Partition of India facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids The main religions in the British Indian Empire, based on the 1901 Census.
Date	August 1947
Location	British India
Outcome	Division of British Indian Empire into independent countries: the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. This led to huge refugee movements.

The Partition of India in 1947 was a major historical event. It divided British India into two new independent countries: the Union of India (which is now India) and the Dominion of Pakistan (which included Pakistan and what is now Bangladesh). This division happened because British rule in India was ending.

The partition split two large provinces, Bengal and Punjab. These areas were divided based on where most people were Muslim or where most were non-Muslim (like Hindus and Sikhs). Many other things were also divided, such as the army, navy, railways, and money. India and Pakistan officially became independent countries on August 14-15, 1947.

This event caused a huge movement of people. Between 12 and 20 million people moved across the new borders, seeking safety in areas where their religion was the majority. This led to a massive refugee crisis and serious unrest. Many lives were lost, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to two million. These difficult events created lasting tension between India and Pakistan.

It's important to know that the term 'Partition of India' mainly refers to this 1947 division. It doesn't include the later separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971. It also doesn't cover other areas like Burma (now Myanmar) or Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) that became independent separately. The partition also didn't directly affect places like Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.

Understanding the Partition of India
- Early History and Calls for Change
- Road to Independence During World War II
How India Was Geographically Divided
- The Mountbatten Plan for Division
- Dividing Punjab: The Boundary Commission
Mass Migration and New Homes
Images for kids
See also

Understanding the Partition of India

Early History and Calls for Change

The Bengal Division of 1905

British Indian Empire in 1909. Pink areas were directly ruled by Britain, yellow areas were princely states.

In 1905, Lord Curzon, who was in charge of British India, divided the large province of Bengal. He created a new Muslim-majority province called Eastern Bengal and Assam, and a Hindu-majority province called Bengal. This decision caused strong protests, especially from Hindu leaders in Bengal.

Many people protested by boycotting British goods. Some groups also engaged in acts of defiance. The protests made many Muslim leaders feel that their interests needed to be protected. This led to the creation of the All-India Muslim League in 1906, which asked for separate elections for Muslims.

World War I and Indian Self-Rule

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (seated in the carriage, right) received a warm welcome in Karachi in 1916 after returning to India.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah (seated, third from left) supported the Lucknow Pact in 1916.

World War I (1914-1918) was a turning point. Many Indian soldiers fought alongside British soldiers. This increased India's importance on the world stage. After the war, Indian leaders, especially from the Indian National Congress, began asking for more self-government.

In 1916, the Congress and the Muslim League worked together in the Lucknow Pact. They agreed to ask for more self-rule for Indians. In return, the Congress accepted the idea of separate elections for Muslims in provincial councils. This pact was an important step in the movement for independence.

New Laws for Indian Governance

In 1919, the British government passed the Government of India Act of 1919. This law gave Indians more power in their own government, especially at the provincial level. More Indians could vote, and Indian ministers were put in charge of areas like education and public health. However, the British still kept control over important departments like defense and foreign affairs.

The idea of "communal representation," where seats were reserved for different religious groups like Muslims, Sikhs, and Indian Christians, was also continued. This meant that different communities had their own representatives in the government.

The Idea of Two Nations

The Two-nation theory was an idea that said Hindus and Muslims in India were two distinct nations, not just two communities within one nation. This theory suggested that their religions led to different cultures and ways of life. Some Muslim politicians used this idea to argue for a separate political future for Indian Muslims.

Leaders like Theodore Beck and Theodore Morison supported this theory, believing that a majority-rule system would not be fair to Muslims. Later, Lala Lajpat Rai and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar also proposed similar ideas of dividing India based on religion.

In 1940, Muhammad Ali Jinnah became a strong supporter of this theory. He believed that religion was the key factor in defining the nationality of Indian Muslims and called for the creation of Pakistan.

Elections and Political Changes in the 1930s

In 1933, Choudhry Rahmat Ali first used the name Pakistan for a proposed Muslim homeland. This idea didn't gain much attention at first. In 1935, a new law increased the number of Indian voters and gave more power to provincial governments run by Indians. This made some Muslims worried about being a minority in a Hindu-majority India.

In the 1937 Indian provincial elections, the Congress party won many seats and formed governments in most provinces. The Muslim League did not perform as well in Muslim-majority areas. However, the Congress's actions in some provinces, like promoting cow protection and Hindi, further worried Muslim leaders. The Muslim League then investigated how Muslims were treated in Congress-governed areas, which increased fears of Hindu domination among many Muslims.

Road to Independence During World War II

Colonial India in 1947, before the partition, showing the areas of modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Muslim-majority regions in 1941, based on census data.

When World War II began in 1939, the British leader in India declared war on India's behalf without asking Indian leaders. In protest, Congress provincial governments resigned. The Muslim League, however, supported Britain in the war. This period saw the Muslim League gain more support among Indian Muslims.

In March 1940, at a meeting in Lahore, Jinnah explained the two-nation theory in detail. The League then passed the Lahore Resolution, asking for independent states in areas where Muslims were the majority, especially in the northwest and east of India.

Wartime Offers and Indian Protests

In 1940, Britain offered India "dominion status" (meaning self-governance under the British Crown) after the war. This "August Offer" also promised to consider minority views in a new constitution. Both the Congress and the Muslim League rejected this offer.

In 1942, as Japan advanced in Asia, Britain sent Sir Stafford Cripps with another offer of dominion status. This offer included a clause that allowed parts of British India to not join the new dominion. The Muslim League rejected it because it didn't fully guarantee Pakistan. The Congress also rejected it, as they wanted a united India.

The Quit India Movement

In August 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Resolution, demanding immediate constitutional changes. The British saw this as a serious threat and jailed Congress leaders for three years. During this time, the Muslim League was free to spread its message and gained much more support. The British began to see the League as the main voice for Muslim India.

Britain Decides to Leave India

In 1945, the Labour Party won the election in Britain. Many in the new government wanted to grant India independence. Britain's economy was weak after World War II, and the public was tired of costly overseas commitments. In late 1945, the British government decided to end its rule in India. They announced in early 1947 that they would transfer power by June 1948.

Elections and Political Power in 1946

Members of the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India meeting Muhammad Ali Jinnah. From left: Lord Pethick Lawrence and Sir Stafford Cripps.

An elderly Sikh man carrying his wife during the mass migration in 1947.

Gandhi in Bela, Bihar, after clashes in March 1947.

New elections were held in India in early 1946. The Congress party won a huge majority of non-Muslim votes and formed governments in eight provinces. This showed they were the main representatives for most Hindus. The Muslim League won most of the Muslim votes and seats, proving their claim to represent India's Muslims.

The Cabinet Mission Plan

With the two main parties unable to agree, Britain sent the Cabinet Mission Plan in July 1946. This plan aimed to keep India united but create "groupings" of provinces. Two groups would be mostly Muslim, and one mostly Hindu. Provinces would be self-governing, with the central government handling defense, foreign affairs, and communication.

The Muslim League accepted this plan. However, Congress leaders, especially Jawaharlal Nehru, rejected the idea of grouping provinces. This rejection effectively ended the Cabinet Mission Plan and the hope for a united India.

A Day of Action and Unrest

After the Cabinet Mission failed, Muhammad Ali Jinnah announced August 16, 1946, as "Direct Action Day". He warned that if Muslims were not granted a separate Pakistan, they would take "direct action."

On that day, serious unrest broke out in Calcutta. This led to three days of widespread clashes between Hindus and Muslims, resulting in many deaths. The unrest then spread to other regions like Bihar, Noakhali, Garhmukteshwar, and Rawalpindi, causing great hardship and forcing many to leave their homes.

Planning the Division of India

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was appointed as India's last British leader. His initial goal was to keep India united. However, the tense situation and widespread unrest convinced him that division was necessary for a quick transfer of power.

The Indian Independence Act

When Lord Mountbatten proposed the plan for division on June 3, 1947, Vallabhbhai Patel of the Congress party supported it. He convinced other Congress leaders, including Nehru, that division was the only way to avoid further civil unrest. Patel explained that a divided India was better than a completely destroyed one.

The British government, exhausted by World War II, decided to end its rule quickly. Mountbatten moved up the independence date, giving less than six months to finalize the division.

Drawing the New Borders: The Radcliffe Line

A map from The Daily Herald newspaper, June 4, 1947, showing a possible division of India.

In June 1947, Indian leaders agreed to the partition. A British lawyer, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, was tasked with drawing the new borders between India and Pakistan. This border became known as the Radcliffe Line. Pakistan was created with two separate parts: East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan, separated by India.

The division led to widespread unrest and suffering. Many people faced terrible challenges and were forced to leave their homes, leading to a period of great sadness and loss. The exact border lines were announced on August 17, two days after independence.

India and Pakistan Become Independent

The Partition of India: green regions became part of Pakistan by 1948, and orange ones part of India. Darker shades show the divided provinces of Punjab and Bengal. Grey areas are princely states.

On August 14, 1947, the new Dominion of Pakistan was formed, with Muhammad Ali Jinnah as its first Governor-General. The next day, August 15, 1947, India became an independent country, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its first Prime Minister. Lord Mountbatten stayed on as India's first Governor-General for a short time.

How India Was Geographically Divided

The Mountbatten Plan for Division

Mountbatten with a countdown calendar for the transfer of power.

On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten announced the plan for independence and the division of British India. Key points of this "Mountbatten Plan" included:

Legislative assemblies in Punjab and Bengal would vote on whether to divide their provinces.
Sind and Baluchistan would decide their own future.
The future of the North-West Frontier Province and Sylhet in Assam would be decided by a vote.
A special commission would draw the exact borders if provinces were divided.

Indian political leaders accepted this plan. Mountbatten also advised the many princely states (areas ruled by local kings) to join either India or Pakistan.

Dividing Punjab: The Boundary Commission

A map of the Punjab region around 1947.

The Punjab region, known for its five rivers, was a key area to divide. In early 1947, there were many disagreements about where the new border should be. The Punjab Boundary Commission, led by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, was set up to draw the line.

The commission had two Muslim and two non-Muslim judges. Each side presented its claims, but the judges often disagreed. Sir Cyril Radcliffe had the difficult job of making the final decisions on the border.

Mass Migration and New Homes

A train to Pakistan being given a send-off from New Delhi railway station, 1947.

Rural Sikhs in a long oxcart train heading towards India, 1947.

Two Muslim men carrying an old woman in a makeshift palanquin, 1947.

A refugee train on its way to Punjab, Pakistan.

After the partition, a massive movement of people began. There was no initial plan for such a large population transfer. People were expected to stay in their homes. However, widespread unrest, especially in Punjab, led millions to move.

The population of undivided India was about 390 million. After the partition, around 14.5 million people crossed the new borders. The 1951 Census of Pakistan recorded over 7.2 million displaced Muslims who came from India. The 1951 Census of India counted over 7.2 million displaced Hindus and Sikhs who moved from Pakistan.

Some leaders, like B.R. Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, thought a complete exchange of populations might prevent future problems. However, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi strongly disagreed. They believed in a secular India where all communities could live together peacefully. As a result, a full exchange did not happen, and millions remained on both sides of the new border.

Helping Refugees Settle

The new governments were not prepared for the huge number of people moving. Widespread unrest and difficult situations arose on both sides of the new border.

On January 13, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi began a fast to encourage peace and stop the unrest. Many religious leaders and thousands of people gathered to support his call for harmony. By January 18, Gandhi agreed to end his fast, and his efforts helped to calm the situation.

Estimates of deaths during the partition vary greatly, from 200,000 to 2 million. Most scholars agree that about 1 million people died. The Punjab region saw the most severe clashes.

Areas Greatly Affected by the Partition

The Punjab Region's Division

The British province of Punjab was split between India and Pakistan. The western part, mostly Muslim, became Pakistan's Punjab province. The eastern part, mostly Hindu and Sikh, became India's East Punjab state. Many Hindus and Sikhs lived in the west, and many Muslims lived in the east. Fears among these groups led to widespread displacement and severe clashes.

Almost all Muslims in East Punjab moved to West Punjab, and almost all Hindus and Sikhs in West Punjab moved to East Punjab. This massive movement involved about 12 million people.

Bengal's Split and New Borders

The province of Bengal was also divided into West Bengal (part of India) and East Bengal (part of Pakistan). East Bengal later became Bangladesh in 1971.

Some districts with Muslim majorities, like Murshidabad and Malda, were given to India. The Hindu-majority Khulna District was given to Pakistan. Many Hindus in East Bengal faced difficult situations and sought safety in India. This led to a large influx of Hindu refugees into cities like Calcutta. About 3.3 million people moved across Bengal's new borders.

Chittagong Hill Tracts

The Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region with a 98.5% Buddhist majority, was given to Pakistan despite its unique population.

Sindh and Gujarat See Changes

In Sindh, most of the wealthy upper and middle-class people were Hindu. Initially, only some Hindus moved. However, as many Muslim refugees arrived from India, and clashes broke out in other areas, anti-Hindu unrest started in cities like Hyderabad, Sindh and Karachi. This led to a large number of Hindus moving from Sindh to India.

Similarly, Gujarat experienced large movements of people. About 642,000 Muslims moved to Pakistan, mostly to Karachi for business reasons. Over a million Hindu refugees, mainly Sindhi and Gujarati, moved into Gujarat.

Delhi's Population Shift

A crowd of Muslims at the Old Fort (Purana Qila) in Delhi, which became a large camp for Muslim refugees waiting to go to Pakistan.

For centuries, Delhi was a center of Islamic culture. In 1941, about 33.2% of Delhi's population was Muslim. As refugees arrived in Delhi in 1947, the city struggled to cope. Thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province fled to Delhi.

Serious clashes caused major changes in the city. Many Muslims were forced into refugee camps, and their abandoned homes were often occupied by Hindu and Sikh refugees. Neighborhoods like Lajpat Nagar and Patel Nagar were created to house these new arrivals. The Muslim population in Delhi dropped significantly, from 33.2% in 1941 to 5.7% in 1951.

Princely States and Their Choices

The rulers of some princely states were involved in or did not do enough to stop the unrest. In places like Bahawalpur and Patiala, the return of their rulers helped reduce the violence. However, in other states like Alwar and Bharatpur, there were reports of government officials being involved in planning the displacement of Muslim communities.

Alwar and Bharatpur

In the princely states of Alwar and Bharatpur, there were clashes between Hindu land-owning communities and Muslim farming communities. Well-organized groups began attacking Muslim Meos in April 1947. By June, many Muslim villages were destroyed. Around 100,000 Muslim Meos were forced to leave their homes, and many lives were lost.

Jammu and Kashmir

In the Jammu region of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, many Muslims were killed or forced to leave in late 1947. This was partly fueled by difficult stories from Hindu and Sikh refugees arriving from West Punjab. These actions were carried out by extremist groups, with some support from the state's forces. This was followed by clashes against Hindus and Sikhs in other areas.

Long-Term Effects and Stories

Continuing Migration After 1947

Migration between India and Pakistan continued even after the initial partition. Many Muslim families from India moved to West Pakistan throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, often settling in cities like Karachi. Similarly, Hindus continued to move from Pakistan to India due to difficult situations, with many settling in Rajasthan.

The 1951 census in Pakistan recorded 671,000 refugees in East Pakistan, mostly from West Bengal and Bihar. This migration continued for decades.

Helping Women Affected by the Partition

Both India and Pakistan worked to help women who were separated from their families or faced hardship during the partition. The Indian government reported that many Hindu and Sikh women were affected, and the Pakistani government reported many Muslim women were affected. By 1954, thousands of women were reunited with their families or found new homes. Many women, however, chose not to return to their original families, fearing they would not be accepted.

The partition also had some unexpected effects on women. In Bengal and Punjab, some women gained more independence. They took on jobs, entered public life, and participated in political movements, changing traditional family roles.

Different Views on the Partition

The partition was a very controversial event, and it still causes tension today. Some critics believe that British leaders, like Mountbatten, rushed the process, which led to more suffering. They argue that the British declared independence before the borders were fully defined, leaving the new governments to deal with the chaos.

However, others argue that the British had no choice but to act quickly. They say that civil unrest was already widespread, and Britain, weakened by World War II, could not afford to stay and manage a potential civil war.

Some historians also suggest that the British establishment might have wanted partition to maintain strategic interests in the region. Another perspective is that the idea of Pakistan as a separate Islamic state was a strong popular movement among many Muslims.

Remembering the Partition Through History and Art

Many organizations are working to document the stories of people who lived through the partition. The 1947 Partition Archive, for example, has collected thousands of oral histories from survivors. In 2017, the world's first Partition Museum opened in Amritsar, India, showcasing exhibits and stories from this period.

In 2021, India announced Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to remember the suffering caused by the partition.

Stories in Books and Films

The partition and its impact have inspired many books, films, and artworks. These creations often explore the human cost of the division and the challenges faced by refugees.

Books like Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh and Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie tell powerful stories about this time.
Films such as Earth, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, and Viceroy's House depict the events and their emotional impact.
Even TV shows like Ms. Marvel (2022) have featured fictional stories related to the partition.

Art Reflects the Past

Artists have also used their work to remember and reflect on the partition. The Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, formed in 1947, was greatly influenced by the partition. Many contemporary artists continue to create significant artworks about this historical event, helping people understand its legacy.

Images for kids

1909 percentage of Hindus.
1909 percentage of Muslims.
1909 percentage of Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.