Why did many people migrate across the new borders after the 1947 partition?

Following the 1947 partition of India, approximately 15 million people—including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs—migrated across the newly demarcated borders in one of the largest and most tragic mass migrations in history.12

The primary reasons for this massive displacement included:

• Communal Violence: The partition was accompanied by widespread and devastating communal violence. As the borders were hastily drawn and announced, many people fled their homes in search of safety or "shelter" on the other side of the new boundaries.134
• Fear and Uncertainty: Because the demographic distributions in provinces like Punjab and Bengal were highly diverse, the new borders often cut through villages and towns. Many individuals did not fully understand the implications of the partition until they were caught in the middle of it, leading to a desperate rush to reach the side of the border where their religious community would be in the majority.13
• Persecution and Security: Many people feared for their lives due to the legacy of past communal tensions and the immediate threat of massacres. For example, many Sikhs fled to India due to concerns over potential persecution under Muslim rule.3