Partition of India: Borders, Memory, and Displacement

Partition was one of the most significant and traumatic events in the history of South Asia. Taking place at the end of British colonial rule, it divided the subcontinent into the newly independent states of India and Pakistan. It led to the displacement of millions of people, large-scale violence, the loss of homes and livelihoods, and the separation of families and communities. Through a talk, a film screening and personal testimonies, the programme will examine Partition not merely as a political event that created new national boundaries, but as a deeply human experience whose memories continue to shape the Indian subcontinent. By situating Partition within the transition from British colonial rule to independence, the programme will also explore how colonial and postcolonial border-making reshaped territories, identities and communities. The programme will consider how memories of Partition have been preserved within families and passed from one generation to another. It will raise questions about remembrance, silence, trauma and the role of museums, literature and art in documenting difficult histories. Practical information: English, 17:00-20:00 Talk: Remembering Partition - (30 min talk & 15 min Q&A) This session will feature Dr. Anwesha Roy, whose work has explored the many histories and memories of the Partition of India. The talk will examine he colonial and political circumstances that led to Partition, the drawing of new borders at the end of British rule, and the experiences of ordinary people who were directly affected by it. The speaker will discuss personal narratives, oral histories, literature, photographs and archival records to show how Partition was experienced differently across regions, communities and generations. Particular attention will be given to the displacement of families, the loss of ancestral homes, the disruption of shared cultural traditions and the challenges of rebuilding life in an unfamiliar place. The talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. Film Screening and Discussion: The Cinematic Memory of Partition - (120 min) Cinema has played an important role in representing the violence, displacement and emotional trauma caused by the Partition of India. As part of this programme the film Manto (2018), directed by Nandita Das, will be screened. The film presents the life and work of the celebrated Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, whose stories recorded the violence, absurdity and moral collapse that accompanied the Partition. Through Manto’s personal experiences and literary writings, the film brings attention to the suffering of ordinary people caught between newly created borders and competing national identities. It offers a powerful reflection on how the end of colonial rule, and the creation of new nation-states transformed individual lives, senses of belonging and relationships across borders.