Objects of Reminiscence

This manja along with other furniture, livestock and mattresses was left behind by a muslim family from Arniwala Pind during the partition. Many of such furniture bring back the memory of migration where people left their furniture in hope of returning back someday, but could never come back.

This manja originally belonged to a Muslim family living in Bigad Village. During the partition, their family couldn’t carry this manja with them due its weight. They gave this manja to Manga Ram's family. This manja reminds Devi Lal (son of Manga Ram) of his father's friendship from pre-partition days.

A few families staying near the border regions of Punjab chose to carry furniture with them during migration and war-like situations. They held to furniture as it gave them a sense of belonging among all the uncertainty during such times.

While shifting this sandook during a war-like situation, its leg broke. This leg was later replaced by a new log of wood, which is now a reminder of the frequent migrations and shifting the people did during those uncertain times.

Due the heavy weight of the furniture, many could not carry the entire piece of furniture with them while migrating. One family carried these doors of a larder with them as a memory of their old house. This was originally located in Kamaiya pind in Lahore district, Pakistan.

This sandook was preserved by Gurjant singh, an 80 year old man, in memory of his wife Gurdev Kaur. He shared that whenever he saw the sandook, it reminded him of her. In her memory, the family has kept the sandook in the store room.

There are many instances where organisations and individuals display curated collection of furniture pieces in in memory of an individual.

In Punjab, the ancestral house of Shaheed Bhagat Singh has been conserved and converted into a house museum in his memory.

This paata was kept outside a haveli in the Sunaro ki Guwad in Bikaner city. This was commissioned in the memory of the haveli's owner after his death. This was being used by the family and people of the community.

"In the memory of Late Shri Jaganthji Sunar, by his wife in the month of Jyestha Sud year 2059 of the hindu calendar” was seen inscribed on a metal plate on the centre of the front rail.

It is common for a man to have used a single dholio throughout his life; in such cases at the time of death, he is carried to his cremation on his dholio. In a few instances, the dholio is also burnt with the deceased as an act of letting go.

These pieces of furniture become a container of memories, holding a special place in the life of individuals and families. Each piece is reminiscent of memories of people or events for them.