The Memory Project!

What?


The Partition of 1947 changed the way thousands of people knew of life. More so, it changed drastically the way world map appeared to be. New boundaries and new communities came up overnight and allegiances and identities jumbled, at once. But history textbooks haven't quite missed out to put that on record..

The Memory Project aims to provide an alternative path to understanding the same history. With a devoted public history approach, the project is dedicated to access, record, collect and preserve stories of families who lived through the Partition. Stories of life. Of death. Stories of remembrance. Stories we have very conveniently forgotten. We are interested in capturing the memories of families who have migrated to/from Assam/Sylhet, specifically for now. The reason behind the specificity of the project is the sheer absence of incorporating the 'other' narratives of partition and its subsequent histories, especially those located outside conventional sites of Partition experiences. Sylhet-Cachar-Assam presents before us a very intriguing history of struggle through Partition continuing to contemporary times, much of which is visibly lacking in mainstream Partition conversations across the globe.

Our experiences teach us that history could never be man's friend in the long run. What the books said, the people often didn't. And this is in fact, one of the problems faced by Partition narratives coming out of these 'out of mainstream' sites of Partition experiences. The Memory Project attempts to change this equation and for once, dares to put the people in the driver's seat.

For once, they tell their own stories.

For once, history listens.



Who?

Conceptualised and run by- Shabnam Surita, student/singer/amateur homecook/ renegade Sylheti/self-appointed activist.


Where?

For comments, feedback or any ideas on how to develop and better The Memory Project,
you're welcome to contact us-

Email:
memoriesofpartition@gmail.com