Partition Remembrance Day Event Highlights History of Lajpat Nagar and Other Localities
Delhi marked Partition Remembrance Day on Friday with a commemorative gathering at the Partition Museum and Cultural Hub, reflecting on how localities such as Lajpat Nagar, Khan Market, and Punjabi Bagh were built and shaped by the resilience of refugees arriving during Partition.
The event, commemorating the 79th anniversary of Partition, was held inside the Dara Shikoh Library Building of Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi. The gathering brought together Partition survivors, family members, and dignitaries to honour displaced families who rebuilt their lives in the national capital.
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was scheduled to attend as chief guest, was unable to be present due to health issues and conveyed his message through a letter read at the gathering.
In his message, the Lieutenant Governor noted that Partition was not merely the drawing of a border but the uprooting of millions from their homes, communities, and memories. He stated that Delhi bears the imprint of that history in neighbourhoods such as Lajpat Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, Model Town, and Khan Market, which were shaped by the rehabilitation of displaced families who arrived with little, rebuilt their lives, and contributed to nation-building.
Survivors and their families shared their personal accounts during the event. Jagmohan Bharadwaj, 84, who was four years old when his family migrated from Pakistan's Sheikhupura district to Jalandhar, recalled carrying chocolate cookies in his elder brothers' pockets amid the chaos, only later realizing the full extent of the life they had left behind.
Sudha Bhattacharya, a 74-year-old scientist and retired professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University, spoke about preserving her family's history. She recounted how her father foresaw the events of 1947, rented a home in Delhi, and migrated ahead of Partition to keep the family together. She noted that she recorded her parents' memories in 2002 to ensure future generations remembered their experiences.
Following the ceremony, attendees toured visual exhibits at the museum depicting memories and experiences from the era. The event was attended by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, as Guest of Honour, along with Partition Museum Founder and Chair Kishwar Desai, former UN Assistant Secretary-General Lakshmi Puri, and Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board Managing Director K. Mahesh.
