Museum on Partition of Indian Sub-continent in Punjab

The Museum on Partition of the Indian Sub-continent, widely known as the Partition Museum, is a premier cultural and historical institution located in Amritsar, Punjab. It is dedicated to preserving the memory, stories, and experiences of millions of people affected by the Partition of India in 1947, when the subcontinent was divided into India and Pakistan. Established under the support of the Government of Punjab in collaboration with the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT), the museum is recognised as the world’s first and only museum exclusively devoted to the Partition.

Background and Historical Context

The Partition of British India in August 1947 marked a monumental turning point in South Asian history. It led to the creation of two sovereign nations—India and Pakistan—resulting in one of the largest and most traumatic migrations in human history. Nearly 15 million people were uprooted, and an estimated one million lost their lives amid violence and communal upheaval.
Punjab was at the heart of these events. The province itself was divided, its people displaced across borders, and its towns transformed by refugee movements. Despite the scale of the tragedy, for decades there was no dedicated institution to commemorate those who lived through Partition or to document its impact on families and culture.
Recognising this absence, the Government of Punjab supported the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust in creating a museum that would serve as a space of remembrance, education, and reconciliation.

Establishment and Location

The Partition Museum was inaugurated in August 2017, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence and Partition. It is housed within the historic Town Hall Building in the heritage precinct of Amritsar, situated between the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh—two other landmarks of national significance.
The museum occupies over 17,000 square feet of space in the restored colonial-era building, blending architectural heritage with modern exhibition design. The Town Hall was chosen because Amritsar, located near the India–Pakistan border, was both a site of trauma and resilience during Partition, witnessing massive refugee influxes and cross-border migrations.

Objectives of the Museum

The establishment of the Partition Museum aims to:

• Preserve oral histories and personal narratives of survivors and descendants of Partition.
• Serve as a centre for research and documentation on Partition and post-Partition rehabilitation.
• Promote communal harmony and understanding between communities and generations.
• Provide a public space for reflection and healing for those affected by the displacement.
• Educate visitors, students, and scholars about the human, social, and political dimensions of Partition.

Curatorial Design and Exhibits

The museum’s exhibits are arranged thematically and chronologically, guiding visitors through the pre-Partition era, the process of division, and the post-Partition resettlement. The curation is experiential, combining artefacts, documents, soundscapes, and oral histories to evoke the emotional and historical realities of Partition.

Major Sections and Galleries

1. Prelude to Partition – Showcases the cultural, economic, and social fabric of pre-1947 India, illustrating how diverse communities coexisted before Partition.
2. Freedom and the Division – Traces the political developments from the 1930s to 1947, including the Lahore Resolution, Mountbatten Plan, and the announcement of Independence.
3. Migration and Refugee Experience – Highlights the human cost of Partition through maps, personal belongings, and rare photographs of caravans and refugee camps. Artefacts such as refugee trunks, clothes, utensils, letters, and passports tell personal stories of displacement.
4. Rehabilitation and Resettlement – Displays official documents, ration cards, and government communications that detail the resettlement efforts for refugees in India and Pakistan.
5. Oral History Section – Features recorded video and audio testimonies of survivors, giving voice to first-hand experiences of loss, hope, and resilience.
6. Gallery of Hope – A symbolic concluding section that emphasises peace, coexistence, and the power of human endurance. Visitors can leave handwritten messages on the ‘Tree of Hope’, expressing wishes for harmony between communities.

Collections and Artefacts

The museum’s collection has been built through donations and contributions from individuals and families affected by Partition. It includes:

• Personal artefacts: Photographs, documents, and household items carried by refugees.
• Official archives: Maps, reports, and administrative records from 1947.
• Multimedia exhibits: Short films, sound installations, and interactive screens.
• Art installations: Creative expressions representing the pain and resilience of Partition survivors.

Educational and Research Role

The museum functions as an important centre for learning and academic engagement. It organises:

• Lectures, seminars, and heritage workshops on Partition studies.
• School and college tours to promote awareness among younger generations.
• Collaborations with universities, researchers, and international cultural institutions.
• Publications and oral history documentation, preserving eyewitness accounts for posterity.

The institution also encourages scholarly research on post-Partition migration, refugee rehabilitation, and nation-building.

Support and Governance

The museum is managed by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT), a registered non-profit organisation, in partnership with the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab.
It has received technical and advisory support from:

• The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR),
• The Ministry of Culture, Government of India,
• UNESCO and ICOM (International Council of Museums),
• and heritage experts from India and abroad.

Significance

The Partition Museum holds deep symbolic and cultural importance:

• It is the first public institution globally dedicated solely to the memory of Partition.
• It provides a platform for healing by recognising shared suffering and resilience.
• It contributes to Punjab’s heritage tourism, drawing thousands of visitors annually from India and abroad, including descendants of Partition survivors.
• It strengthens cross-border cultural dialogue, helping younger generations understand the complexities of India’s independence movement and its aftermath.

Reception and Recognition

Since its opening, the Partition Museum has been praised by historians, visitors, and global media outlets such as BBC, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and National Geographic for its authenticity and emotional depth.
It has hosted distinguished visitors, including diplomats, writers, and international delegates, and has been recognised as one of India’s most significant memory institutions.
In 2021, the museum’s efforts in documenting human experiences of migration and displacement were acknowledged by UNESCO, highlighting its contribution to peace-building and heritage preservation.