DH NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, Aug 14 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday urged the youth of the Union Territory to learn from the painful memories of Partition, reject enmity and communal bitterness, and ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated.
Addressing a gathering at Tagore Hall here during the observance of ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’, Sinha said Partition was not merely a chapter of history but a living memory of millions of families, and called upon the youth to “build bridges of trust”.
“The youth of Jammu Kashmir must ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated in the future. Where walls were once raised, you must build bridges of trust and construct a Viksit Bharat that is inclusive,” he said.
The event was marked by collective remembrance and a reaffirmation of national unity.
Sinha paid heartfelt tribute to citizens who endured unimaginable suffering during the Partition of 1947, saying their sacrifices continued to inspire generations.
He said the wound of Partition continued to exist as a pain in the collective consciousness of every Indian.
“Decades after the partition, their sacrifice reminds us that the wound remains unhealed, lingering as a generational pain in India’s collective soul. On Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, we are not merely recalling the past but we are giving voice to those millions whose voices were taken away from them. I wish to reiterate with firm resolve that we will not allow their pain to be buried in the dust of history,” he said.
Remembering those who suffered during Partition was a duty towards humanity, he said, stressing the need to preserve their memories with “complete truthfulness, honesty, and utmost sensitivity”.
“I believe that their stories are an indelible chapter of our national consciousness, and their sacrifice will forever remain alive in the soul of Mother India,” Sinha said.
The LG urged the people of JK to treat the occasion as a day of introspection and national resolve, and called upon youth, farmers, workers and women to rise with courage and determination and turn the pace of time towards progress and harmony.
He said people who rebuilt their lives after Partition with courage and resilience had enriched India’s social fabric and cultural heritage with their historic traditions and values.
“Today’s occasion is an opportunity to acknowledge the pain of the past and strengthen our unwavering commitment to peace, harmony and national unity. This day reminds us that only the lessons of history can make the future secure and humane,” he said.
Sinha noted that Partition divided families and displaced communities from Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir and Chhamb.
He also paid tribute to those who faced decades-long discrimination within the Union Territory due to Article 370, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended their suffering and granted them equal rights like any other citizen of the country.
The LG also paid tribute to countless families who sacrificed during the tribal invasion in the months following Partition.
“Within a few months of partition, enemies of the nation carried out terror attack under the cover of tribal invasions. Indian army and people fought bravely. The struggle and sacrifice of countless families are an integral part of the collective memory of Jammu Kashmir. Today, I humbly pay tribute to the patience, hard work, and unbroken patriotism of all those families,” he said.
Sinha reminded the gathering that India’s strength lay in its diversity.
From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gujarat to Goa and Assam to Arunachal Pradesh, India is a confluence of languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs, he said.
“Through partition, enemies of the nation tried to destroy this spirit of unity in diversity, but India has continuously moved forward with pride and confidence. We must take a pledge to acquaint future generations with the pain of partition, to strengthen peace and harmony, and to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
“Building a self-reliant Jammu Kashmir is a shared duty and national unity remains the bedrock of our strength, security and collective progress,” the LG added.
Sinha also visited a photo exhibition organised on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives during the Partition of India.
The event also featured a theatrical performance by artists depicting the trauma, hardship and displacement experienced by millions during Partition.
