Dr Bharti Gupta
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” – Maya Angelou
The modern history of India is generally considered to have started around the mid-18th century with the onset of colonial rule by the British East India Company. The time from the rule of the East India Company till 1857 to the rule of the British Raj till 1947 marked significant political movements and upheavals. We need to remember this unfortunate saga of partition of India as “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana.
The announcement of the partition of India was made on June 3, 1947. The legal basis for the announcement of the partition was the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which received royal assent from King George VI of the United Kingdom on July 18, 1947. Before the partition of India in 1947, the Indian subcontinent was a part of British India, which encompassed a vast geographical area. British India was divided into two main categories namely Provinces and Princely States. Provinces were territories directly governed by British officials through a Governor and a Legislative Council. and the Princely States were semi-autonomous regions ruled by local monarchs or rulers under the suzerainty of the British Crown. These states had varying degrees of independence in terms of internal administration, taxation, and governance. The British Indian Government had indirect influence over these states and maintained treaties with their rulers.
The 1947 Indian partition serves as a somber reminder of the extent of human misery that can result from political choices. The atrocities that took place during this turbulent time have left an indelible mark on the subcontinent’s collective memory, exposing the darker side of humanity when religious and communal tensions are left unchecked.
Drawing the border between India and Pakistan seemed hurried and poorly planned. The suddenness of the announcement and the inadequate planning that preceded it made the subsequent chaos-which included widespread migration, bloodshed, and inter-communal conflicts-even worse. Terrible murders, sexual assault, and torture were all witnessed during this time. Millions of people were uprooted from their ancestral homes, creating a wave of forced displacement that was never before seen.
The violence that accompanied the partition resulted in the loss of an estimated one to two million lives and the displacement of over ten million people. The partition also marked the largest human migration in history. Five days after independence, on August 20, Alan Campbell-Johansson writes that 200,000 people are crammed into temporary displacement camps and living in conditions that could lead to a large-scale cholera outbreak at any time
The aftermath of partition inflicted not just physical wounds but also deep psychological scars that echoed through generations. Those who survived bore witness, and their descendants carried the weight of the brutal violence and profound losses. The agony of abandoning cherished homes, memories, and beloved family members etched itself into the very soul of those who navigated those harrowing times. The unfortunate partition caused an unmatched humanitarian disaster on a vast scale.
Knowing the history of one’s own nation is valuable as it is significantly connected to our collective identity of belongingness to the nation, we live in. At least, a few days should be earmarked for a special remembrance of the past that our forebears have gone through and which has ultimately paved the way for the present we live in. Therefore, the days of partition and independence should be at least earmarked for diving down into the history by lanes as “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.” – Theodore Roosevelt.
The 19th and early 20th centuries bore witness to the rise of Indian nationalism in response to British colonial rule. In 1885, the establishment of the Indian National Congress provided a platform for nurturing nationalist ambitions and articulating demands for enhanced political representation. As the momentum of the nationalist movement swelled, the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, emerged as a consequential political entity. Jinnah’s call for separate electorates and Muslim representation underscored apprehensions about safeguarding Muslim interests within India. In 1940, the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, adopted the Lahore Resolution, which called for a distinct nation for Muslims in India. This pivotal move marked a significant stride toward the eventual partition, formalizing the concept of a separate Muslim state. Amidst this backdrop, the communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims escalated. Jinnah’s unyielding stance on a separate Muslim state gathered momentum, resulting in divisions along religious lines. The Shimla Conference of 1945, an attempt to bridge differences between the Congress and the League, faltered due to insurmountable disagreements.
Further, the British authority’s trial of Indian National Army (INA) officers, including Subhas Chandra Bose, ignited a surge of nationalist fervor. The INA’s endeavors to liberate India from British rule resonated profoundly with Indians, further igniting the flames of anti-colonial sentiment.
Furthermore, in the course of World War II, the British decision to embroil India in the conflict without seeking the counsel of Indian leaders ignited widespread protests and fuelled discontent. World War II took place from September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945. During the early stages of World War II, Britain faced significant challenges and setbacks that raised concerns about the possibility of failure. Due to the pressures of World War II, the British were increasingly unable to maintain control over India. As the war ended, the British administration faced mounting pressure to address the issue of Indian independence. The realization that the communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims were intensifying, combined with their inability to suppress nationalist sentiments, led to the conclusion that partition might be the most practical solution to prevent further conflict.
The last viceroy of India was Lord Louis Mountbatten who arrived in India in March 1947. Mountbatten replaced Lord Archibald Wavell as the Viceroy of India. His appointment marked a critical period in Indian history as it was under his leadership that the plan for the partition of India into two dominions namely India and Pakistan and the transfer of power to the respective leaders was formulated and implemented. He completed the transfer of power in India over the next five months with a clear sense of urgency and a commitment to swiftly resolve the complex political issues surrounding the subcontinent. His haste to settle the issue through a hurried plan is popularly called as Mountbatten Plan. He unveiled his plan on June 3, 1947, also known as “Plan Balkan,” that encompassed the following pivotal aspects:
Partition of British India: This plan proposed the division of British India into two distinct dominions: India and Pakistan. The provinces of Punjab and Bengal were to be split along religious lines, with the western segments becoming part of Pakistan and the eastern portions remaining within India.
Referendums: In provinces with diverse populations, such as Punjab and Bengal, Mountbatten recommended the conduct of referendums to ascertain the people’s desires regarding their prospective dominion.
Princely States: The plan granted princely states the choice to align with either India or Pakistan or to preserve their independence. The geographical positioning of these states often played a pivotal role in determining their preferred dominion.
Transfer of Power: The plan aimed for a swift transfer of authority, with British control over the princely states concluding by August 15, 1947.
The failure of attempts to find a common ground between the Congress and the Muslim League, combined with the persistence of the two-nation theory, set the stage for the partition and the subsequent birth of India and Pakistan.
The immediate reasons for the partition of India surface as communal tension, the British policy of Divide and Rule, and the role of the then leaders. A million-dollar question arises, could the partition of India have been avoided? While the partition was a tragic event with profound consequences, whether it could have been entirely avoided remains a subject of historical debate and speculation as the realities of the time were far more complex to comprehend. However, learning from the past can be harnessed for better decisions for a peaceful future. One can bring home the following take-aways from the understanding of the historical events from the history of partition:
Greater Focus on Unity: If there had been a stronger emphasis on fostering a sense of unity among all communities, addressing concerns of minority rights, and promoting interfaith harmony, the communal tensions might have been alleviated.
Broader Representation: If the political processes had ensured broader representation and participation of all religious communities, it might have reduced the fears of marginalization and underrepresentation.
Deeper Dialogue: If leaders had engaged in more extensive dialogues and negotiations to find common ground, it might have resulted in a different outcome.
Timely Reforms: Addressing socio-economic disparities, and other issues that fuelled communal tensions could have contributed to a more harmonious society.
Critical reflection on the past serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the complexities of cultural and religious diversity and the need for peaceful coexistence.
“History teaches us that unity is strength and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals.” – Thabo Mbeki
(The author is Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism and Travel Management, Central University of Jammu)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
