‘Born to Parents Who Bore the Brunt, Scars’: Hardeep Singh Puri on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

August 14, 2026

New Delhi: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday recalled the personal impact of Partition on his family, saying he was born to parents who bore the brunt of the tragedy and carried its scars throughout their lives.

Marking Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Puri said he grew up with a deeply personal understanding of the anguish suffered by people who were uprooted from their homes and separated from their land during Partition.

The Partition of our country will always be remembered as one of the most brutal, painful and violent human tragedies to unfold. The stories associated with this dark phase of history will live on in the memories of generations to come.

Born to parents who bore the brunt and… pic.twitter.com/MVAJvltyCD

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 14, 2026

Puri recalls family’s Partition experience

In a post on X, Puri described Partition as one of the most brutal, painful and violent human tragedies in history.

He said the stories associated with that period would continue to live in the memories of generations.

“Born to parents who bore the brunt and scars of Partition, I have grown up with a deeply personal understanding of the anguish of those who were uprooted from their homes and torn away from their land under the most harrowing circumstances,” Puri said.

He remembered those who lost their lives in the violence and carnage that accompanied Partition and paid tribute to survivors, including his own parents and several members of his family.

Father rebuilt life after fleeing to India

Puri said many survivors lost everything during Partition and recalled how his father escaped to India with nothing but the clothes he was wearing.

Despite the immense suffering and loss, his father displayed courage and rebuilt his life from scratch, he said.

Puri described such stories as a reminder of the resilience and strength shown by ordinary people who endured unimaginable suffering.

He said the pain of Partition should be remembered with empathy and the resilience of survivors honoured with humility.

Partition left lasting scars

Puri said Partition was not merely the drawing of a boundary line but resulted in homes being uprooted, memories being shattered, relationships being broken and a centuries-old shared culture being deeply affected.

India gained independence on August 15, 1947, but the freedom came alongside the massive displacement, violence and suffering caused by Partition.

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed on August 14 to remember those who lost their lives, were displaced or suffered during the Partition and to preserve the memories of the tragedy for future generations.