Reasons behind Partition of India 1947

Partitioning of India 1947

Muslims and Hindus lived together peacefully before the british invasion. British invasion ended the Mughal Empire. The partition of India 1947 lead to the creation of Pakistan and India, Two independent states for Muslims and Hindus.

This partition of India also caused one of the biggest and greatest migrations of history, in which millions of people migrated and many of them were killed. The main cause of the partition was the culture and religious difference among Muslims and Hindus or two nation theory.

War of Independence 1857:

Muslims and Hindus fought British for the Independence of India in 1857. They both co-operated in the war. The war of Independence was a complex event and had a great effect on every class and every religion in India it also gave birth to the many other complex set of event and became the root cause of Independence or Partition of India.

                After the war of 1857, The British Government took stock of the entire situation and held the Muslims of the Country responsible for the 1857’s war. 

“I cannot close my eyes to the belief that the Muslim race is fundamentally hostile to us.Our true policy is to reconcile the Hindus” –British Governer

British smashed the economical, political and educational situation of Muslims and they were denied and excluded from important jobs and other important opportunities. They introduced new English system of education which Muslims refused to learn and stayed away from it. As a result, they turned into poor and backward people and Hindus were now in better positions in government.

Role of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan:

At this critical situation, a renown political leader of 19^th century Sir Syed Ahmed Khan came forward to rescue Muslims. He made significant contributions to educate Muslims. Sir Syed declared that the Muslims could improve their living only through modern and scientific education and if they adopted a more positive approach to the rulers. He forced Muslims to get education. He was the founder of Aligarh movement and wrote many important books including "The Loyal Mohammadens of India" and even more important was his pamphlet "The Causes of the Indian Revolt". He defended Muslims in the books and gave the reasons to British of the war.

He wrote”Tabyin-ul-Kalam” in which he pointed out similarities between Islam and Christianity and improved relations between British and Muslims.

Major reasons of partition:

 Although Hindus and Muslims were living together for thousand years but remain poles apart, they continued to develop different cultures and traditions. Nothing was common between them even their language and dressing were also different. Their religion was totally different. Muslim read Quran and Hindus had their Gita. Muslims eat cow and Hindu worship it. They both never wanted the compromise and did not like each other. Muslims had their own fears and Hindus had theirs. So they decided to live in an independent state and demanded the partition of India.

Anti Muslim movements:

Many Muslims were afraid that Hindus would use their majority status to persue their way of life by Hindu ways. After the death of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1888, the Anti-Muslim activities of congress further increased. For the revival of Indian civilization, Hindus started different campaigns and movement.

 “Arya Samaj” is established to expel Muslims from India and Anti Urdu movement was established to replace Urdu with Hindi. Whereas "cow protection" movement was to end the cow slaughter in India. As cow is the sacred animal in Hindu religion.

Formation of National Congress:

 In 1855, National Congress established, under the leadership of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi for the protection of Hindus rights and for the Independence of India, And Hindus stood for their rights for a country, free from British rulers. Muslims also joined Congress for the same purpose. They wanted British to go back to their Country. But Congress made several mistakes in their policies including different Anti Muslim movements, which further convinced the Muslims that it was impossible to live with Hindus after freedom because their interests would be completely suppressed and they would be treated unfairly. They came to know that Congress was established only for Hindu Rights and this party prefers Hindus on Muslims so many of them left National congress and joined Muslim League.

Formation of Muslim League:

Bengal was a populated and biggest province in India and British Government was facing problems to handle such a populated province. So they decided to divide Bengal into two parts. Muslims welcomed the decision because this decision was in the favor of Muslims. But Hindus opposed the partition greatly and launched a movement against the partition of Bengal. This situation was very critical and in order to avoid bloodshed and terrorism in India, British decided to undo their act and reunited the province. This shocked the Muslims and they started thinking to protect their rights and this whole situation led to the formation of Muslim League in 1905.

Other Reasons that caused partition of India 1947:

 1. Language Controversy.

 2. Slaughtering cow dispute.

 4. Congress claimed to the only responsible parties.

 5. Success of Simla Delegation.

 6.Under the leadership of Jinnah, Muslim league started working to gain their objectives and rights.

Partition of India:                    

Both parties started working for their own objectives and interests. They both wanted the partition of India. So they were not agreeing upon any plan or any suggestions by Government and demanding for the Independence of India.

India before partition

 

Viceroy Lord Irwin organized two Round Table conferences in 1930 and 1931. They were both held in London to create peace among Hindus and Muslims but both were failed.

Another plan to avoid partition of India was the Government of India Act 1935.The objectives were:

•        An elected Indian assembly can interfere in everything in India except defense and foreign affairs.

•        The eleven provincial assemblies can have effective full control over local affairs only.

    It also got failed as both parties were not satisfied.

            British were losing grip in the War. So after the World War II, British wanted to leave India. And wanted to divide the crown between Muslims and Hindus but all the “compromise plans” by the government between the Congress and the Muslim League had failed. In that time, the future of India was in the hands of the result of elections 1945-46. Muslim's won the majority seats and for power sharing, British sent a Cabinet mission to India to convince both parties upon a formula. But Congress rejected the Cabinet Mission plan. 

To avoid more conflict and blood shed, Muslims and Hindus both wanted the partition of India actually. They fought British for the independence of India and achieved their goal.

"Leave India to God. If that is too much, then leave her to anarchy." –Gandhi.

While the Indian National Congress was demanding British to Quit India, Muslim League, passed a resolution for them to Divide and Quit.

In 1947, new viceroy was appointed "Lord Mountbatten" as the last viceroy. He tried to create peace among both the parties and entered into a series of talks with the Congress and the Muslim League leaders. But he failed too. Jinnah clearly demanded for Pakistan for the Muslims. Viceroy observed the whole situation and concluded that peace could only be possible if India was partitioned. Both the parties agreed with him and Independence act was signed in August 1947. He divided India into two states namely Pakistan (Muslims) and India (Hindus).Muslims moved towards Pakistan and Hindus towards India and India got Independence.