Question

Describe the socio-economic effects of the Partition of British India in 1947.

Answer 1

1. On both sides of the border, there were large-scale killings and atrocities. In the name of religion, the people of one community killed the people of another community. Minorities were forced to abandon their homes and move across borders. Even during their journey, they were often attacked, killed, and looted. On both sides, thousands of women were raped, abducted, and killed. The partition forced about 80 lakh people to migrate across the new border. More than five lakh people were killed due to partition.
2. The people who crossed the border found that they had no home. For lakhs of people, independence meant life in'refugee camps’. The Indian leadership and the Government of India had to face this immediate and unexpected problem. The refugee problem was so serious that the government took many years to solve it.
3. Even after the large-scale migration of Muslims to Pakistan, about 12 percent of the total population of India was Muslim. The biggest problem before the Indian Government was how to deal with Muslim minorities and other religious minorities.
4. Partition also meant the division of properties, liabilities, and financial assets. The employees of the government and railways were also divided.
5. The creation of India and Pakistan disrupted the existing trading networks.
6. Due to the partition, Bengal was divided into East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and West Bengal. Similarly, Punjab was divided into the Punjab province of West Pakistan and the Indian state of Punjab.