The collection includes:
- Oral history and video interviews with participants
- Exhibition text and photographs of the exhibition space
- Visitor feedback
- Artistic interpretation created in conjunction with the Royal Exchange
Memories of Partition Project Archive
This material is held atAhmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre
- Reference
- GB 3228 77
- Dates of Creation
- 2017 - 2018
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English Urdu Hindi Panjabi
- Physical Description
- 12.5GB and 2 items
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
'Memories of Partition' was an 18-month project, run by Manchester Museum, which aimed to capture the collective memory of those affected by the 1947 Partition of India into independent nations of India and Pakistan (and subsequently Bangladesh in 1971).
At the heart of Memories of Partition was a community-based oral history programme, designed to capture, record and interpret some of the many hidden, personal experiences relating to Partition. The project assumed a primarily faith-based approach to community engagement, with the aim that balanced representation was afforded to Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities at all times.
Selected oral histories (and personal effects loaned by the interviewees) formed the inspiration for a series of documentary films, a temporary exhibition at Manchester Museum, public programmes, and a season of newly-created dramatic performance ('Come Closer') developed in a unique collaboration with the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Independence and Partition in August 2017, the project hoped to encourage greater public understanding of the historic and contemporary significance of Partition on Manchester and its diverse South Asian communities. It was part of a Manchester-wide cultural commemoration of the 70th anniversary.
Users are advised that this collection contains testimonies that recount instances of violence by or towards certain religious groups which may be upsetting.
Arrangement
GB3228.77/1: Oral Histories
GB3228.77/2: Memories of Partition Exhibition
GB3228.77/3: Come Closer monologues
Access Information
24 hours notice is required to view this collection. Material will then be accessible through Manchester Central Library Search Room, Manchester Central Library, St Peters Square, Manchester, M2 5PD. To access this collection please: Contact the archive
Acquisition Information
This material principally came from Manchester Museum. The Royal Exchange Theatre was instrumental in facilitating the collection of the Come Closer material GB3228.77/3 directly from the writers.
Alternative Form Available
Final exhibition films available via YouTube: Memories of Partition Videos
Conditions Governing Use
Mixed copyright, speak with Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre staff before allowing copying of any material
Appraisal Information
Appraised:
6 boom mic tracks for the Jason Singh interview: Included in the boom mic tracks was a track of the air conditioning for editing purposes. The five other tracks are duplicates of the lapel mic tracks except the fifth track for which the boom mic did not record sound and so is blank. The lapel mic tracks have been retained and catalogued as GB3228.77/2/3/9.
6 raw audio tracks from a filmed interview (video of interview not provided) with Kanta Sharma and Poornima Toteja. This audio / video was filmed as a possible film for the exhibition, it was not eventually used, no summary or translation was provided for this raw audio. An oral history interview with Kanta Sharma and Poornima Toteja has been retained and catalogued as GB3228.77/1/6, a description of this interview in English has been provided by the project and is included in the catalogue. Also an edited video and raw audio with Poornima Toteja has been retained and catalogued as GB3228.77/2/3/13-14.
Accruals
No accruals expected as this was a time limited project and is now complete. However three Come Closer scripts have not been deposited and may be added in future.