HISTORY PROJECT-

India's independence and partition

MRIDHINI 10-A
 index
Sno. Topic Slide
no.

1 Introduction 1-2

Content 3-
2
14
Conclusion 15-
3
20

4 Bibliography & acknowledgement 21

INTRODUCTION-
India's Partition: A Legacy of Division and Unity
• The Partition of India in 1947 resulted in the creation of
two separate nations: India and Pakistan. India, known
today as the Republic of India, emerged as a sovereign
state, while Pakistan initially comprised two regions,
eventually becoming the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. This division
marked a significant change in political boundaries and
the distribution of assets following the end of British
colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent.
• The division of India was prompted by Muhammad Ali
Jinnah's call for a separate nation for Muslims. In a
speech given in Lahore prior to the partition, Jinnah
argued that Hindus and Muslims adhered to distinct
religious beliefs, social practices, and cultural Muhammad
heritages. He asserted that these communities did not Ali Jinnah
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intermarry or share meals, and belonged to separate
The Partition resulted in widespread loss of life and
a massive migration between the two newly
formed dominions. Surviving refugees came to
believe that safety lay among those who shared
their religion. For Pakistan, it materialized as a
refuge previously only imagined by Muslims in
British India. The migrations occurred hastily and
with little warning, with estimates suggesting
between 14 million and 18 million people moved,
possibly more. The period saw excess mortality of
around one million. The violent nature of the
partition fostered hostility and suspicion between
India and Pakistan, impacting their relationship up
to the present day.
 Factors and events that led to the partition
of India

 British Divide-and-Rule Policy:

The British employed the Divide-and-Rule policy as a means to undermine the
nationalist movement in India. They sponsored the establishment of the
Muslim League and introduced measures such as separate electorates in
1909, 1919, and the Communal Award in 1932. During World War II, they
granted implicit veto power to the League. Additionally, their Cabinet Mission
Plan proposed criteria for grouping that furthered divisions. These tactics
aimed to foster discord and weaken the unity of the Indian nationalist
movement, ultimately serving British colonial interests.
 Rise of Communalism in India:
Communalism in India began to emerge at the end of the 19th century and
was fueled by various factors. Socio-economic backwardness among Muslims,
coupled with the revivalist nature of socio-cultural reform movements,
contributed to its growth. Additionally, the propagation of ideas suggesting
divergent self-interests between Hindus and Muslims perpetuated communal
tensions. The British policy of Divide and Rule exacerbated these divisions, as
did the roles played by influential figures like Iqbal, Jinnah, and certain Hindu
5 nationalists. The defeat of the 1937 elections and the 20XX
 subsequent focus of the Muslim League and Jinnah
on the Pakistan Resolution of 1940 further
intensified communal sentiments. The Muslim League's
landslide victory in the 1946 elections marked a
significant culmination of these communal tensions,
ultimately leading to the partition of India along religious
lines.

2. Role of Muslim League and Muhammad Ali

Jinnah:

Jinnah’s role:
• Muslim landlords (in Sindh and other areas of Pakistan)
THE MUSLIM LEAGUE and elites who were against the Congress’ emphasis
on socialist democracy, were in favor of a separate
nation.

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• Jinnah vetoed each and every talk between the British
officials and Indians. He and the league wanted to be the
sole representatives of Muslims in India, to which
Congress or any secular party could not have conceded.
• Towards Mass Communalism: The defeat in the 1937
election result was a lesson to Jinnah and the League.
After 1937, the priority of Jinnah was now to maximise the
league's membership, communalise the masses further
and elevate the demands of Pakistan.
•Two Nation theory: He was a strict supporter of the Two
Nation Theory, that two communities could not co-exist
together.
Aligarh school of thought
• This idea in India was germinated by the Aligarh school
of thought, seconded by Iqbal and a few Hindu
Nationalists in the 1930s, and ultimately utilised by
Jinnah.
 • Citing the socio-economic conditions of the Muslims
and instilling the fear of the so-called Hindu domination
after the independence, Jinnah excelled in his
communal propaganda.
• And this is evident in the victory of the Muslim League
on the Muslim seats in the 1946 elections.

3.Socio-economic factors:
• Muslim economic backwardness: Muslims had
lower literacy and inadequate representation in
industry/commerce, leading to economic
backwardness. Pakistan was seen as a way to boost
MUSLIM ECONOMIC Muslim economic status, exclusively.
BACKWARDNESS
• Fear of Hindu economic dominance: Muslims
worried their economic interests would not be
safeguarded in Hindu-majority India. Wanted Pakistan
for greater control over resources and opportunities.
• Desire of landed elites for
dominance: Landed Muslim elites
in Punjab/Bengal saw Pakistan as
an opportunity for greater
economic dominance. Partition
motivated by ambition for power.
• Urdu-Hindi divide: Debates over
national language exacerbated
differences. Proposals for Hindi
alienated many Muslims who
favoured Urdu. This linguistic
1
divide worsened communal
5
tensions.
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 role of key figures and
organizations in the
partition process

•1.Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim

League:
• Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, played
a pivotal role in advocating for the creation of
Pakistan as a separate Muslim-majority nation.
• The Muslim League's demand for a separate
homeland for Muslims gained momentum
under Jinnah's leadership, culminating in the
Pakistan Resolution of 1940.

•2.Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National

Congress:
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• Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Indian
 • Despite his efforts, the Congress
ultimately accepted the partition plan
proposed by the British, leading to the
division of the country.

3.Lord Mountbatten:
 Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last
Viceroy of British India, tasked with
overseeing the transition to
independence.
 Mountbatten played a significant role in
facilitating negotiations between Indian
leaders and determining the boundaries
of India and Pakistan.

4.The All-India Muslim League:

Lord Louis Mountbatten  The All-India Muslim League, led by Jinnah,

was instrumental in mobilizing support for
the creation of Pakistan among Muslims in
India. 20XX
 • The League's advocacy for Muslim interests and
demand for separate electorates contributed to
communal tensions and the eventual partition.
• 5.The British Government:
• The British government, as the colonial ruler
of India, played a central role in the partition
process.
• British policies, such as Divide and Rule,
exacerbated communal tensions and
contributed to the demand for partition.
• The British ultimately devised the plan for
partition and oversaw its implementation,
despite opposition from some Indian leaders.

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 political boundaries drawn post-partition and
their long-term implications.
•PAKISTHAN:
•Due to religious persecution and ongoing tensions in India,
particularly targeting Muslims, significant migration to
Pakistan continued even after the 1951 Census. Historian
Omar Khalidi notes that between December 1947 and
December 1971, Muslims migrated from various Indian states
such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, and Kerala to West Pakistan. The migration trend
persisted into the 1970s and beyond, with Karachi and other
urban centers in Sindh becoming primary destinations for
migrants.
•A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in
1959 estimated that from 1951 to 1956 alone, around
650,000 Muslims relocated from India to West Pakistan.
However,
20XX Visaria (1969) questioned the accuracy of these
• Nonetheless, the 1961 Census INDIA:
did acknowledge a migration •Due to religious persecution faced
of around 800,000 individuals by Hindus in Pakistan, many have
from India to Pakistan over the sought refuge in India, with a
preceding decade. Many of significant number settling in the
those who migrated to state of Rajasthan. According to
Pakistan did not return to the Human Rights Commission of
India. Pakistan, approximately 1,000
Hindu families fled to India in 2013.
Additionally, a member of
Pakistan's ruling party, Ramesh
Kumar Vankwani, disclosed in the
National Assembly that around
5,000 Hindus migrate from
Pakistan to India annually. Despite
this trend, India, not being a
signatory to the 1951 United
Nations Refugee Convention, does
•The Tharparkar district in Sindh province,
West Pakistan, had a Hindu majority of
80% and Muslim minority of 20% at the
time of independence in 1947. However,
during the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965
and 1971, approximately 1,500 Hindu
families fled to India, leading to a
significant demographic change in the
district. Additionally, during these
conflicts, around 23,300 Hindu families
migrated to Jammu Division from Azad
Kashmir and West Punjab.
 Case study-Amrita
Pritam
Amrita Pritam was born on August 31, 1919, in Gujranwala, a
city in the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan. Growing up in
a Sikh family, she was deeply influenced by the rich cultural
heritage and literary traditions of the Punjab.

As tensions between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs escalated in

the lead-up to partition, Amrita witnessed the increasing
communal violence and upheaval in her homeland. Despite the
looming threat, she remained hopeful for peace and unity
among the diverse communities of the Punjab.

However, when partition was announced in 1947, Amrita's world

was shattered. Gujranwala became engulfed in violence and
bloodshed, forcing her family to flee their ancestral home and
seek refuge in East Punjab. The journey was treacherous, with
Amrita witnessing unspeakable atrocities and the loss of loved
Arriving in East Punjab, Amrita confronted the harsh realities of displacement
and loss. She struggled to come to terms with the trauma of partition, grappling
with feelings of grief, anger, and displacement. Despite the challenges, she
found solace in her writing, using poetry as a means to express her pain,
longing, and hope for a better future.

In the aftermath of partition, Amrita emerged as a leading voice of conscience

and compassion, advocating for peace, reconciliation, and the shared humanity
of all people.
Through her poetry, she sought to bridge the divides of religion, caste, and
nationality, urging people to embrace love, empathy, and understanding.

Amrita's literary legacy continues to resonate today, inspiring generations with

her timeless words of courage, resilience, and compassion. Her life and work
serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of partition and the enduring
power of art to transcend divisions and heal the wounds of history.

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Amrita Pritam's story exemplifies the complex and multifaceted experiences of
individuals affected by the partition of India. Through her eyes, we gain insight
into the profound impact of partition on personal identity, cultural heritage, and
the pursuit of peace and reconciliation in the face of adversity.

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significance of the partition of India
The scars left by the partition's violence, displacement, and communal tensions
continue to influence regional dynamics, shaping the narratives of identity,
nationhood, and coexistence.

The communal fault lines that were exposed during the partition persist in
contemporary times, manifesting in sporadic communal violence and ongoing
tensions between religious communities. Scholarly works like "Religious
Difference in a Secular Age: A Minority Report" by Saba Mahmood delve into the
complexities of religious identity and its intersection with modernity, shedding
light on the ways in which historical events like the partition continue to shape
religious and social dynamics.

The border disputes and cross-border conflicts that emerged as a result of the
partition continue to strain diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. The
contentious issue of Kashmir, which remains a focal point of contention, draws its
roots from the partition era. Scholar Ayesha Jalal's "The Pity of Partition: Manto’s
Life, Times, and Work across the India- Pakistan Divide" delves into the divergent
trajectories of the two nations and how their contested history continues to
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The partition of India in 1947 cast a lasting
geopolitical shadow, influencing regional dynamics,
and shaping the relationships between India and
Pakistan. This section examines the enduring
impact of partition on international relations,
conflicts, and alliances.

• India-Pakistan Relations:
• The partition laid the foundation for complex and
often contentious relations between India and
Pakistan. The Kashmir conflict, a central issue,
resulted in multiple wars and skirmishes. Scholar
Ayesha Jalal's "The Struggle for Pakistan" delves
into the evolving geopolitical dynamics between the
two nations.
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 • Kashmir Dispute:
The partition's unresolved Kashmir dispute has led to ongoing tensions and
territorial conflicts. The Line of Control (LoC) separating Indian-administered
and Pakistan- administered Kashmir remains a flashpoint. Data from
the South Asia Terrorism Portal indicates ongoing violence and unrest in the
region.

• Impact on Regional Alliances:

The partition's ripple effects extended beyond the subcontinent. It influenced
regional alliances, with India aligning with the Soviet Union and Pakistan
forging ties with the United States. The geopolitics of the Cold War era
were intertwined with partition's aftermath.

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Acknowledgement and bibliography
I thank all the teachers who helped me by providing the equipment that was
necessary and vital, without which I would not have been able to work effectively
on this project. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my school for
giving me the opportunity to work on this project. Here are some of the links I
referred to complete this project.

https://vajiramandravi.com/quest-upsc-notes/partition-of-india/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India#Post-partition_migration
https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2308306.pdf
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