Partition Horrors Remembrance Day was observed at Nagaland University on August 14, 2025. In the inaugural programme of the symposium, the chairperson, Dr. Suraj Beri, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, spoke to the audience about the horrors of Partition as the consequence of the Westphalian idea of the nation-state being imposed on us. Nations that existed were transformed into states, leading to amplified suffering. As Ashis Nandy put it, “the closer people were, the more painful it got.”
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Shasanka Sekhar Pati, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science. Dr. Pati traced the destruction and horrors left by the British throughout history—felt across the world, from Gaza to India—by an empire on which the sun never set. He emphasized the importance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, the need for unity in diversity, and the foundation of action through which the future should be shaped by cooperation and understanding.
A documentary, “1947: Children of Partition,” was screened during the programme.
Focusing on the idea of Bharatiyata, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J.K. Patnaik, in his address, stated that Partition was a deliberate project by the British to diminish the historical greatness of the subcontinent. The division that created the “Hindu versus Muslim” narrative had never been part of Bharatiyata, but was meticulously promoted by the British through the “Two-State Solution.” It was an attempt to systematically erase the idea of Bharatiyata from the minds and souls of the people. The knowledge and power that were lost, Prof. Patnaik said, could have opposed bullies such as Trump in the modern “clash of civilizations.”
The symposium on “Remembering the Tragedy of Partition, Honouring the Victims, and Preserving History” began with a brief note from Dr. Sandeep Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, who reiterated the horrors of Partition.
Panelist Prof. M.K. Sinha, Department of Economics, discussed the macro-level economic burden that India had to face due to Partition. From the most fertile lands going to Pakistan, to declining productivity and industrial stagnation due to labour shortages, India’s GDP per capita fell from 1,058 USD in 1945 to 619 USD in 1949. Moreover, the loans given to Pakistan were never returned. The burden of rehabilitation further strained the economy, and the backbone of Indian economic strength was severely damaged.
Dr. E. Benrithung Patton, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Fazl Ali College, another panelist, focused on the social impact of the border-making process under the Radcliffe Line. He appealed for an “amalgamation of hearts” despite the divisions created by geographical borders. “The language of humanity speaks louder than the language of borders,” he said, adding that “the horrors of Partition belong to yesterday, but the responsibility for the future belongs to us today.”
Dr. Likhase Sangtam, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, presented a unique perspective on Partition from the experiences of the Naga people. He observed that the wound of the Nagas lay in the unresolved political question of self-determination. The trauma was not directly from Partition, but from the neglect of their identity. He stressed that true remembrance must address all wounds—including those of Nagaland—and that unity must never come at the cost of diversity. “We must strive for an India where everyone feels included, an idea reflected in the Constitution,” he said.
Dr. Sentikumla, Assistant Professor, Department of Law, viewed Partition through the lens of the horrors faced by women. Many women were killed—often by their own communities—out of fear of dishonour. Even when rescued and restored to their families, many were rejected for having been “dishonoured” by the other community. Thus, women suffered multi-layered subjugation.
The symposium concluded with Dr. Deepak Bhaskar, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, stating that the idea of human civilization lies in unity, not division. The rapporteur for the programme was Rizwan Baig, a research scholar from the Department of Political Science.
(Published as received)
