Partition of India – what happened in 1947, why was Pakistan created and where’s the border between the nations?
Highly controversial, the partition saw millions of people cross borders in an attempt to find safety
IT WAS billed as the solution to independence.
But the partition of India instead sparked mass riots and a wave of migration - with the after effects of the border creation in 1947 still felt today.
What happened in 1947 in the partition of India?
India was separated in August 1947 as it gained its independence, splitting into Pakistan and India.
The decision to create two separate countries was sparked by the end of British rule in India.
It was decided that to limit violence and bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims, the country would be split into two completely separate countries.
The majority of the Hindu population would remain within India while Pakistan would contain mostly Muslims.
However, it was not successful, with the partition causing mass riots and millions of people uprooting their lives to be in perceived safer territory and to live with those of the same religion.
It is estimated that between 200,000 and 2 million people were killed in the wake of the split.
Women were raped and murdered - a lack of law and order allowed the political unrest to rage out of control.
Why was Pakistan created?
Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, creating an independent home for Indian Muslims.
At the stroke of midnight, on the eve of August 14, 1947, it split from India.
More than six million Muslims relocated from India to West Pakistan, with more than four million Hindus and Sikhs moving from West Pakistan to India.
Where is the border?
The border between India and Pakistan is based on the Radcliffe line, which was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
Radcliffe had never before visited India and was given just five weeks to decide on a border after his arrival in the country.
He later admitted that he had been indifferent to the task, and was influenced by his lack of fitness to get the job done quickly.
The border runs from the Line of Control, separating Kashmir from Pakistan.
