A Manchester based lungs doctor Dr Binita Kane with support of several MPs are demanding for a formal Partition Commemoration Day and its history to be taught in the UK schools as part of their curriculum. Students in the UK have no idea of Britain's colonial past or India's partition history, that is an integral part of creating the country's multicultural and diverse society, as we see it today.
The launch, hosted by Virendra Sharma MP in the Parliament featured powerful speakers such as BBC’s presenters Anita Rani and Babita Sharma. MPs such as Tan Dhesi, Afzal Khan, Mike Kane and others extended their support to this campaign. The campaigners believe commemorating the day British India was divided into the independent nations of India and Pakistan would help honour the contribution of South Asians to British society.
Last year marked the 70th anniversary of Partition, a decision that displaced over 14 million people, making it the largest forced migration of people in history. Partition incited extreme violence and slaughter on both sides of the border and it is estimated that this tragic event cost the lives of 2 million Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.
The event was mainly organised with Dr Binita Kane, one of the British Asians featured in the BBC1 documentary My Family, Partition and Me, presented by Anita Rani. Dr Kane is leading the campaign for 17th August to be declared as Partition Commemoration Day and for Partition to be taught as part of the school curriculum.
Kane speaking about the campaign told Barficulture, “Many second generation British Asians have no idea what their parents and grandparents went through or why their families settled in Britain. Many white Caucasian Brits don’t understand the history of the Empire and it’s role in modern day multicultural Britain.
"I went through the British schooling system and learnt nothing on this topic and quite frankly, I don’t want the same for my children. History lessons should teach the good, the bad and the ugly and offer the chance to learn from the past."
Anita Rani reportedly said, "This is not just South Asian history, this is global history but crucially this is British history. British children with Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani heritage need to understand their shared history and how we are culturally bonded before we were religiously divided.
"It’s time to talk and learn about the true legacy of Empire warts n’ all. It’s time everyone was more informed about why so many people from Commonwealth nations moved here and how our stories, because of Britain’s imperial past, are inextricably linked. The conversation has begun but we’ll need your support to make it happen."
According to a PTI report, Rani told The Observer newspaper, “It's become this dark stain, but an event such as this could change that. It's a way of involving not just the South Asian community but everyone in Britain in a reflection on the past and a conversation about what happened and where we are now.”
The presenter, won the 2018 Royal Television Society Award for her BBC documentary on the subject of Partition called My Family, Partition and Me which was aired last year. She strongly believes there is an urgent need to remember an event that saw more than 15 million people uprooted in what is known as one of the largest and most violent human migration in history.
Rani added, “One of the reasons I made the original film was because I was really shocked how few people knew about this period of history.
“After Partition, India was too busy celebrating independence, Pakistan was celebrating the birth of a nation, Britain was relieved to have been able to cut and run, so no one talked about how they'd got there and what had happened.”
After the event, Virendra Sharma MP said, “I support Binita’s efforts in calling for a Partition Commemoration Day in the UK. This day would serve as a day of remembrance for the millions of innocent victims who lost their lives.
“I have long argued that British colonialism in India should be taught in schools, Partition was such an important event in British history and it ought to be part of the curriculum.”
The event attracted people, campaigners and organisations from across the UK. The Grand Trunk Project, which is a UK-wide project to bring British Asians of all faiths and backgrounds together to reflect on their shared history in a tweet said, “Well done & congrats to @BinitaKane on organising an event to promote dialogue on how to bring the history of partition into the National Curriculum. We are as inspired as ever to continue this initiative & continue to bring communities affected together #70yearson”
Aik Saath, a charity that also works on community cohesion tweeted saying, “Young volunteers from our Partition Women’s Voices project attended an event at Parliament, hearing a range of speakers including @BinitaKane @itsanitarani making a case for Partition to be included on schools curriculum and for 17 Aug to be #PartitionCommemoration day in the UK.”
