The Unending Tale of Partition: A Plea for Peace

In 1947, Pakistan and India gained independence, but the bloodshed did not stop. Even after seven decades and countless tragedies, the violence that began with the migration of 1947 continues to haunt millions. The partition, which uprooted countless families, claimed homes, honor, and lives, was the beginning of a bloodstained journey that has yet to end.

This tragedy of partition led to what has been described as the largest human migration in history. The partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 resulted in the forced migration of 15 million people. Muslims were moving towards Pakistan, while Hindus and Sikhs headed to India. Along the way, at least one million people lost their lives, countless were separated from their loved ones, and many were stripped of their homes, land, and possessions. Those who survived were forced to live in filthy and overcrowded refugee camps.

For instance, in New Delhi, thousands of Muslims took refuge behind the walls of Humayun's Tomb, built in the 16th century, waiting for safe passage to Pakistan. The number of Muslims martyred during the migration varies in different accounts. The renowned French book "Freedom at Midnight" claims that 2 million people lost their lives during this period, though it does not specify how many of them were Muslims. However, a conservative estimate suggests that 1.5 million Muslims were martyred, with many Muslim women suffering horrific abuses.

The chaos was indescribable. People fled in every direction, with no knowledge of the road ahead or their ultimate destination. Children were killed in their mothers' arms. The unarmed masses faced insurmountable trials and tribulations, their only crime being their desire to live freely and justly.

The perpetrators of these atrocities, driven by hatred and armed with weapons, remain powerful today, though their faces may have changed. Writers like Khawaja Iftikharuddin and Saadat Hasan Manto have chronicled the harrowing stories of migration, but the hearts of oppressive governments remain unmoved. No ruler's eyes have shed tears of blood.

We salute every martyr who was mercilessly slaughtered during the migration, every sister and daughter whose honor was violated, and every elder who was beaten, robbed of peace, and separated from their children. Let no one be under the illusion that we have forgotten this blood-soaked story. Through restrictions and wars, we have now reached the lesson or conclusion of this tale. We have learned that war and bloodshed are not solutions to any problem.

Pakistan and India have achieved independence, and now it is time to grant freedom to the people—to live together in peace.

Let us find salvation—from war, suffering, tragedies, and hatred.

Let us give opportunities—to peace, progress, education, and employment.

Let us respect—each other, humanity, and minorities.

In the spirit of the lesson from the migration story and the desire for peace, we, along with a few peace-loving friends, under the leadership of Imtiaz Alam, the driving force behind SAFMA, reached the zero line at the Wagah Border on the night of August 14th and 15th. The tradition of lighting candles for peace at the Wagah/Attari border began in 1996 with the renowned Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar. Every year, peace-loving organizations in India have continued this tradition by lighting candles at the Attari Border on the night between August 14th and 15th. On the Pakistani side, this practice had been discontinued for a few years, but it has now been revived. However, this year, India did not allow its peace-loving organizations to reach the zero line at the Attari Border, limiting them instead to the "Friendship Square" near the border.