An Overview of the Partition of India in 1947 Free Essay Example

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The Separation of Humanity

The partition of India in 1947 was one of the most disastrous events that followed WW2. The British physically divided Muslims and Hindus because they considered it would avoid additional conflict. When the British took control of India in the 17th century, they heightened the existing hatred between Hindus and Muslims (Dalrymple). After unfair laws enforced by the British Empire, Indians protested for equal rights. Finally, India won independence in August 1947 when the British were losing control (Bates).

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But, as soon as independence was granted, the land of India was divided into East Pakistan, West Pakistan, and a smaller India by the British in 1947. The Princely State of Kashmir was a territory that had a primarily Muslim population ruled by a Hindu king, and was greatly involved in the territorial discord between India and Pakistan (Bates). Although the Hindus acquired India and the Muslims acquired Pakistan as separate countries, the partition aroused political and social complications because of the territorial dispute over Kashmir and the religious bigotry escalation between Hindus and Muslims, however before the British arrived, India was a diverse subcontinent with different cultures and religions.

The partition caused political problems because of the territorial conflict over Kashmir. In 1947, Pakistan and India tried to claim Kashmir at the same time, leading to the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. The ruler of Kashmir joined India by signing the Instrument of Accession, a document acknowledging the unity of India and Kashmir and also creating peace. Subsequently, tribal forces with support from the Pakistan army attacked and occupied parts of the princely state (Stock).

The Indo-Pakistan War was caused by the partition because the British did not conclude which country, India or Pakistan, would get Kashmir. If the partition never occurred initially, then India and Pakistan would not be involved in the regional war of declaring Kashmir. Moreover, Pakistan found it unjust that the Hindu ruler of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession with India because Kashmir has a predominantly Muslim population, and is another reason why the Indo-Pakistan Wars happened. In the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, India and Pakistan came close to a nuclear exchange over Kashmir (Dalrymple). In spite of many attempts toward peace agreements and moments of cooperation, the Indo-Pakistan conflict remained the dominant geopolitical dispute of the area.

The partition still causes problems today because of the increase of religious intolerance between Hindus and Muslims. In 1948, Mohandas Gandhi was murdered by a Hindu fanatic because Gandhi did not agree with the partition of India, and instead wanted all Indians living together in peace regardless of religion or caste (Stock). Gandhi was also supporting Muslims who remained in India, which probably angered some Hindus. Following the assassination of Gandhi, frequent tensions have lingered among both Muslim and Hindu communities, which suffered most from the extremist riots going on. The social aspect of religious intolerance directly affects the government system. For example, there was a two part system in India: the Indian National Congress and Muslim League (Kulke). The reason for that is because when the British arrived in India, they aggravated the animosity between Muslims and Hindus because Muslims, a minority population, were not being represented in India. Therefore, the Muslims created their own political party in order to have their voice heard in the Indian government. Had the Muslims been heard in the government, then maybe the partition of India would have never happened because all Muslims would have a fair opportunity. Nonetheless, there was not a great deal of hatred between Muslims and Hindus. India used to be a place where traditions, languages, and cultures were diverse and people never defined themselves primarily through their religious faith (BBC News). But when the British appeared in India, they created the differences between the two religious groups so they can oppress and control India. If they never did that, then maybe the partition of India would cease to exist.

The partition of India provoked violence that killed over a million people. It caused issues because of the regional dispute with Kashmir and the rise of religious extremism between Hindus and Muslims even though India is a diverse country. This is important because it caused poverty and violence every single day in India and Pakistan. Bates believed that India and Pakistan should leave Kashmir to make its own decisions because their conflict affects the citizens of Kashmir every day (Bates). This seems like a good idea because this would stop the conflict that continues today between India and Pakistan. Likewise, religious differences can affect the social and political aspects of the government. By all accounts, there is no question that the partition of India caused devastating impacts on India and Pakistan.