Bhubaneswar, Aug 14: Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Thursday called upon citizens to reject hatred and strengthen unity. He was speaking at the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day programme held at the New Abhishek Hall, Raj Bhavan.
The programme, organised on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Government of Odisha, Suryabanshi Suraj. First Lady Jayashree Kambhampati was also present at the event.
“Partition’s wounds left deep scars that continue to influence our politics and perceptions. Yet, the politics of hate must never divide our hearts again. Unity must be nurtured through tolerance, empathy, and justice,” the Governor said.
Describing Partition as “one of humanity’s most profound tragedies,” Dr. Kambhampati recalled how millions were displaced and countless lives lost when the subcontinent’s cultural and communal bonds were torn apart. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for instituting the annual observance on August 14, ensuring that future generations understand the magnitude of the tragedy and draw lessons from it.
The Governor also highlighted Odisha’s compassionate response to those displaced during Partition, despite the State being far from its epicentres. “This spirit of humanity is woven into our State’s moral fabric,” he said. Urging the youth to uphold unity and inclusivity, he said, “Division destroys while unity builds. Our remembrance must strengthen our resolve to stand together, ensuring such darkness never descends upon our land again.”
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in his address, said, “On this day, we remember the tragic moment that came with freedom. While we attained independence, lakhs of families faced the horror of displacement, the pain of separation, and the grief of losing loved ones. Our ancestors bore the wounds of Partition but wove a dream of unity from that devastation.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that without remembering the horrors of August 14, the celebration of Independence Day remains incomplete. “Without learning from history, we cannot move ahead,” he said.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj noted that the pain endured by people during Partition has not received due recognition in history.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, delivered the welcome address. The event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Niranjan Bishi, Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, and hundreds of citizens. Displaced families were felicitated on the occasion.