In a poignant tribute to the legacy of the partition of India, the High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha (SSDS) and the Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK), has launched an exhibition commemorating “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” in Nairobi.
The event, which opened this week, seeks to honor the memory of millions who suffered and sacrificed during one of the most tumultuous periods in history.
At the inauguration ceremony, H.E. Namagya Khampa, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, emphasized the significance of the exhibition. “We are here today to remember the tremendous suffering and sacrifices endured by millions during the partition of India,” Khampa said. She highlighted the importance of bringing this story to Kenya and to the Indian community here, underscoring the need to honor and remember those who endured such profound loss.
Khampa reflected on a quote from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the partition as an event that cannot be forgotten due to the immense human cost. “Millions of brothers and sisters were displaced, and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. The partition caused tremendous and unpleasant displacement and forced migration, destroying a way of life that we knew in the Indian subcontinent,” Khampa quoted Modi.
The exhibition aims to shed light on the massive forced migration that resulted from the partition, which remains one of the largest in history. The High Commissioner expressed her gratitude for the support from SSDS and HCK in bringing the exhibition to fruition.
She also reiterated the High Commission’s commitment to facilitating further educational initiatives on the partition’s history for other diaspora communities in Kenya and the region.
Mr. T R Sharma, Chairman of SSDS, addressed the gathering, saying, “Today we gather to commemorate an important chapter of our history. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day provides us with an opportunity to honor the fortitude of those who endured the hate and violence from the past.”
Echoing these sentiments, Sujatha Kotamraju, Chairperson of HCK, remarked on the exhibition’s role in reflection and education. “This exhibition provides us an opportunity to reflect on this somber chapter and pay homage to the families who faced displacement and trauma, even generations after the partition,” she stated. Sujatha added that the exhibition’s visual displays and interactive elements aim to ensure that this crucial part of history is preserved and understood, especially by younger generations.
Through this exhibition, the organizers hope to preserve the memory of the partition and educate future generations about its impact, ensuring that such historical tragedies are not forgotten.