Political Science Book-2

Politics in India since Independence

Chapter: 1 Challenges of Nation Building

Contents
*Partition - Two Nation Theory, Process and
Consequences
“The two-nation theory” - The foresight of Jinnah”
was a concept advanced by Muslim League that emphasized
a separate state for the Muslims in the subcontinent. The
two-nation theory (Urdu: Qaumī Nazariya) is the basis of the
creation of Pakistan.

The two-nation theory in its simplest way means that

cultural, political, religious, economic and social
dissimilarities between the two major communities, Hindus
and Muslims of the subcontinent.

The Congress party wanted India to remain united as a

secular state with equality for followers of all religions. But
the two-nation theory resulted in the partition of British
India and the emergence of two separate nations.
Process of Partition of India in 1947 –
The division of British India into the two
separate states of India and Pakistan on
August 14-15, 1947 – was the “last-minute”
mechanism by which the British were able to
secure agreement over how independence
would take place.

At the time, few people understood what

Partition would entail or what its results
would be, and the migration on the
enormous scale that followed took the vast
majority of contemporaries. As colonizers,
the British had followed a divide-and-rule
policy in India.

Partition was not only painful but also

difficult. It was decided to follow the
principle of religious majorities.

Process:
(a) In west and in East, there were two area
concentration on Muslim majority and no way to
join them hence decided to form Pakistan as East
Pakistan and West Pakistan.
(b) All Muslims were not ready to be with Pakistan,
Frontier Gandhi - Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was
strictly opposed the “two nation theory” but
he was ignored by the community and North
West Frontier Province was made to merge
with Pakistan.
(c) The two of the Muslims majority provinces of
Britishers, Punjab and Bengal had large areas where non-
Muslims were in majority and decided them to bifurcate at
district or lower level basis on the religious majority. But it
was not decided till 14-15 August 1947. People didn’t know
whether they were in Pak or India at the time of
independence.
(d) The several Hindus and Sikhs in the areas that were
now in Pakistan and several Muslims on the Indian side
of Punjab and Bengal. After the declaration of partition,
they became easy targets of attack. As all expected was
not happened and violence and riots went out of
control and people were forced to leave their homes in
few hours.
Consequences of Partition of British India in 1947
Migration of population across the border which was tragic and
unorganized. There were only killing and riots in the dominance
areas of both religious communities. People of a particular
community didn’t want to go in the areas where other
community had its dominance.

Partition led to the serious problem of rehabilitation of refugees

as many people who did not manage to cross the border.
People left their homes, properties in Pakistan and was serious
need to settle them. At the same time it was provoked violence
against Muslims in India as well. During the initial nation
building time it was occurred as bigger issue. And made
temporary shelters for refugees around the border.

Violence during the partition cities Lahore, Amritsar, Kolkata

which are adjacent to the both side borders, transformed into
wrestling arenas. Women were forced to convert their religion
or to marriage. Many children were separated from their
parents. Approx. 80 lakhs people were migrated and 10 Lakhs
were killed.
Did Partition make India a
Hindu Nation
automatically? Even after the
large migration of Muslims to the
newly created Pakistan, Muslims
were still in India around 12 % of
population of India in 1951. The
biggest issue in front of Indian
government knowingly the
consequences of severe and
violent conflicts due to political
interests; how to treat Muslims
and other minorities i.e. Sikhs,
Christians, Jains, Buddhists,
Parsis, Jews. But the leaders of
Indian government believed that
all the religions must treat
equally. India didn’t give
superior status to one’s faith and
inferior to other’s faith. The Idea
of a Secular Nation was
developed, and included in our
Constitution.