Chandigarh, 09 April (H.S.):

In a significant initiative to commemorate the pain and sacrifices of the 1947 Partition, a new body named the Partition Horrors Memorial Trust has been formed under the guidance of Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power.

The Trust aims to establish a grand national memorial along with a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to preserving the memories of one of the most tragic chapters in Indian history. The proposed memorial will serve as a tribute to the millions who lost their homes and lives during the Partition, while also educating future generations about the horrors of that time.

According to the Trust, the memorial complex will feature galleries displaying images and statues of revered personalities such as Lord Rama, Mata Hinglaj, Maharishi Kashyap, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, Bhagat Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, and Kalpana Chawla, among others.

The complex will also include modern facilities such as an auditorium, landscaped gardens, residential quarters, an Annapurna kitchen, a Yagya/Sanskar Shala, and a meditation and yoga hall. A special “Horror Gallery” and “Displacement Corridor” will be developed using advanced technology to vividly depict the suffering and migration experienced during Partition.

Ramesh Chand Juneja, who has been appointed as the lifelong National President of the Trust, said that the memorial will not merely be a structure of stone, but “a silent cry for millions of souls who sacrificed everything for the nation.” He has appealed to families to contribute letters, photographs, and memorabilia from the Partition era to enrich the museum’s collection.

The Trust has been founded by Swami Dharmdev, who will serve as its Founding President, while Bodh Raj Sikri has been appointed as General Secretary. The Trust was recently registered and includes a diverse team of prominent members from various fields.

Several distinguished personalities, including Jagdish Mukhi, retired bureaucrats, academicians, and spiritual leaders, have also been associated with the Trust. Eminent saints such as Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Anandmurti Gurumaa have been nominated as chief patrons and protectors.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH