Tripura CM Manik Saha, speaking on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, praised PM Modi’s efforts to protect India’s unity and urged citizens to stay united against division. Highlighting partition’s tragedies, he stressed the need to learn from history to prevent unrest and maintain the nation’s integrity.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently working to protect India’s unity and integrity. Speaking at the state-level observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Saha urged citizens to stay united against any forces attempting to divide the nation.
The event, organised at the Rabindra Hall of Maharaja Bir Bikram College by the Higher Education Department, aimed to make younger generations aware of the painful chapter of India’s history during the partition.
Raising Awareness Through History
In his address, the Chief Minister said that such observances are crucial for helping people, especially students, understand the country’s direction, leadership, and the importance of unity.
“We often think only about ourselves, but we must also think about our state and our country,” Saha said. “Today, thanks to the internet, we know about the world, but I am not sure how aware the present generation is about history. No one can erase history. By reading history, we understand our present and past.”
He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in 2021 to remember the suffering endured by millions during the partition and the freedom struggle.
Remembering the Pain of Partition
Saha spoke emotionally about the tragic consequences of the 1947 partition — countless deaths, atrocities against women, missing children, and forced migration.
“This day is to remember such times and such incidents,” he said. “We must ensure that such tragedies never repeat themselves. Every year on August 14, we observe this day, and if it is commemorated in various locations, more people will understand the horrors of partition.”
The Chief Minister warned that even today, there are forces that try to create unrest and divide people for political gains. “We must learn from partition so that we do not move towards division again,” he added.
Historical Context of Division
Tracing the roots of communal unrest, Saha said that as early as 1881, riots began erupting in different parts of India, with the British exploiting religious differences through their divide-and-rule policy.
“These riots were not for religious purposes but for political benefits — to seize power as soon as possible,” he said. “In Kashmir, Hindu Pandits suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists. Due to the vision of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Hindu Bengalis found a place to live in dignity.”
He reminded the audience that during partition, millions from East and West Pakistan migrated to India, leaving behind their homes and properties, while many Muslims moved from India to Pakistan. “Partition brought untold suffering, and that is why Prime Minister Modi’s mission to protect the country’s integrity is so important. We must stay united to avoid future crises,” Saha stressed.
Call for Unity
Concluding his speech, Saha reiterated that India’s strength lies in its unity and that it is every citizen’s duty to safeguard the nation from internal and external threats.
The event was attended by Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, and other dignitaries. The atmosphere was filled with reflection and a shared resolve to learn from history and build a stronger, more united India.
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Saha described partition as a “gaping wound” in the heart of an independent nation — one that turned millions into refugees in their own land. He criticised the political ambitions that led to the two-nation theory and the division of the country, stressing that such lessons must be passed on to future generations.
