NHM begins Independence Day celebrations in Lahore

Lahore — The National History Museum (NHM) commenced its commemorative programmes for Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with a series of curated events.

The programme began with a multi-generational panel discussion, “Making of Home: Memory, Migration, and New Beginnings,” featuring renowned human rights activist and poet Harris Khalique, award-winning filmmaker Jawad Sharif, and educator and social development practitioner Dr Shireen Zafarullah. The discussion was moderated by academic and BNU Senior Lecturer Saadia Ahmad.

The discussion reflected on the experiences of the first generation, who experienced displacement firsthand and grew up in its immediate aftermath; the second generation, who established families, careers, and communities in the cities shaped by Partition; and the third generation, which continues to shape Pakistan through emerging fields including technology, business, and culture.

A high point of the celebrations was a dramatic reading of letters from the 1947 Partition exchanged between families, performed by artist Adeel Afzal. The performance brought the audience personal accounts and lived experiences from 1947 through the preserved correspondence of those who witnessed the events. The reading received houseful attendance of people from various walks of life.

Speaking on the occasion, NHM Director Awais Malik stated, “1947 Partition and Independence continue to be defining factors of our national identity. Preserving and sharing personal memories from these events remains a core mission of the museum.”

In accordance with its mandate to preserve and document Pakistan’s national history, NHM also established a Community Digitisation Station, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn digital preservation of family photographs, documents, and other historical materials. The initiative seeks to recognise personal and family archives as an important component of the country’s broader historical identity.

The Independence Day commemorations will continue on 14 August, when NHM will remain open during extended hours and offer exclusive Night Tours in addition to its regular museum experience. The Community Digitisation Station and a range of educational and interactive activities will remain available for children and families.