Question

Describe any four problems of the process of partition of British India.

Hint:

Key problems in the process of Partition: 1. Geographical split (East & West Pakistan). 2. Opposition from leaders like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. 3. Splitting Punjab & Bengal down the middle. 4. Trapped minority populations on both sides.

Answer 1

Concept: While the principle of religious majorities was accepted for Partition, implementing it was fraught with complex logistical, geographical, and political difficulties.

Step 1: Lack of a Single Contiguous Muslim-Majority Belt.
There was no single continuous belt of Muslim majority areas in British India. There were two concentration pockets---one in the West and one in the East. To solve this, a unique multi-piece country was created with West Pakistan and East Pakistan separated by over 1,000 miles of Indian territory.

Step 2: Opposition and Resistance from Regions and Leaders.
Not all Muslim-majority regions wanted to join Pakistan. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (the 'Frontier Gandhi'), leader of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), staunchly opposed the Two-Nation Theory and Partition, but his objections were ignored.

Step 3: Partition of Multi-Religious Provinces (Punjab and Bengal).
The large provinces of Punjab and Bengal had substantial non-Muslim populations mixed alongside Muslim majorities. Deciding to bifurcate these provinces at the district or sub-district level caused immense confusion, delayed border demarcation by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, and triggered massive violence.

Step 4: The Problem of Minorities on Both Sides of Borders.
Millions of Hindus and Sikhs found themselves as minorities in Pakistan, and millions of Muslims became minorities in India. As borders were finalized, minorities on both sides suddenly felt trapped in an alien country, target to intense hostility and targeted attacks.