Basked in Gold

Discovering Sikhs and Partition in Amritsar.

Enjoying the peace at the pool of amrita (nectar), Golden Temple in Amritsar.

To read a bit about Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the barrister charged with drawing up lines of division in Partition, go here.

And a poem from W.H. Auden, “Partition” (1966), on large display at the museum:

Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,

Having never set eyes on this land he was called to partition

Between two peoples fanatically at odds,

With their different diets and incompatible gods.

'Time,' they had briefed him in London, 'is short. It's too late

For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:

The only solution now lies in separation.

The Viceroy thinks, as you will see from his letter,

That the less you are seen in his company the better,

So we've arranged to provide you with other accommodation.

We can give you four judges, two Moslem and two Hindu,

To consult with, but the final decision must rest with you.'

Shut up in a lonely mansion, with police night and day

Patrolling the gardens to keep assassins away,

He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate

Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date

And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect,

But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect

Contested areas. The weather was frightfully hot,

And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot,

But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided,

A continent for better or worse divided.

The next day he sailed for England, where he quickly forgot

The case, as a good lawyer must. Return he would not,

Afraid, as he told his Club, that he might get shot.

Partition, 1966 by WH Auden.

Seva (service) kitchen at the Langar Hall, Golden Temple, where c. 100k are fed per day, no charge.

Love from Yours Truly, in Gratitude.