Raipur, 14 August 2024//

Chief Minister  Vishnu Deo Sai attended the ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ seminar at the Medical College auditorium in Raipur on August 14. ‘Rashtriya Sah Sanghthan’ General Secretary  Shiv Prakash and film actor  Mukesh Khanna were the main speakers at the event. In his address, Chief Minister  Sai paid tribute to the millions who endured unimaginable suffering, lost their lives, and became homeless during the partition of India.

Chief Minister  Sai highlighted that the partition was not merely a division of the country but one of the greatest tragedies in human history. He remarked that ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ serves as a reminder of the deep wounds inflicted on India’s unity and integrity. The pain experienced by the generation that lived through the partition will never be forgotten by current and future generations. The partition led to widespread displacement, mass killings, and horrific acts of violence, with many people forced to become refugees, and uprooted from their homes.

He emphasised that this day underscores the critical importance of national unity and integrity. He warned that nations and societies that fail to learn from historical mistakes are doomed to suffer significant losses. Only those who lived through the partition can fully comprehend the immense hardships and pain endured during that time. Millions of Hindus faced unimaginable torment, with thousands murdered or raped.  Sai attributed the partition to leaders who prioritised their self-interest over the nation’s welfare. He also drew attention to the current situation in Bangladesh, a nation formed as a result of the partition, highlighting the actions of separatist forces there, which continue to be witnessed by the world.

Chief Minister  Sai emphasised that India has always upheld the values of equality, never discriminating based on religion, caste, or colour, in consonance with the principles of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” He underscored the importance of remembering the partition as a lesson from history and a warning against separatist ideologies.  Sai called on the audience to prioritise national unity, integrity, sovereignty, and harmony, urging them to place the country’s interests above personal ones. During the event, survivors of the partition were honoured by the guests.

‘Rashtriya Sah Sanghthan’ General Secretary  Shiv Prakash spoke about the significance of this day as a reminder not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He highlighted that societies and nations thrive when they learn from their errors and adjust their future policies accordingly.  Prakash noted that while India celebrated independence on August 15, 1947, the partition tore millions of families apart, with estimates ranging from 2 to 20 lakh people killed and millions more displaced from their homes.

He further recounted the horrific events in Calcutta, where over 10,000 people were massacred in a single day, with British officers reporting that there was no place to step due to the sheer number of bodies.  Prakash explained how the British, recognising their impending departure from India, conspired to implement a divide-and-rule strategy. The partition on August 14, 1947, remains a tragic chapter in history, with the pain still deeply felt by countless people. The division of the country along religious lines to satisfy political ambitions resulted in bloodshed, hatred, and exile, leaving a profound scar on the soul of ‘Bharat Mata.’

Thinker and film actor  Mukesh Khanna remarked, “We are living in the Kali Yuga, where attacks are made through conspiracies rather than ethical principles.” He emphasised that the formation of Pakistan and Hindustan occurred when religion infiltrated politics.  Khanna shared his father’s harrowing experiences during the partition, recalling how Sikh brothers had to bring their relatives from Pakistan to India hidden in sacks. He called for leaders to be as strong and principled as Bhishma Pitamah, rather than blind to reality like Dhritarashtra, and urged everyone to remember the tragedy of the partition while contributing to the nation’s progress and fostering harmony.

Raipur MP  Brijmohan Agrawal also addressed the seminar, noting that while India celebrates independence on August 15, the painful memory of the partition, which occurred a day earlier, remains a haunting chapter in history. He highlighted that Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s decision to observe ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ serves as a reminder of those dark times when people endured inhuman suffering, faced the cruel hardships of migration, and lost their homes, properties, and countless lives.

Raipur North MLA  Purandar Mishra, Raipur Rural MLA  Motilal Sahu,  Ajay Jamwal, ‘Sangathan’ General Secretary  Pawan Sai, State Program Coordinator  Anurag Singh Deo, Raipur District President  Jayanti Bhai Patel, Raipur District General Secretary  Ramesh Thakur,  Satyam Duba and other citizens were present.