'Partition's Pains Can Never Be Forgotten': PM Modi Declares 14th August To Be Observed As Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (14 August) announced that 14th August will now be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in memory of millions displaced and many others who lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence during the partition of India in 1947.

"Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day," PM Modi said in a tweet.

"May the #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment," he added.

It should be noted that the partition displaced between 10 and 20 million people along religious lines, creating overwhelming refugee crisis in the newly constituted countries. There was large-scale violence during the partition, with estimates of the loss of life varying between several hundred thousand and two million.

The development gains significance as Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on 14 August, a day ahead of the Indian Independece Day.