The Partition Museum in Amritsar, India, is the world's first museum dedicated to the period of the Partition of India and Pakistan. The museum is divided into 14 galleries, each spotlighting different chronological themes. The galleries focus on topics such as the anti-colonial movement, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Komagata Maru incident, the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, and the journey of resilience and recuperation for women.
Through the first gallery, visitors are invited to explore the narrative of local communities as well as a broader national chronicle. It features several items that evoke the history of the area, such as a picture of the clock tower built by the British and later demolished, a picture of the 1947 Hall Bazaar shopping street, a map of the area from 1888, and handmade phulkari and bagh prints. The second gallery includes a 100-year-old brass Hamam (geyser), a 1931 map, and a certificate from the British Raj. Together, these galleries provide an insight into the history of the region.
The third and fourth galleries explore the anti-colonial movement in India from 1900- 1931. Highlights of the exhibit include the original "Simon go back" board, the Young India weekly journal by Mahatma Gandhi, and a photo of the Jallianwala Bagh before the massacre. Additionally, a voiceover of the 1905 protest anthem of Bangladesh, "O amar sonar Bangla, ami tomai bhalobashi", plays in the background to emphasize the resistance to the British and the Roulette Movement.
Other galleries in this museum take visitors through the political and geographical turbulence of British India's final days. It features installations such as bullet-riddled walls and displays of Sir Cyril Radcliffe&rsquos feats and service in World War II. Gallery Seven contains an exhibit about resilience and recuperation for women. Galleries Nine and Ten communicate tragic stories about the Partition of India with a tribute to the women who died rather than face gendered violence. Eleven through thirteen galleries exhibit stories of displaced people and their possessions.
The last gallery, the Hall of Hope, features a &lsquoTree of Hope&rsquo made of barbed wire and allows visitors to contribute stories and experiences of their own. The Partition Museum provides an immersive experience for visitors, offering a window into the everyday lives of Punjabis and Indians during a momentous historical episode.
The Information
Getting There You can jet off to Amritsar from Delhi or Mumbai, with direct flights and trains available. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm and closed on national holidays and Mondays.
Entry fee Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 250 for foreign nationals. Open from Tuesday &ndash Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm (Closed on Monday and national holidays)
Where to stay Just a stone's throw away from the Town Hall, the newly opened Earth Resort is thriving on the five essential elements of sustainability. But it's the heritage colonial building - that served as the Victoria Jubilee Hospital for over a century that really puts it a cut above the rest.
