Editor's Pick: Festering wounds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that August 14 will be observed as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'. Mr. Modi tweeted that the pains of Partition can never be forgotten. Millions were displaced and many lost their lives to "mindless hate and violence". Such a day will be observed in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of the people, he said. It would remind Indians of the need to "remove the poison of social divisions." The Home Ministry even issued a notification in this regard. The statement was immediately met with reactions from within and outside the border. The BJP General Secretary said that this would help Indians remember the tragedy that "proponents of the Nehruvian legacy" were trying to whitewash for "fearing accountability". The Opposition termed it a "divisive move". It accused the Prime Minister of having started the campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, due next year. The Congress also said it is hypocritical of the Prime Minister to make this announcement when "he and the toxic ecosystem he has nurtured do everything to polarise and divide". The CPI said that the RSS was never part of the freedom struggle and so had nothing to say about it. Pakistan, too, responded promptly saying that the people of India will not recognise this day as it aims to divide Indians. Instead of making an attempt to heal wounds, observing such a day will only "sow further dissensions for electoral gains," a spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Pakistan added that this is nothing but a "political and publicity stunt". The Partition of the Indian subcontinent was a major upheaval of the 20th century. When British-ruled India was divided, millions were displaced and lakhs killed in large-scale communal violence. The wounds of Partition continue to fester and are a major reason for the strained ties between India and Pakistan. While the BJP stresses that remembering the sacrifices of the people of that time will be a constant reminder of the horrors and the "wrong policies of the then government", the Opposition believes that freedom and Partition are not compatible. On India's 74th year of independence, contestations of the past have implications for the present and the future. This is what makes the story the top pick of the day. The Hindu Explains Where will climate change strike? Why was Messi forced to leave Barça? Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click here Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Where is the World Youth Archery Championship currently being held? 1. Krakow 2. San Juan 3. Bucharest 4. Wroclaw To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 15 AUGUST 2021 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Festering wounds [Festering wounds] Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that [August 14]( be observed as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'. Mr. Modi tweeted that the pains of Partition can never be forgotten. Millions were displaced and many lost their lives to "mindless hate and violence". Such a day will be observed in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of the people, he said. It would remind Indians of the need to "remove the poison of social divisions." The Home Ministry even issued a notification in this regard. The statement was immediately met with reactions from within and outside the border. The BJP General Secretary said that this would help Indians remember the tragedy that "proponents of the Nehruvian legacy" were trying to whitewash for "fearing accountability". The Opposition termed it a "[divisive move](. It accused the Prime Minister of having started the campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, due next year. The Congress also said it is hypocritical of the Prime Minister to make this announcement when "he and the toxic ecosystem he has nurtured do everything to polarise and divide". The CPI said that the RSS was never part of the freedom struggle and so had nothing to say about it. Pakistan, too, [responded promptly]( that the people of India will not recognise this day as it aims to divide Indians. Instead of making an attempt to heal wounds, observing such a day will only "sow further dissensions for electoral gains," a spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Pakistan added that this is nothing but a "political and publicity stunt". The Partition of the Indian subcontinent was a major upheaval of the 20th century. When British-ruled India was divided, millions were displaced and lakhs killed in large-scale communal violence. The wounds of Partition continue to fester and are a major reason for the strained ties between India and Pakistan. While the BJP stresses that remembering the sacrifices of the people of that time will be a constant reminder of the horrors and the "wrong policies of the then government", the Opposition believes that freedom and Partition are not compatible. On India's [74th year of independence]( contestations of the past have implications for the present and the future. This is what makes the story the top pick of the day. The Hindu Explains [Arrow][Where will climate change strike?]( [Arrow][Why was Messi forced to leave Barça?]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( [underlineimg] Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Where is the World Youth Archery Championship currently being held? 1. Krakow 2. San Juan 3. Bucharest 4. Wroclaw To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today's Best Reads [[An evolving journey defined by hope and optimism] An evolving journey defined by hope and optimism]( [[India’s North-east, from the periphery to the core] India’s North-east, from the periphery to the core]( [[Why have faith in the great Indian experiment] Why have faith in the great Indian experiment]( [[Celebrating the idea of freedom] Celebrating the idea of freedom]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](