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Why did the Partition of India cause mass migration and communal violence?
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India
The Indian flag is also called the tricolor. The top band is saffron in color (signifying courage), the middle band is white (signifying peace and truth), and the bottom band is green (signifying fertility and growth). The wheel in the middle depicts the wheel of the law in the lion capital in Sarnath that Mauryan emperor Ashoka created.
The Partition of India in 1947 was a deeply traumatic event rooted in the British raj’s long-standing policy of divide and rule. By categorizing Indian society into rigid religious and caste groups for administrative convenience, the British deepened communal divisions that culminated in the partition of India into independent India and Pakistan.1
The violence and mass migration were driven by several critical factors:
- Hasty Demarcation: The Boundary Commission, chaired by Cyril Radcliffe, was tasked with dividing Punjab and Bengal in under a month. The resulting borders, published only after independence, cut through villages and homes, leaving millions on the "wrong" side of the line.23
- Communal Insecurity: Because the borders were not announced until August 17, 1947, many people were unaware of their status until the transition was underway. Communities sought to secure territory by driving out or killing members of other religious groups, leading to widespread massacres.24
- Mass Exodus: Approximately 15 million people fled their homes in search of safety, creating one of the largest migrations in history. These refugees, traveling on foot or by train, were frequently targeted in violent ambushes.25
Tragically, as many as 2 million people were killed during this period of communal violence.23