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The appointment of Sanjiv Khanna as the 51st Chief Justice of India carries a poignant resonance, particularly for those familiar with his roots in Amritsar. Though his family's presence in the city was marked by a home built by his grandfather, Sarav Dayal, the house's existence was ultimately swallowed by the tumultuous events of Partition. This loss, however, does not diminish the significance of the city in Khanna's life, serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of history and memory.
The house, located near the renowned 'London House' in Amritsar, was a testament to the family's prosperity before the cataclysmic division of India and Pakistan. Built with care and representing a chapter of their lives, the house was tragically destroyed during the violent upheaval that characterized Partition. However, the house was restored, only to be sold in 1970 and ultimately demolished, leaving behind a void in the physical landscape. The sale to iron dealers Mohan Lal and Satpal Mahajan, who subsequently demolished the structure, erased any tangible remnants of Khanna's ancestral home.
Despite his ascension to the highest judicial office in the country, Khanna's visits to Amritsar have been marked by an inability to locate the remnants of his ancestral home. The city, having undergone significant transformations over the years, presents a daunting challenge in his search for the house that holds treasured memories from his childhood. While the physical house has been lost to time, the memories it represents remain, a poignant reminder of the indelible mark Partition left on countless lives, including Khanna's. The echoes of his family's departure from Amritsar resonate with the city's own history, where stories of resilience and loss intertwine, forming a tapestry of what was and what remains.
Source: Partition’s final verdict: CJI Sanjiv Khanna’s childhood home in Amritsar lost to history