Why did I paint the partition paintings?
I did not experience Partition, but my parents and grandparents did. Their forgotten memories I have brought alive on the 75th anniversary of India and Pakistan’s Independence.
Very few people are still living to tell the story of partition by their own mouth. I share these paintings in the hope that young people will understand their history, and develop empathy and compassion for their ancestors.
Each painting came though me with tears and sadness. I felt the pain and suffering of my family while I was painting.
We Were One
I have painted the stories of India and Pakistan. We were one before partition, and we feel the same pain on both sides.
My father is 86. Every day in his conversation, his memories of Partition come up. He has stored all his childhood memories in my brain. This is the truth and history of our land.
Difficult times Medium: Acrylic and Gauze Size: 30×40 Story: I remember as a little girl my grandmother taking gold threads out of these beautiful clothes she had (Indian embroidery called Zari or Tilla Gold threads and Suchha moti semi precious stones and pearls) to sell them for money. My grandfather worked for the police force. When my grandpa died in 1963 she had only married two daughters and still had three daughters and a young son to feed and live on the pension from the police department. 
Neighbors never meet again Size: 30×40 Medium: Acrylic & Gauze Story: Clothes hang on a barbed wire. The neighbors shared clotheslines with each other. Now the neighbors are divided. The Indian Kurta flies in the wind with the Pakistani Shalvar. 
Lost without you Medium: Acrylic Size: 16x20Story: The horse owners left them behind without knowing if they will never see them again. Now anyone can claim these horses. 
Kashmir vs Kashmir Medium: Acrylic and gauze Size: 16×20.This painting depicts the brutal killing and torture of young and old people of Kashmir. 
I am Bangladeshi Medium: Acrylic Size: 16x 20 Story: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the freedom for Bangladesh. These young kids represent the symbol of a young country and its freedom. 
Divided Rivers Medium: Acrylic Size: 16×20 Story: The left hand and the right hand are now divided and these hands have become East Punjab and West Punjab. The old map of Punjab is covered with bloody gauze. The gauze pieces represent the wounds of the 2 million people who were killed and 20 million people who were forced to leave their homes. These people were now refugees in their own country.