcoming world-class martyrdom memorial at Masana, Kurukshetra, will add to these efforts.
While the day was one of grief and remembrance, the Chief Minister stressed it was also a reminder to safeguard India’s unity and integrity. We must learn from the mistakes that led to such a calamity, he said, warning against the perils of spreading hatred on the basis of religion, caste, or language.
The Chief Minister lauded the Partition survivors for refusing to compromise on their faith, dignity, and patriotism despite severe hardships. He credited their toil for significantly contributing to Haryana’s development.
This day is a call to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, he said, urging citizens to build a Haryana and an India rooted in peace, harmony, and unity.
Union Minister Manohar Lal Attacks Congress on Partition Legacy
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal described Partition as a cataclysm that shook lakhs of lives. He criticised the Congress for failing to honour the martyrs of partition, accusing the party of preferring to ‘forget’ their sacrifices. Targeting the party’s ‘dynastic politics’, he said it began under Indira Gandhi, who imposed the Emergency, ‘killing democracy’.
Hailing Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s rise from a humble background and Sh. Nayab Singh Saini’s appointment as Chief Minister as an example of true democracy, Sh. Manohar Lal said the BJP had become the people’s choice in 2014 as a credible alternative to Congress.
Never forgive or forget those who are responsible for Partition- Union Minister of State for Cooperation
Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Government of India, Sh. Krishan Pal Gurjar, called upon citizens to neither forgive nor forget those responsible for the Partition of India. Speaking at a programme to mark ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ (Partition Horrors Remembrance Day), observed nationwide on the eve of Independence Day at the behest of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, he recalled the “dark night” of August 14, 1947, which he said was triggered by the ambition of Jinnah and Nehru to become Prime Minister and the Muslim League’s insistence on creating a religion-based nation.
The Minister said the decision forced lakhs to abandon their homes, subjected countless women to atrocities, and claimed innumerable innocent lives. He lauded the Prime Minister’s initiative to ensure future generations learn about the tragedy, adding that former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal was the first to formally observe the day in Haryana.
Sh. Krishan Pal Gurjar accused the Congress of being “driven by the desire for power then, and even today, alleging that the party is tarnishing the Army’s image globally for political gain. Congress never trusted the people of this country; nor does it trust the elected government, the armed forces, the judiciary, the Constitution, or constitutional bodies,” he remarked.
1947 Partition Among Humanity’s Worst Tragedies- Deputy Speaker
Haryana Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker, Dr. Krishan Lal Middha paid solemn tribute to the lakhs who perished during the Partition, describing it as one of the most catastrophic events in human history.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Krishan Lal Middha said that the 1947 Partition claimed the lives of 10 to 12 lakh people, displaced lakhs of families, and saw relatives sacrifice their lives to protect the honour of women, while trains arrived at the borders filled with corpses, he said.
The Deputy Speaker said the anguish of that time still lingers in the collective memory, blaming the Congress’s ‘power-hungry leadership’ for plunging the country into the fire of Partition. The boundaries drawn, he added, not only divided territory but also ‘split hearts in the name of religion and borders.’
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi for officially declaring ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ from the Red Fort in 2021.
Future generations must know why partition happened – BJP State President
BJP Haryana president, Sh. Mohan Lal Kaushik stressed the importance of educating future generations about the causes and culprits of Partition, which he said subjected countless people to atrocities and claimed innumerable lives. Today, we pay tribute to those martyrs, he said, noting that the Prime Minister’s 14 August observance has allowed the nation to honour their memory 75 years after Independence.
Sh. Mohan Lal Kaushik laid primary responsibility for the Partition on the Congress Party, alleging that it continues to mislead the public even today. He urged that the truth be continually reminded to the youth.
Panchanad Trust’s Effort to Preserve Partition Memories ‘Unparalleled’- Subhash Sudha
Panchanad Memorial Trust State President, Sh. Subhash Sudha hailed the sacrifices of the nearly 10 lakh people who died during Partition as an eternal source of inspiration. He recalled that the Trust began working in 2003 to preserve the memories of victims and resolved to establish a grand museum dedicated to the tragedy.
Sh. Subhash Sudha said that through this memorial, he said, future generations would learn about the suffering and heroism of Partition survivors while being reminded of their duty to the nation. He praised the resilience of ancestors who, despite grave hardship, rebuilt their lives with dignity, never begging for aid but relying on hard work, a legacy he described as “our true identity.
National President, Panchnad Memorial Trust Swami Dharmdev, Cabinet Ministers Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar, Sh. Vipul Goel, Dr. Arvind Sharma, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, Smt. Shruti Choudhry, Ministers of State, Sh. Rajesh Nagar, Sh. Gaurav Gautam, MLAs Sh. Moolchand Sharma, Sh. Satish Fagna, Smt. Bimla Chaudhary, Sh. Dinesh Adlakha, Sh. Vinod Bhyana and Sh. Laxman Yadav and other dignitaries were also present in the programme.
