Shillong, Aug14: Lok Bhavan Shillong, with the Arts and Culture Department, observed Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on Friday to honour the victims and survivors of 1947.
Governor C.H. Vijayashankar hoisted the National Flag, followed by student performances and addresses at the Durbar Hall.
Keynote speaker Dr. David Arnold Kharchandy, Assistant Professor, Synod College, said Partition was not only about the Radcliffe Line or the birth of two nations.
“For millions it meant lost homes, broken families, and uncertain journeys. Maps don’t show mothers walking for days or elders leaving homes of a lifetime,” he said.
He warned against turning the tragedy into “us vs them,” stressing that people of all communities suffered.
Focusing on the Northeast, Dr. Kharchandy noted Partition reshaped the region after the new border with Bangladesh. “Migration rose, trade routes changed, families were split. Partition is not just Punjab or Bengal’s story. It is also the Northeast’s story,” he said.
He urged students to study history beyond politics, reject communal propaganda, and respect diversity.
The event served as a reminder of Partition’s human cost and the need to learn from it for a more inclusive future.
