History of Partition Museum
The Partition Museum was inaugurated on October 24 in 2016 by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Badal. A curtain raiser exhibition also took place at the time of the inauguration. The museum was then visited by the Honourable Finance Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, along with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, on November 1, 2016, which is also Punjab Day. He was accompanied by Union Ministers, including Ms Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
The organisation that worked hard to set up the Partition Museum, TAACHT, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that works purely through donations and the support of volunteers and well-wishers. The second and final phase of the Partition Museum finally opened on 17 August in 2017.
Collections at Partition Museum
The exhibitions at the Partition Museum include photographs, newspaper clippings and other such material. All of the articles that are showcased at the museum are tastefully chosen and narrate the tale of how the struggle for independence turned into one of the most violent episodes of history and led to the death of hundreds of thousands of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
Objects and artefacts found in the museum date back to 1947, and also include articles and documents that have been contributed by people. Rare and valuable objects found here include an antique pocket watch that formerly belonged to an innocent person who was killed in mob violence in Pakistan, fabrics that were woven by the craftsmen of that time, a traditional rope cot that was carried by a refugee across the border, many old black-and-white family snapshots and many others.
Attractions at Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is entirely a people's Museum, which examines the pre and post-Partition era through the memories of the people who have witnessed and survived it. Perhaps the most famous and liked spot in the entire museum is the Gallery of Hope. Visitors are encouraged to write messages of love and peace on paper that is shaped like a leaf, and then hang them on a barbed-wire tree. The idea of the founders of this tree is to let people take part in the 'greening of the tree' and to promote love and peace between the two nations.
Few sections in the museum are exclusively dedicated to some specific families who were affected during the partition as well as famous people who migrated to the Indian side during partition. These prominent people include Milkha Singh, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, the owner of MDH masala, Om Prakash Munjal, founder of Hero Cycles, etc. The museum also makes use of numerous different mediums to create an engaging experience for the visitors. These mediums include oral histories playing on videos, a soundscape in each gallery, letters that were written by refugees, government documents and other art installations.
Why should you visit the Partition Museum?
Even after 70 years of the partition, and the formation of India and Pakistan from the former British India; there is no monument, no destination and no venue that focuses primarily on this significant event and serves as a memory of those who survived this bloody incident. That this museum is a first-of-its-kind and serves this purpose is reason enough to visit the museum and experience it all for yourself.
How to Reach Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is located in the Town Hall area, only 200 metres away from the Golden Temple. The museum is thus easily accessible and can be reached from all parts of Punjab. In case you plan to visit the museum after paying a visit to the Golden Temple, it is a good idea to walk to the museum.
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Tips
1. The place is not recommended for children as well as people who are impatient and unwilling to read the massive amounts of information that is written on the boards in the museum.2. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the premises.
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