Srinagar, Aug 14 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday paid homage to the victims of the 1947 Partition and urged people, particularly the youth, to learn from the tragedy and work towards peace, harmony and national integration.
Addressing a Partition Horrors Remembrance Day event at Tagore Hall here, Sinha said the suffering caused by Partition continues to remain a painful memory in the collective consciousness of the country.
“Decades after the Partition, their sacrifice reminds us that the wound remains unhealed, lingering as a generational pain in India’s collective soul,” he said.
Sinha said the observance was not merely about recalling history but also about giving voice to millions who suffered during the Partition.
He paid tribute to those who endured displacement, violence and immense hardship, saying their resilience and sacrifices continue to inspire generations.
The lieutenant governor called upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir to treat the day as an occasion for introspection and reaffirmation of their commitment to peace and national unity.
Addressing the youth, he said they must ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
“Where walls were once raised, you must build bridges of trust and construct a Viksit Bharat that is inclusive,” Sinha said.
He said the strength of India lies in its diversity of languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs, and called for strengthening the bonds of unity.
Sinha also recalled the suffering of families displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb during Partition and paid tribute to those who, he said, faced discrimination in Jammu and Kashmir for decades due to Article 370.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with ending their suffering and granting them equal rights.
The lieutenant governor also remembered the victims of the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir following Partition, saying Indian forces and local people had fought bravely against the attackers.
“Today, I humbly pay tribute to the patience, hard work, and unbroken patriotism of all those families,” he said.
Sinha urged people to acquaint future generations with the pain of Partition while ensuring 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,” he said.
The lieutenant governor also visited a photo exhibition organised on the occasion. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives during Partition.
A theatrical performance highlighting the trauma, hardship and displacement experienced by millions during the Partition was also staged.
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, BJP J&K General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, senior officials, prominent citizens and a large number of youth attended the event.(NVI)
