The date, 15th August, 1947 is considered as the greatest day in the history of India and Pakistan. India got independence from the British rule on this very day. People all over the country rejoiced this day. It also marked the beginning of a new era. Under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Muslims got their separate nation as demanded, Pakistan.
But, was the independence truly a reason for people to be happy? No doubt, India got freed from the British rule after 350 years and after 3 decades of struggle. But, the partition was not less than a nightmare for over 10 million people. While people in majority of India celebrated their independence, many cursed their fate. Due to the greed and unrealistic demands of some politicians, millions of people suffered.
The Idea for Independence:
Since 1612, East India Company started ruling India, primarily for trade with European countries. People of India worked under the jurisdiction of the East India Company and on their rules for 300 years. During the first world war, India sent over one million soldiers to fight for the British in a hope that this would help India get independence. Around 75000 soldiers lost their lives in the war and another 70000 were wounded. After the war ended, British showed no signs of help.
Once, on the occasion of Punjabi New Year, 13th April, 1919, thousands of people gathered in Jallianwalabagh. When Major General Dyer came to know about this meet, he sealed all the gates of the park and ordered 50 soldiers to open fire at the crowd. This resulted in over 400 deaths and 1000 injured. This sparked anger among the people of India and then started the actual fight for Independence.
The Idea for Independence:
Since 1612, East India Company started ruling India, primarily for trade with European countries. People of India worked under the jurisdiction of the East India Company and on their rules for 300 years. During the first world war, India sent over one million soldiers to fight for the British in a hope that this would help India get independence. Around 75000 soldiers lost their lives in the war and another 70000 were wounded. After the war ended, British showed no signs of help.
Once, on the occasion of Punjabi New Year, 13th April, 1919, thousands of people gathered in Jallianwalabagh. When Major General Dyer came to know about this meet, he sealed all the gates of the park and ordered 50 soldiers to open fire at the crowd. This resulted in over 400 deaths and 1000 injured. This sparked anger among the people of India and then started the actual fight for Independence.
The reason for partition:
Why did the partition take place? Why couldn't all the people stay together rather than dividing themselves into two different countries? The partition took place due to the British withdrawal soon after the victory of Labour Party in the British general elections in 1945. Winston Churchill's government was ruled out of power. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, once a Indian National Congress member and then the leader of the Muslim League pressurised the British council to divide the country into two parts on the basis of religion. One part for the Hindu-dominated and other for the Muslims. Muslim League, headed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah basically wanted a separate country for Muslims as they feared that once India gets independence, INC ( Indian National Congress) will form the government and thus Muslim interests will get neglected. During the second world war, the demand for Indian soldiers was raised. Muslim League agreed to the demand as they thought that supporting the British would lead to a separate country being granted to the Muslims, but the INC refused to supply soldiers.
This demand for separate country also sparked controversies. On 16 August, 1946, also called as Direct Action Day is one such example. On this day, riots broke out in the state of Calcutta, between Hindus and Muslims resulting in over 4000 people getting slaughtered, 20000 injured and another 100000 left homeless. Constant riots took place between people after that tragic day.
Doom Day:
Though Indian National Congress was against partition, the demand of Mohammad Ali Jinnah was accepted and it was decided that partition of India would take place along with independence. Muslims dominated the northern part of the country except for Punjab, where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs had equal dominance. The date decided was 15th August, 1947.
For this special purpose, Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer was called immediately to India. With this being his first visit to India and also with outdated maps and census reports, he was asked to draw a line of partition. The hurry in which the line of partition was drawn can be imagined as Radcliffe was given only 4 weeks to complete this task. Meanwhile, Punjab also demanded for a separate country but their request was rejected. Radcliffe then drew the line right between Lahore and Amritsar, dividing Punjab into two halves. The state of Jammu & Kashmir had the choice of choosing among the two newly formed countries. In spite being a Muslim-dominated state, the leader of Jammu&Kashmir decided to stay in India.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established on 14th August and Republic of India was established on 15th August though the partition line was not declared till August 17th. The reason behind the delay in declaration of partition line was that the British did not wanted to be the reason for what they saw coming.
Aftermath:
The partition brought with it the largest mass migration in the history. People migrated from India to Pakistan and from Pakistan to India depending on the religion they followed.
Around 14 million people migrated. As a result, violent clashes started between the two sides, one being the Hindus and Sikhs and other side being the Muslims. This migration resulted in death of over 2 million people and according to a census report, over 2.5 million people went missing. The migration to another country was not a easy task and millions died in the process of migration.
The clashes between the two groups resulted in ruthless massacre of millions of people on both side. Around 75000 women were abducted and raped. Gangs of people would burn villages killing everybody they could find were in the opposite side with No mercy shown towards kids, ladies or the aged. The partition also resulted in the assassination of M.K.Gandhi, the person whose non-violent principles and leadership led to the independence, by Nathuram Godse in 1948.
This demand for separate country also sparked controversies. On 16 August, 1946, also called as Direct Action Day is one such example. On this day, riots broke out in the state of Calcutta, between Hindus and Muslims resulting in over 4000 people getting slaughtered, 20000 injured and another 100000 left homeless. Constant riots took place between people after that tragic day.
Doom Day:
Though Indian National Congress was against partition, the demand of Mohammad Ali Jinnah was accepted and it was decided that partition of India would take place along with independence. Muslims dominated the northern part of the country except for Punjab, where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs had equal dominance. The date decided was 15th August, 1947.
For this special purpose, Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer was called immediately to India. With this being his first visit to India and also with outdated maps and census reports, he was asked to draw a line of partition. The hurry in which the line of partition was drawn can be imagined as Radcliffe was given only 4 weeks to complete this task. Meanwhile, Punjab also demanded for a separate country but their request was rejected. Radcliffe then drew the line right between Lahore and Amritsar, dividing Punjab into two halves. The state of Jammu & Kashmir had the choice of choosing among the two newly formed countries. In spite being a Muslim-dominated state, the leader of Jammu&Kashmir decided to stay in India.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established on 14th August and Republic of India was established on 15th August though the partition line was not declared till August 17th. The reason behind the delay in declaration of partition line was that the British did not wanted to be the reason for what they saw coming.
Aftermath:
The partition brought with it the largest mass migration in the history. People migrated from India to Pakistan and from Pakistan to India depending on the religion they followed.
Around 14 million people migrated. As a result, violent clashes started between the two sides, one being the Hindus and Sikhs and other side being the Muslims. This migration resulted in death of over 2 million people and according to a census report, over 2.5 million people went missing. The migration to another country was not a easy task and millions died in the process of migration.
The clashes between the two groups resulted in ruthless massacre of millions of people on both side. Around 75000 women were abducted and raped. Gangs of people would burn villages killing everybody they could find were in the opposite side with No mercy shown towards kids, ladies or the aged. The partition also resulted in the assassination of M.K.Gandhi, the person whose non-violent principles and leadership led to the independence, by Nathuram Godse in 1948.
