LONDON: A permanent museum dedicated to the Partition of India in 1947 will be established at the historic Town Hall in Amritsar, according to the trust behind the project.
The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, behind the initial idea and in charge of running the museum, had unveiled plans for the museum last year.
It has now been allotted a wing in Amritsar's Town Hall by the Punjab government.
"We are very grateful the Punjab government has recognised the importance of the Partition in the history of India, and the world," said Kishwar Desai, the chair of the trust.
The Partition Museum will be a space of commemoration and documentation of the largest migration in history.
More than 14 million people migrated in 1947, losing their loved ones and their homes, forced to rebuild their lives upon arrival.
"They lived in camps and rudimentary shelters till they found alternate accommodation. It was a huge sacrifice that has largely been forgotten, and the Partition Museum will raise that veil of silence," the trust said.
The project has been described as a people's museum, built through contributions, donations, artefacts and documents being sourced through private and public collections and archives.
Its home at the Town Hall itself is an old colonial building dating back to the late 19th century with its grand facade and belfry being witness to the turmoil of the Partition of India.
"It is befitting that this grand structure should house the memories and documentation of one of the most important events to affect India," the trust added.
It plans to seek collaborations from all the countries involved in this part of the Indian sub-continent's history –India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain.
The launch of the new museum is planned next year.