Causes of Partition of India 1947

Lord Curzon split the Bengal Presidency in 1905, dividing it into Muslim-majority Eastern Bengal and Assam and Hindu-majority Bengal. It was believed that this decision would greatly impact nationalist politics. Strong protests had been organized by Bengal’s Hindu ruling class. Political violence and boycotts of British products were the main forms of protest, and the Bengali phrase Bande Mataram, which means “Hail to the Mother,” was used to promote unrest. The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 as a result of the demands of the Muslim elite class. They wanted representation proportional to their percentage of the population and separate electorates for Muslims.

Lucknow Pact, 1914–1918

India became a founding member of the League of Nations. India participated in the 1920 Summer Olympics as a result of the great influence that World War I had on Britain’s imperial relationships with India. The Congress and the Muslim League cooperated during the 1916 Lucknow Session of the Congress, resulting in the Lucknow Pact. Young Muslim leaders who supported the agreement believed that it would help the region’s elites who belong to the Muslim minority.

Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, 1919

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, also known as the Government of India Act of 1919, were approved in December 1919. It abolished the Government of India’s use of the “official majority” in votes that were not in its favor. They also expanded the authority of provincial and imperial legislative councils. The Act allowed Indians entry into the civil service and army officer corps and moved important departments to the provinces, including public health, foreign affairs, and defense.

Two Nation Theory Proposal, 1920

According to the two-nation idea, Muslims and Hindus in India are two different countries because of their cultural and historical differences. It served as a foundational idea for both the 1947 Indian division and the Pakistan Movement. Theodore Beck and Theodore Morison, who thought that Muslims would suffer under a parliamentary system of majority rule, are among the supporters of the theory. Hindu nationalist groups have influenced the theory, which has led to the categorization of Indian Muslims as second-class citizens and non-Indian foreigners. Arguments against the theory come from the idea that there is only one Indian nation and that Indians are not a single people.

Provincial Elections in the Muslim Homeland, 1930–1938

The term “Pakistan” was first used in 1933 by Choudhry Rahmat Ali, although it received little political notice. Ambedkar demanded separate representation for the “Depressed Classes” in the central and provincial legislatures, a demand that was granted by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1932. Muslim concerns about Hindu dominance increased with the introduction of provincial autonomy by the Government of India Act 1935. In provinces where Muslims make up a minority, the Muslim League did well, although the Congress won in seven of the eleven provinces. Fear of Hindu dominance increased as a result of studies by the Muslim League into Muslim conditions in provinces administered by the Congress.

August Offer, Cripps Mission, 1940–1942

Lord Linlithgow suggested India’s post-war dominion status in 1940, hoping to create a non-federal structure free from Hindu dominance. The Muslim League and Congress, however, turned down this offer, which sparked civil disobedience. Congress rejected Britain’s offer of dominion status in 1942 in exchange for Congress’s support, and the rejection gave rise to a widespread nationalist movement.

Quit India Resolution, August 1942

The Quit India Resolution was introduced by Congress in 1942, presenting a challenge to British rule. Leaders of the Congress were imprisoned by the British, and the Muslim League grew to prominence in the war. The League put the British and Congress to the test with their demand for Pakistan.

Indian Provincial Elections, 1946

The Attlee administration took action on Indian independence in 1946 as a result of mutinies in the military forces. To make arrangements for a smooth transfer, a Cabinet Mission was sent. Following fresh elections, the Congress won 91% of the vote in non-Muslim areas. The majority of Muslim votes and seats in provincial assemblies went to the Muslim League.

Cabinet Mission, July 1946

Even after winning the 1937 elections, the Muslim League found it difficult to form ministries outside of Sind and Bengal. To maintain unity and fulfill Jinnah’s desire for an independent Muslim nation, the British came up with the Cabinet Mission Plan. A united India was avoided, however, by the rejection of the idea by Congress leaders, including Nehru.

Direct Action Day, August 1946

Jinnah declared Direct Action Day in India in 1946 and threatened to go to war if Muslims were not given their own Pakistan. Hindus in Calcutta were attacked by armed Muslim gangs, which resulted in the “Great Calcutta Killing of August 1946”. Three days of violence turned into a cycle of “ethnic cleansing” and four thousand dead. As the unrest progressed, Hindus and Sikhs were attacked or expelled from Bihar, Noakhali, Garhmukteshwar, and Rawalpindi.

Partition Plan, 1946–1947

Appointed by British Prime Minister Attlee, Lord Louis Mountbatten oversaw India’s independence by June 1948. He initially wanted a unified India but finally concluded that partition was unavoidable.

The Indian Independence Act’s proposal

Lord Mountbatten’s 1947 plan for India’s partition was accepted by Sardar Patel and Congress officials. Patel talked about growing violence, the possibility of civil war, and Gandhi’s pain over the division. He also talked about the Congress-League coalition’s impracticality. Congress accepted the plan following Gandhi’s denial, and British rule was terminated in June 1948.

Independence, August 1947

Mountbatten administered an independence oath to Jinnah, leading to Pakistan’s formation and India’s independence. Nehru became prime minister, and Gandhi worked with refugees.

The Partition of India in 1947 was one of the most defining events in the history of India. With no accurate accounts of how many died or lost their homes, estimates suggest that perhaps up to 20 million people were affected by the Partition. The Partition of India in 1947 divided British India into two separate countries. They were the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Two new countries were formed as a result of this split.

Presently, the Dominion of Pakistan is referred to as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Dominion of India is known as the Republic of India. In this article, we will look into the background of the Partition of India 1947, its causes, and the Impact of Partition on the Indian Economy.