DD Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday said Partition was one of the largest mass migrations in human history and described it as one of the most tragic chapters in the country’s history.
Addressing a national seminar on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day organised by the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies, University of Delhi, in association with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), the Vice-President said the purpose of remembering Partition was not to reopen old wounds but to promote unity and harmony.
Speaking on the theme, ‘The Partition of India – A Saga of Displacement, Separation and Resettlement’, Radhakrishnan said Independence brought freedom from colonial rule but was accompanied by an unprecedented human tragedy.
He said the scale of Partition remained a stark warning about the devastating consequences of division and hatred. “Our children deserve to know the truth of Partition,” he said, stressing that a tragedy of such magnitude could not be confined to a few lines in textbooks.
The Vice-President said Partition was not merely a redrawing of political boundaries but also divided a civilisational heritage that had remained interconnected for thousands of years. He referred to the disruption of access to several important cultural, spiritual and archaeological sites, including the Sindhu river, Kartarpur Sahib, Nankana Sahib, ancient Shaktipeeths, Harappa, Mohenjodaro and Takshashila.
He also noted that the hurried redrawing of borders created disputes that continue to have implications for India’s defence policy, national security and relations with neighbouring countries.
Emphasising the importance of responsible decision-making during crises, Radhakrishnan said the safety and security of people must always remain a paramount consideration.
Urging citizens to place the nation above narrower identities, he said no caste, language or region could be more important than the nation. He called upon every Indian to take pride in the country’s shared civilisational heritage and national identity.
The Vice-President felicitated 15 Partition survivors for their courage, resilience and contribution to preserving the memories and experiences of Partition.
He also administered a ‘No Drugs’ pledge to students, urging young people to stay away from drugs and make healthy and responsible choices.
Concluding his address, Radhakrishnan said Partition Horrors Remembrance Day should remind the nation that freedom is precious, unity is essential and peace can never be taken for granted.
The seminar was attended by University of Delhi Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh, ICHR Chairman Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar, Dean of Colleges Prof. Balram Pani, Registrar Dr. Vikas Gupta, besides academics, scholars, students and Partition survivors.
