Partition Horrors Remembrance Day – 14 August

August 14 to be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day or Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas. The day was declared to be observed by the Prime Minister of Indian Narendra Modi in 2021.

On Twitter, he said: “Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.”

India and Pakistan Are Still Haunted by Partition and Its Bloodshed. Partition tore India into three pieces. Disaster struck. There was East Pakistan, there was West Pakistan, and there was the rest of India. Millions of people were uprooted from their houses, tens of thousands massacred on both sides. It was one of the greatest mass migrations and killings in human history.

The partition divided Hindus and Muslims who had lived together for hundreds of years. It led to endless boundary disputes, three wars between the two neighbors, a nuclear-powered arms race, and state-sponsored terrorism. The agony and horrors of partition also gave rise to a new genre of moving art and literature of India.

The decision to create two separate countries was sparked by the end of British rule in India. It was decided that to limit violence and bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims, the country would be split into two completely separate countries. The majority of the Hindu population would remain within India while Pakistan would contain mostly Muslims.

The partition caused mass riots and millions of people uprooting their lives to be in perceived safer territory and to live with those of the same religion. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 2 million people were killed in the wake of the split. Women were raped and murdered – a lack of law and order allowed the political unrest to rage out of control.