Srinagar, Aug 14 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday paid tribute to the millions who suffered displacement, violence and loss during the Partition of 1947, saying their pain must never be allowed to disappear from public memory, while calling upon the younger generation to draw lessons from the tragedy and strengthen peace, harmony and national unity.
Addressing the gathering during the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day-2026 programme at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, the Lieutenant Governor said the wounds of Partition had not completely healed even after nearly eight decades and that generations continued to carry its painful memories.
“We will not bury their pain in the dust of history,” Sinha said, stressing that remembering those who suffered during Partition was a duty towards humanity.
He said Partition was not merely a change in geographical boundaries but a tragedy that shattered families, displaced communities and caused immense human suffering. He recalled how countless people were forced to leave their homes and how violence and displacement affected generations.
Sinha said the resilience of those who survived the tragedy and rebuilt their lives through courage, hard work and self-confidence remained an important lesson for the nation.
“Partition Had a Profound Impact on Jammu and Kashmir”
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the Partition had a profound impact on the region, dividing families and forcing several communities to leave their homes.
He recalled the hardships faced by refugees who came to Jammu and Kashmir and said many of them had endured difficult journeys in search of safety, dignity and a new life.
Sinha said the contribution of these families to the social, cultural and economic development of Jammu and Kashmir was now an important part of the region’s nation-building story.
He also said that for a long period, many refugees had faced difficulties and discrimination, adding that subsequent constitutional and administrative changes had helped address some of their longstanding issues.
“August 5, 2019 Was a Historic Decision”
Speaking about the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019, Sinha said the historic constitutional changes had helped bring about a new administrative framework and enabled people who had faced discrimination for decades to receive greater rights and opportunities.
He referred to the changes in the context of refugees and other communities who, according to him, had remained deprived of equal rights for a long period.
Sinha said the collective memory of Jammu and Kashmir was inseparable from the larger story of Partition and the struggles of families who rebuilt their lives in the region.
LG Says Pakistan Must Be Remembered for Its Role in Partition
The Lieutenant Governor also referred to the circumstances surrounding Partition and the subsequent challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir, saying the younger generation must understand how violence, division and displacement had shaped the region’s history.
He said the painful experiences of the past should strengthen the resolve of people to reject violence and division and work towards peace, harmony and national unity.
Sinha urged the youth to understand the consequences of Partition and “build bridges of faith where walls were once built”, stressing that the memories of the past should serve as a guide to prevent such tragedies from being repeated.
Calls for Peaceful, United and Developed J&K
The Lieutenant Governor said the responsibility of building a self-reliant and developed Jammu and Kashmir and a developed India did not rest solely with the government or administration, but required the collective participation of citizens.
He said India’s strength lies in its diversity of languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs, and called for ensuring that every community is respected and every citizen enjoys safety and equal opportunities.
Sinha also appreciated the Department of Culture, J&K, for organising programmes and exhibitions across the Union Territory to preserve the memories and lessons of Partition.
He called upon the younger generation to carry forward the legacy of those who survived Partition and contribute towards building a society based on peace, social justice, mutual trust and national unity.
The programme was organised by the Department of Culture, Jammu and Kashmir, and featured an exhibition of historical images documenting the suffering, displacement and trauma associated with the Partition of 1947. (JKNS)
