Hist 4339

9 Oct 2008

 

The 1947 Partition and its Aftermath

 

Endgame of Empire

• Mar 1947: new viceroy, Lord Mountbatten

• Shortly after arrival, Mountbatten concluded partition inevitable

• Discussion of partition plan began

• May 1947: Mountbatten announced Aug 15, 1947 deadline

 

The Radcliffe Boundary Commission

• Only in June 1947 did discussion of territorial issues begin

• Composed of equal number of ML and INC representatives              

• One commission for Punjab, one for Bengal

• Chaired by British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe                                                        

• Commission met and deliberated in July and early August

• Boundary decision delivered August 12                                                               

• Controversy over last-minute alterations

• Decision released on Aug 16

 

Significance of Boundary Commission

• Poorly planned and hastily implemented

• Executed in large part with British interests in mind

• Provided a legal faηade

• Provided a veneer of objectivity

• Took little account of interests of people on the ground

 

Independence

• Nehru speech (Aug 14, 1947):

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with

destiny, and now the time comes when

we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly

or in full measure, but very substantially.

At the stroke of the midnight hour,

when the world sleeps, India will awake

to life and freedom.”

• Jinnah speech (Aug 11, 1947):

“You are free; you are free to go

to your temples, you are free to go

to your mosques or to any other

place of worship in this State of Pakistan.

You may belong to any religion or caste

or creed – that has nothing to do

with the business of the State.”

 

Mass Violence

• Some 500,000 people killed, another ~10 million made refugees

• Tens of thousands of women raped, abducted, forcibly married, or murdered

 

Contributing Factors

• Leaders ignored available information, especially Sikh warnings

◦ March 1947: attacks on Sikhs in Rawalpindi

◦ Sikhs vowed to defend themselves in future, assembled private militias or jathas

◦ Muslims and Hindus in Punjab also formed private armies

◦ Sketch map line provided spark

◦ Refugee Special trains were easy targets

• British shortcuts

            ◦ Attempt to lump Sikhs in with Hindus

            ◦ Decision to put off question of Kashmir’s accession

 

Kashmir

• As princely state, Kashmir theoretically had choice between India and Pakistan

• Hindu maharajah (of Muslim majority state) sat on fence

• Pakistan-supported raiders invaded

• India airlifted troops to Srinagar as response, it said, to prince’s accession to India

• First Indo-Pakistani war resulted

 

Conclusions

• Partition continues to this day

• 1947 left bittersweet legacy of terrible violence and triumphant independence