In a resolute show of commitment to historical truth and national memory, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday organised Partition Horror Remembrance Day programmes across college campuses in Kerala, despite an authoritarian directive from the CPI(M)-led state government prohibiting such observances. The day marked the tragic division of Bharat in 1947, when the creation of Pakistan on communal lines unleashed unprecedented bloodshed, displacement, and trauma.
ABVP’s events sought to educate the student community about the untold and deliberately obscured stories of Partition, exposing the vested political interests that orchestrated it. “The division of our Mathrubhumi, Bharat, was not a mere division of land, but it created deep wounds in the hearts of our people,” declared ABVP National Secretary Shravan B Raj. “Following the partition, millions lost their lives and were forced to abandon their homes. Some power-hungry leaders navigated our nation into this devastating scenario.”
The ABVP’s commemoration was met with aggressive attempts at disruption by left-aligned student outfits, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), whose members tried to intimidate participants and obstruct events. These groups, joined by certain left-leaning teachers’ associations, attempted to derail the programmes through sloganeering, hostile confrontations, and procedural interference.
“The real stories of Partition are being hidden by Congress and Communist parties to protect their political motives and appeasement politics,” asserted ABVP Kerala State Secretary EU Eswaraprasad. “Despite government roadblocks and the hooliganism of leftist groups, we ensured these stories reached the youth.”
The ABVP condemned the actions of these groups, describing them as anti-democratic and disrespectful to the memory of millions who suffered during Partition.
Defying a State Ban to Uphold History
The Kerala government’s prohibition came in stark contrast to the directive from Honourable Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who had called for commemorations across educational institutions. Instead, the state imposed unreasonable restrictions, allegedly to placate political allies and minority vote banks.
ABVP leaders emphasised that remembering Partition is not a political stunt but a moral obligation. “We observed Partition Horror Remembrance Day with the objective of making the youth aware of the tragedies and sacrifices endured by our people,” Shravan B Raj reiterated. “It is unfortunate that the ruling dispensation in Kerala, supported by the opposition front, opposes this initiative simply to safeguard their narrow political motives.”
Despite attempts at intimidation, students across Kerala’s campuses engaged enthusiastically, attending exhibitions, discussions, and memorial meetings. Many expressed a desire to learn the truth about Partition beyond the selective narratives taught in textbooks.
According to ABVP, the overwhelming participation reflects a growing awareness among the younger generation about the dangers of communal division and political betrayal. “The youth of Kerala want to know the full, unfiltered truth,” said Eswaraprasad. “They deserve to understand the sacrifices that shaped our nation.”
In the face of political hostility and street-level disruption by SFI and allied outfits, ABVP’s determined observance of Partition Horror Remembrance Day stood as a firm assertion of patriotism and historical responsibility, ensuring that the wounds of 1947 are neither forgotten nor distorted for partisan gain.
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