<p>The partition of India not only changed its landscape but its food as well. As lines were drawn across the soil, they severed the landscape, but those lines could not cut through the fragrant air of a kitchen. In the heavy trunks of millions fleeing both West and East Pakistan, wrapped alongside yellowed photographs and worn brass utensils, lived the invisible, indelible baggage of taste. It was the smoky, soul-warming sizzle of a Punjabi tandoor set up on a Delhi sidewalk, the delicate crunch of Sindhi dal pakwan in Bombay, and the fiery, river-kissed perfection of a Padma Ilish cooked in the cramped kitchens of West Bengal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Long before refugees found solace and built a home in a new land, the hearth provided familial comfort and sometimes became a place for a new kind of invention. Some favourites they carried over across the border, some dishes were created in austerity, some were introduced to a curious new neighbour whille others were put to rest, just to merge or adapt into a newer land.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Migration of Entire Cuisines and Shared Roots</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dr Kurush F Dalal, a Mumbai-based Archaeologist and Culinary Anthropologist, credits Sindh for bringing in an entire cuisine to India post-partition.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“It's not one dish; it's an entire cuisine that came to India. We have a large number of Sindhis who came here as refugees. So the whole of Sindhi cuisine as we understand it today is in India, essentially thanks to these migrants.”</p></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dayal pointed out that particular dishes that we typically identify from West and East Pakistan were already being made on this side of the subcontinent. “It may have become more popular post-partition,” said Dayal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Vernika Awal, a Delhi-based food and culture writer and researcher and brand lead of Ikk Panjab, agrees with Dayal and adds, “Before Partition, Punjab shared a remarkably fluid culinary culture across what are now India and Pakistan. Post-Partition, East Punjab became more associated with vegetarianism, while West Punjab remained more meat-forward. But that divide was never simply religious. Food was shaped by caste, class and occupation, and in an agrarian society, even our relationship with cattle influenced what we ate. Vegetarianism, therefore, was also a question of privilege and social position."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When asked if any dishes were introduced to East Punjab post-partition, Awal said, “I think dishes like the Chapli kebab have travelled from the west to east and are finally kind of catching up and people are taking note.”</p><h2><strong>Debunking the Punjabi Meat Myth</strong></h2><p>Both Dayal and Awal revealed that while chicken is considered a staple of Punjabi cuisine, in reality, a lot of Punjabis are vegetarian.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Meat consumption was not simply a question of who ate meat and who didn’t. Even among meat-eating communities, hierarchy determined who got which part of the animal. The more desirable cuts and the offal were distributed along lines of class, caste and access. What you ate, and which part you ate, could tell you exactly where you stood in the social order,” said Awal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Crossing the Border in Bengal</strong></h2><p>In Bengal too, lines were blurred in terms of culinary specialities, with both communities being familiar with each other's flavours. However, dishes like <i>bhorta</i>, <i>shutki maach</i>, and <i>chitol macher muitha</i> became more popular in West Bengal post-partition.</p><h3>How to make Chitol Macher Muitha:</h3>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>West Bengal kitchens were introduced to <i>papdma macher jhaal</i>, <i>shorshe ilish</i>, crisp, layered <i>Dhakai porota</i> and others. Food became a means to stitch a fractured world back together, one bite at a time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Necessity as the Mother of Culinary Invention</strong></h2><p>The partition also led to the invention of new dishes which we now commonly associate with the Punjabi community. Dishes like Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani did not exist before partition.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“Butter chicken was born out of strife. The fact that you can't afford to waste food, you had to find ways to ensure that there's no food wasted,” said Awal.</p></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dayal points out that Dal Makhni too was a dhaba dish that came post-partition—a variation of the traditional ‘<i>Maa Ki Daal’</i>. “The cream and the butter were added to make dishes more indulgent, and also because, as an agrarian society, milk and its by-products are in plenty in Punjab,” added Awal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sindhis popularised spicy papads in India. Dayal also points to <i>Macaroni Sabji, </i>which is a staple in Sindhi households. Austerity led to the invention of new dishes: “Sindhis invented <i>Macaroni sabji </i>after food kits of dry macaroni were provided to them in refugee camps. They didn’t know what to do with it, put it in the cooker with spices, onion and potato—and you get <i>Macaroni sabji.”</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>How to make Macaroni Sabji</strong></h3>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF-oqS3oQzE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF-oqS3oQzE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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<h3>How to make dhaba-style Dal Makhani:&nbsp;</h3>

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<h2><strong>The Sweet Heritage of Displacement</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Bengal also witnessed a change in sweets as Muslim <i>karigars</i> went to East Pakistan and the Hindu <i>Mayras</i> (craftsmen) came to West Bengal, bringing with them the legacy of <i>Dhakai</i> traditional sweets.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“There are Mayaras who migrated from the then East Bengal to West Bengal. Even to this date, you will have sweet shops in Kolkata that pay a homage to their desh/ homeland by naming sweets after Dhaka, Pabna etc,” says Dr Ishita Dey, author of <i>Sweet Excess: Crafting Mishti in Bengal</i> and professor at the Faculty, Department of Sociology, South Asian University.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>Sweets like <i>Pithe</i> were introduced in Bengal. Dey also points out a sweet called <i>Postokodom,</i> which is common to the Murshidabad area as well as across the border in the Rajshahi division in Bangladesh.</p></blockquote><h2><strong>The Enduring Hearth</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ultimately, partition redrew physical borders, but it could not contain the shared memory of taste. Through the hardships of displacement and refugee camps, food served as both a nostalgic link to lost homelands and a canvas for survival and reinvention. Culinary traditions adapted to austerity, blurred regional lines, and introduced vibrant new flavours across the subcontinent. Far more than mere sustenance, the post-partition kitchen became a site of resilience, proving that while land can be divided, the heritage of the hearth endures, healing and uniting a fractured world.</p>

Partition altered lives and created borders. But it also gave Indians a new palate. Dishes were born out of austerity, some were introduced to Indian kitchens as Hindus traveled from West and East Pakistan to India, carrying with them familiar tastes and memories. 

The partition of India not only changed its landscape but its food as well. As lines were drawn across the soil, they severed the landscape, but those lines could not cut through the fragrant air of a kitchen. In the heavy trunks of millions fleeing both West and East Pakistan, wrapped alongside yellowed photographs and worn brass utensils, lived the invisible, indelible baggage of taste. It was the smoky, soul-warming sizzle of a Punjabi tandoor set up on a Delhi sidewalk, the delicate crunch of Sindhi dal pakwan in Bombay, and the fiery, river-kissed perfection of a Padma Ilish cooked in the cramped kitchens of West Bengal. Long before refugees found solace and built a home in a new land, the hearth provided familial comfort and sometimes became a place for a new kind of invention. Some favourites they carried over across the border, some dishes were created in austerity, some were introduced to a curious new neighbour whille others were put to rest, just to merge or adapt into a newer land. Migration of Entire Cuisines and Shared Roots Dr Kurush F Dalal, a Mumbai-based Archaeologist and Culinary Anthropologist, credits Sindh for bringing in an entire cuisine to India post-partition. “It's not one dish; it's an entire cuisine that came to India. We have a large number of Sindhis who came here as refugees. So the whole of Sindhi cuisine as we understand it today is in India, essentially thanks to these migrants.” Dayal pointed out that particular dishes that we typically identify from West and East Pakistan were already being made on this side of the subcontinent. “It may have become more popular post-partition,” said Dayal. Vernika Awal, a Delhi-based food and culture writer and researcher and brand lead of Ikk Panjab, agrees with Dayal and adds, “Before Partition, Punjab shared a remarkably fluid culinary culture across what are now India and Pakistan. Post-Partition, East Punjab became more associated with vegetarianism, while West Punjab remained more meat-forward. But that divide was never simply religious. Food was shaped by caste, class and occupation, and in an agrarian society, even our relationship with cattle influenced what we ate. Vegetarianism, therefore, was also a question of privilege and social position." When asked if any dishes were introduced to East Punjab post-partition, Awal said, “I think dishes like the Chapli kebab have travelled from the west to east and are finally kind of catching up and people are taking note.” Debunking the Punjabi Meat Myth Both Dayal and Awal revealed that while chicken is considered a staple of Punjabi cuisine, in reality, a lot of Punjabis are vegetarian. “Meat consumption was not simply a question of who ate meat and who didn’t. Even among meat-eating communities, hierarchy determined who got which part of the animal. The more desirable cuts and the offal were distributed along lines of class, caste and access. What you ate, and which part you ate, could tell you exactly where you stood in the social order,” said Awal. Crossing the Border in Bengal In Bengal too, lines were blurred in terms of culinary specialities, with both communities being familiar with each other's flavours. However, dishes like bhorta, shutki maach, and chitol macher muitha became more popular in West Bengal post-partition. How to make Chitol Macher Muitha:

<p>Partition altered lives and created borders. But it also gave Indians a new palate. Dishes were born out of austerity; some were introduced to Indian kitchens as Hindus travelled from West and East Pakistan to India, carrying with them familiar tastes and memories.&nbsp;</p>

India's 80th Independence Day: How Partition’s fractured borders rewrote the subcontinent’s recipe book

<p>While observing ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the memory of those who faced the "upheaval and pain" during the Partition of India. Observed annually on August 14, the eve of Independence Day, the day pays tribute to the millions who lost their lives or were displaced amid the partition of the country in 1947.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sharing a post on social media X (formerly known as twitter), PM Modi labelled the Partition as the “tragic chapter” of Indian history. "India observes Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, remembering the upheaval and pain endured by countless people during that tragic chapter of our history. It is also a day to honour their grit...their ability to face unimaginable loss and still find the strength to start afresh," PM Modi wrote.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>PM Modi commended all those affected who managed to rebuild their lives and achieve remarkable milestones even after facing such tragedy. Meanwhile, he added in his post that this day remid everyone for enduring responsibility to strengthen the bonds of harmony that bind India collectively.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India observes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay</a>, remembering the upheaval and pain endured by countless people during that tragic chapter of our history. It is also a day to honour their grit...their ability to face unimaginable loss and still find the strength to start afresh.…</p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1955830272236138778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Amit Shah also said in a post on X, “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is a day to express condolences by remembering the pain of those who suffered due to the partition of the country and its tragedy. On this day, the Congress party divided the nation into pieces, hurting the pride of Mother India.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He further noted, “The partition led to violence, exploitation, and atrocities, and millions of people endured displacement. I offer my heartfelt tribute to all those people. The country will never forget this history and pain of the partition. I offer my tribute to those who lost their lives in this horror of the partition.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay</a> देश के विभाजन और उसकी त्रासदी के शिकार लोगों के दर्द को याद कर संवेदना व्यक्त करने का दिन है। इस दिन कांग्रेस ने देश को टुकड़ों में बाँटकर माँ भारती के स्वाभिमान को चोट पहुँचाई। विभाजन के कारण हिंसा, शोषण और अत्याचार हुए, और करोड़ों लोगों ने… <a href="https://t.co/a6y8Q4lza3">pic.twitter.com/a6y8Q4lza3</a></p>&mdash; Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1955822016411656573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Meanwhile, Union Health Minister and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda also called for national unity and give a befitting reply to anti-national elements. He also paid tribute to millions who sacrificed their lives while "enduring agony of displacement".&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The dark day of 1947 reminds us of that cruel event when the citizens of the nation suffered the merciless pain of migration and, enduring inhuman torture, lost their homes, property, and lives," he said in a post on X.</p>

The Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed annually on August 14 to pay tribute to the millions who lost their lives or were displaced amid the partition of the country in 1947.

While observing ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the memory of those who faced the "upheaval and pain" during the Partition of India. Observed annually on August 14, the eve of Independence Day, the day pays tribute to the millions who lost their lives or were displaced amid the partition of the country in 1947. Sharing a post on social media X (formerly known as twitter), PM Modi labelled the Partition as the “tragic chapter” of Indian history. "India observes Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, remembering the upheaval and pain endured by countless people during that tragic chapter of our history. It is also a day to honour their grit...their ability to face unimaginable loss and still find the strength to start afresh," PM Modi wrote. PM Modi commended all those affected who managed to rebuild their lives and achieve remarkable milestones even after facing such tragedy. Meanwhile, he added in his post that this day remid everyone for enduring responsibility to strengthen the bonds of harmony that bind India collectively.

<p>The Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed annually on August 14 to pay tribute to the millions who lost their lives or were displaced amid the partition of the country in 1947.</p>

‘Tragic chapter of history’: PM Modi remembers partition survivors on 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6325d78e-3ed0-46c6-b86e-de4f61bbf12d}{197}" paraid="855891009" >In a tweet,&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced&nbsp;on Saturday that&nbsp;August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day&nbsp;to commemorate the&nbsp;struggles and sacrifices of&nbsp;the&nbsp;people&nbsp;at that time.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{178eafd2-7833-475a-ab2a-932164927973}{18}" paraid="451311872" >The&nbsp;prime minister said the&nbsp;pains of the&nbsp;partition can never be forgotten.&nbsp;“Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,” said Modi on the microblogging site.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{fd9ee82e-9702-4aa7-af8d-d4a3c546059a}{80}" paraid="1663586440" >“May the #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment," he added in another tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{ad25215d-3c50-4373-9f53-e03635bff191}{232}" paraid="305991391" >On August 14, Pakistan was carved out as a Muslim country after the division of India. It also brought the end of the&nbsp;British colonial rule in 1947. Millions of people were displaced and many lakhs of them&nbsp;also&nbsp;lost their lives&nbsp;due to the&nbsp;large-scale&nbsp;riots, which broke out during the partition.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c19ae06a-92e3-4f1c-8566-c9ad10c15736}{134}" paraid="2068521306" >This year,&nbsp;India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c19ae06a-92e3-4f1c-8566-c9ad10c15736}{236}" paraid="921391080" ><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices of the people at that time.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices of the people at that time. The prime minister said the pains of the partition can never be forgotten. “Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,” said Modi on the microblogging site. “May the #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment," he added in another tweet. On August 14, Pakistan was carved out as a Muslim country after the division of India. It also brought the end of the British colonial rule in 1947. Millions of people were displaced and many lakhs of them also lost their lives due to the large-scale riots, which broke out during the partition. This year, India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi: August 14 to be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

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India's 80th Independence Day: How Partition’s fractured borders rewrote the subcontinent’s recipe book

PM Modi remembers partition survivors on 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'

PM Modi: August 14 to be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day