Lead presentation by Dr. Martha (Marty) Alter Chen, Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Senior Advisor, WIEGO Network, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Discussant: Prof. Aishwarya Pandit, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School

Chair: Prof. Indivar Kamtekar, Associate Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University
 
Marty Alter Chen will speak about being a witness to the Partition and Independence of India in 1947 and the Partition of Pakistan and Independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Marty grew up in India as a third-generation member of an American family who think of India as home. In August 1947, Marty was with her parents and grandparents in Mussoorie. Fast forward to March 1971.  Marty, her husband and their son Gregory were living in Dacca, East Pakistan and witnessed the Pakistan military crack-down on East Pakistan, before being evacuated. Marty will share her memories of the two Partitions and of living and working in both India and Bangladesh.