A bhoomi pujan ceremony was held at Sealdah Railway Station for the installation of a memorial dedicated to people affected by the Partition of India. The event was organised jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The proposed memorial will pay tribute to countless people who endured displacement, suffering, violence and the unbearable loss of loved ones during one of the largest forced migrations in modern history.
Several senior officials attend memorial ceremony
The event was attended by West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul, Minister of State for Information and Culture Purnima Chakraborty, Minister for Public Enterprises, Industrial Reconstruction and Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources Tapas Roy, Eastern Railway General Manager Gitika Pandey, Sealdah Divisional Railway Manager Rajiv Saxena, and IGNCA, Ministry of Culture Head of Department Professor K. Anil Kumar, along with senior Eastern Railway officials and other dignitaries.
Partition photographs highlight displacement and suffering
As part of the programme, a special photographic exhibition was organised in memory of Partition victims. The exhibition featured historical photographs depicting Partition, mass migration, the difficult lives of refugee families and their struggle to rebuild their lives. The presence of Himanshu Gangopadhyay, an eyewitness to the traumatic period of Partition, made the event more emotional and significant. The exhibition served as a visual tribute to those who demonstrated courage, patience and resilience despite extreme adversity.
Sealdah became major gateway for Partition refugees
Sealdah Railway Station holds a unique place in the history of Partition. After Independence in 1947, it became one of the major gateways for refugees arriving in West Bengal from across the newly drawn border. Thousands of people arrived at Sealdah after leaving behind their homes, families, possessions and familiar surroundings in search of safety and a new life. For many refugees, Sealdah was not merely a railway station but the first step towards an unfamiliar and uncertain future.
Station witnessed refugees rebuilding lives after displacement
Alongside witnessing the immense suffering and struggles of displaced families, the station also became a witness to their courage, hope and determination to rebuild their lives from scratch.
General Manager calls memorial lasting tribute
Speaking on the occasion, Eastern Railway General Manager Gitika Pandey said Sealdah is a living witness to the history of Partition and the deep human suffering associated with it. She said the memorial would be a humble tribute to those who faced displacement and unimaginable hardships. At the same time, it would remind people of their extraordinary courage and strength to rebuild their lives despite adversity. She also said preserving this memory for future generations is a responsibility.
Sealdah division pledges respectful memorial preservation
Sealdah Divisional Railway Manager Rajiv Saxena said the division was honoured that Sealdah had been chosen as the site for the memorial. He said the memorial would serve as a permanent tribute to the millions of people who passed through these platforms during extremely difficult circumstances. He added that Sealdah division is committed to preserving the site as a dignified symbol of memory, struggle and resilience for everyone who visits it.
Memorial will symbolise memory struggle and hope
The memorial being constructed at Sealdah will be more than just a statue; it will symbolise memory, struggle, determination and hope. Along with the photographic exhibition, it will play an important role in preserving the memories of those who passed through Sealdah during one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Indian subcontinent. The memorial will also honour their unwavering determination to start their lives afresh despite overwhelming adversity.
Eastern Railway has committed to preserving the historical importance of Sealdah Station and ensuring that stories associated with this important chapter of history reach future generations.
Railway vows to keep Partition memories alive
Reiterating this commitment, Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Shivram Majhi said such memorials and photographic exhibitions would ensure that the poignant history associated with Sealdah Station, along with the spirit of human resilience, courage and struggle, remains alive in public memory forever.
