Kerala Governor’s directive to mark ‘Partition Horror Day’ sparks fresh clash with state government

In line with a 2022 University Grants Commission (UGC) circular, Kerala Governor Rajendran Vishwanath Arlekar has directed all universities in the state to observe August 14 as “Partition Horror Day.” The Governor, who serves as the ex-officio Chancellor of all state universities, issued this directive through a circular to the Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) from the Raj Bhavan.

The circular specifies that August 14 has been officially designated as “Partition Horror Day.” Universities have been encouraged to organize seminars, prepare and perform dramas, and engage directly with communities to showcase the devastating impact of the 1947 Partition. The idea is to ensure that the public remembers the scale of suffering, displacement, and violence endured by millions during that period. The Raj Bhavan’s instruction closely follows the 2022 UGC guidelines, which themselves stem from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2021 call to commemorate the victims of Partition. The UGC had urged all colleges and universities across the country to hold exhibitions on August 14 in public spaces, aiming for maximum public participation in order to reflect on and learn from the historical tragedy.

The Prime Minister’s announcement in 2021 had formally declared August 14 as a day of remembrance for the horrors of Partition, emphasizing the need to honor the victims and acknowledge the human cost of the division of India. Since then, many Indian states have complied with this initiative and have marked August 14 accordingly. These observances are intended not only to commemorate the victims but also to educate younger generations about the historical events and their socio-political consequences.

However, Left-ruled Kerala has thus far refrained from following this directive, and Governor Arlekar’s recent circular marks a fresh attempt to introduce this commemoration into the state’s academic calendar. This move has triggered a strong political reaction from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Responding sharply to the Governor’s circular, Vijayan criticized it as unconstitutional and unacceptable. He accused the Governor of trying to use the state’s universities to promote the “divisive agenda” of the Sangh Parivar, a reference to the broader family of organizations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Chief Minister asserted that Kerala would never permit its campuses to become platforms for such political objectives.

In his statement, released on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Vijayan contextualized the issue within the broader framework of India’s independence. He stressed that August 15 stands as a reminder of India’s anti-imperialist struggle and the brutal measures employed by the British colonial government to suppress it. He accused the Sangh Parivar of having played no role in the freedom struggle and, in fact, of serving the British Raj at the time. According to Vijayan, the promotion of “Partition Horror Day” on August 14 is a calculated move to overshadow and undermine the significance of Independence Day by advancing a narrative that fosters division rather than unity.

The clash between the Governor and the Chief Minister is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing series of disputes between the Raj Bhavan and the Kerala state government, highlighting deep political and ideological differences. While supporters of the Governor view the directive as an educational and commemorative initiative aligned with national policy, critics like Vijayan see it as an imposition of a partisan historical narrative on state institutions.