Figure 1.--The new borders of a partitioned sub-contonient were not announced until after independence. (August 17). The result was one of the greatest humanitarian crises in history as millions of Muslims moved larely on foot toward Oakistan and Millions of Hindus moved toward India. Large number of Muslims stayed in India protected by India's democratic constitution. Lacking such protection in Pakistan, few Hindus stayed there. The image here is undated, but was probably taken during the partition crisis.

Indians and Pakistanis were focused on independence and the future (August 14 and 15), 1947). It meant initial jubilation as the Union Jack came down and the two new ntional flages went up. It ws a time of celebration. Few Hindus or Muslims were aware of just what drawing borders between India and Pakistan would mean. The independence borders wee not announced after actual independence (Aigust 17). They perhaps could have been drawn a little better, but no matter how it was drawn, it would have proved controversial. The population of the Raj was so dispersed religiously, large mumbers of Hindus would have fond themselves in Pakistan and large numbers of Muslims in India. Many Indians as a result were shocked by the result, especially those living near the new border and found themselves on the wrong religious side. Not only were farms and families separated, but whole communities were divided. Delaying the announcement of the border until power was transferred meant that the rioting and refugee flight which followed became the responsibility not of the British Government, but of the two independent governments. Neither the British or India and Pakistan had the capability of dealing with the intercomminal violemce and humanitarian crisis which unfolded. An emense human tragedy unfolded which did not get the attention of the international community that it should have.

Created: 9:51 PM 8/30/2017
Last updated: 9:51 PM 8/30/2017