Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Dr HK Kambhampati described the Partition of India as “one of humanity’s most profound tragedies,” reflecting on the deep scars left by the events of 1947. During that time, millions were displaced, countless lives were lost, and the cultural and communal fabric of the subcontinent was torn apart.
Speaking at the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day program held at the New Abhishek Hall, Raj Bhavan, the Governor commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing the annual observance on August 14. He emphasized that this initiative ensures future generations understand the magnitude of the tragedy and learn lessons to safeguard unity and peace.
The event, organized on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, featured participation from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha’s Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, and Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, along with First Lady Jayashree Kambhampati.
In his address, Chief Minister Majhi recalled the bittersweet moment of independence: “While we attained freedom, lakhs of families faced the horrors of displacement, the pain of separation, and the grief of losing loved ones. Our ancestors bore the wounds of Partition but wove from that devastation a dream of unity.” He urged citizens to honor that legacy by strengthening harmony and brotherhood.
ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜଭବନରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ବିଭାଜନ ବିଭୀଷିକା ସ୍ମୃତି ଦିବସ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଆଜିର ଏହି ଦିବସ କେବଳ ବିଭାଜନ ଓ ବିସ୍ଥାପନ ସମୟର ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରିବାର ଅବସର ନୁହେଁ ବରଂ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ସମୟକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ କରିବାର ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା। ବିଭାଜନ ଆମକୁ ଏକ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଦେଇଛି "ସୀମା ସିନା ଦେଶକୁ ବାଣ୍ଟିପାରେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ମନକୁ… pic.twitter.com/xOhshD7iZN
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 14, 2025
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan underscored the crucial role of history in shaping a nation’s future. He referred to it as “a mirror of the past and a guide to the future,” asserting that no progressive society can advance without learning from its historical experiences. Reflecting on August 14, 1947, Pradhan noted that hatred and violence during Partition uprooted millions, compelling them to make immense sacrifices. “The politics and diplomacy of that time led to unimaginable incidents. The visuals, pain, and wounds of that period still haunt many, and their consequences continue to affect us,” he observed.
Pradhan recounted interactions with residents of border areas, where he heard firsthand accounts of the trauma they endured. He paid tribute to those who perished during Partition and stressed that Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas should not be seen merely as a day of remembrance but as a chance to honor sacrifices and reflect on lessons learned.
୧୯୪୭ ମସିହା ଅଗଷ୍ଟ ୧୪ରେ ଭାରତ ପାକିସ୍ତାନ ବିଭାଜନ ସମୟରେ ଘୃଣା ଓ ହିଂସା ହେତୁ ଲକ୍ଷ ଲକ୍ଷ ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀମାନେ ବିସ୍ଥାପିତ ହେବା ସହ ତ୍ୟାଗ ଏବଂ ବଳିଦାନ ଦେଇଥିଲେ । ଏହାର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ, ପୀଡ଼ା ଓ କ୍ଷତ ଏବେ ବି ଅନେକ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ମର୍ମାହତ କରୁଛି । ତାହାର ପରିଣାମ ଆଜି ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମେ ଭୋଗୁଛୁ । ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଶର ଅନେକ ସୀମାବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ଗସ୍ତ… pic.twitter.com/A1ADYepmGJ
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 14, 2025
He reminded the audience that in 2021, Prime Minister Modi declared August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to ensure the younger generation remains aware of this chapter in India’s history. “Every citizen must remember the story of Partition, learn from it, and understand its consequences. Only then will our freedom remain secure, and the path to a developed India be clear,” Pradhan stated.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj noted that the suffering of those affected by Partition has often been underrepresented in historical narratives and called for greater acknowledgment of their experiences.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, delivered the welcome address. The event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Niranjan Bishi, Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, senior officials, and hundreds of citizens. Displaced families, whose lives were uprooted during the Partition, were also felicitated in a gesture of respect and remembrance.
The solemn occasion served as both a tribute to the resilience of those who endured one of the darkest chapters in Indian history and a call to future generations to uphold unity, peace, and harmony in the nation.
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