At Partition Museum opening, Capt goes down memory lane
and families.
However, they were forced to abandon them following an agreement between the governments of India and Pakistan.
Captain Amarinder later took a walk around the museum, which he said brought many memories to life.
Addressing the gathering earlier, Navjot Singh Sidhu, minister for local government, tourism, cultural affairs, archives and museums, described the Partition Museum as the story of human resolve, resilience and the indomitable human spirit.
Sidhu applauded the chief minister for the novel initiative and said the museum had revived history that was getting lost in the sands of time.
Several events marked the inauguration of the museum, including a poetry recital by noted lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar who launched his newly translated book, Footprints on Zero Line: Writings on the Partition.
Speaking on the occasion, Gulzar said, “Many people have painful memories of the partition. But with this museum, all memories have got a place. I appeal to people in both countries to bring here anything related to the partition.”
The event also saw panel discussions with eminent experts such as publisher and writer Urvashi Butalia and poet Surjit Patar, a short play by Kahaniwala and Sufi music recital by the Hashmat Sultana sisters.
Addressing the gathering, Partition Museum Trust Chair Lady Kishwar Desai thanked the state government for its support in developing the unique museum, which is dedicated to the spirit and courage of partition survivors.
Built in the long-neglected Town Hall building, the museum is inspired by the stories of Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto.
Manto belonged to Amritsar and his family home in Gali Vakilan was among the 40% houses destroyed in the communal violence during partition.
The museum showcases memorabilia related to the partition such as official documents, rare photos, literature, artefacts and films.
Mallika Ahluwalia, CEO of the museum, said the exhibitions include photographs, newspaper clippings and donated personal items that tell the story of how the region’s struggle for freedom from colonial rule turned into one of its most violent episodes.
A hall dedicated to the freedom struggle plays piped songs of resistance from the two regions most active in the struggle, while a sad poem by Amrita Pritam addressed to Waris Shah plays in the background.
The museum, however, also imparts optimism to its visitors with the Hall of Hope.
After a walk down memory lane, paper hangings of migratory birds and a Tree of Hope crafted from barbed wire by designer Neeraj Sahai stand out as a symbol of hope for the people of both India and Pakistan.
Twenty-six years after Rajiv Gandhi was killed in 1991, the Supreme Court asked the Centre on Thursday to give a report of its investigation into the conspiracy behind making and supplying of the human bomb.
The former prime minister was killed on May 21, 1991, when a woman suicide bomber with deadly explosives strapped around her body in a belt triggered the bomb.
A bench headed by justice Ranjan Gogoi sought to know the progress of probe done by the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) that was entrusted with the task to probe the assassination. It adjourned the hearing to next Wednesday.
“We want Solicitor General or an Additional Solicitor General to tell us about the status of investigation on this point. What has been the result of such re-investigation or further investigation?” the court told advocate PK Dey, who appeared for MDMA.
The bench is seized of a petition filed by a convict undergoing life sentence for supplying batteries reportedly used in the bomb. Petitioner’s lawyer Gopal Sankarnarayan said MDMA has not yet made public its probe into how the bomb was made, who made it and how it was supplied.
Questioning his client’s conviction on this ground, the counsel said the report on the conspiracy would prove the petitioner’s innocence.
MDMA was constituted on December 2, 1998. The agency was assigned the task to monitor, coordinate, investigate and follow up issues arising out of the Memorandum of Action Taken (MoAT) and Final Reports of the Jain Commission of Inquiry relating to the assassination of the former Prime Minister on May 21, 1991. HTC
People have painful memories of the partition, but all memories have a place. I appeal to people in both countries to bring anything related to the partition here.