NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

THE PARTITION OF INDIA

1947 

TRIBUTE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICE

THEIR LIFE IN THIS LARGEST HUMAN

MIGRATION ON EARTH.

Millions left for their promised new homeland

with smiles on their faces as trains left both India and

Pakistan. This is a train to Pakistan being given a warm send-

off.

In 1947, the border between India and its new

neighbour Pakistan became a river of blood, as the

exodus erupted into rioting. 

As India and Pakistan become independent, 14.5 million people crossed

borders to ensure their safely in an increasingly lawless and communal

environment. While the British authority was gone, the newly formed governments were completely unequipped to deal with migrations of such staggering magnitude,

and massive violence and slaughter occurred on both sides of the border along communal lines. Estimates of the number of deaths range around roughly 500,000, with low estimates at 200,000 and high

estimates at 1,000,000.

Over 10 million people were uprooted from their homeland and travelled on foot, bullock

carts and trains to their promised new home.

An aged and abandoned Muslim couple and their grand children sitting by

the roadside on this arduous journey.

 "The old man is dying of exhaustion. The caravan

has gone on," wrote Bourke-White.

The massive exchange of population that took place in the summer of 1947 was

unprecedented. It left behind a trail of

death and destruction. The Indian map was slashed to

make way for a new country - Pakistan.

In a couple of months in the summer of 1947, a

million people were slaughtered on both sides in the religious rioting.

Here, bodies of the victims of rioting are picked up

from a city street.

The street was short and narrow. Lying like the

garbage across the street and in its open gutters were

bodies of the dead.

MAN EATER VULTURES ARE ALSO WAITING FOR THEIR

TURN

With the tragic legacy of an uncertain future, a young

refugee sits on the walls of Purana Qila, transformed

into a vast refugee camp in Delhi.

Men, women and children who died in the rioting were

cremated on a mass scale. Villagers even used oil and kerosene when wood was

scarce.

THE TRUTH

In July 1946, Jinnah held a press conference at his home in Bombay where he declared

his intent to create Pakistan. Jinnah proclaimed that the Muslim league was

"preparing to launch a struggle" and that they "have chalked a plan". He had decided

to boycott the Constituent Assembly. He rejected the British plan for transfer of power to an interim government which

would combine both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. He said that if the Muslims were not granted Pakistan then

he would launch "Direct Action". When asked to specify Jinnah retorted: "Go to the

Congress and ask them their plans.

When they take you into their confidence I will take you into mine. Why do you expect

me alone to sit with folded hands? I also am going to make trouble."

On the next day, Jinnah announced August 16, 1946 would be "Direct Action Day" for

the purpose of winning the separate Muslim state and warned congress, "We do not want

war, if you want war we accept your offer unhesitatingly. We shall have India divided or we shall have India destroyed." Muslim League Council Meeting held during the

period 27 July–29 July 1946 passed a resolution declaring, the Direct Action Day

was intended to unfold “direct action for the achievement of Pakistan.”

POSTED BYJAYAKRISHNAN

THANKS TO

BRITISH LIBRARY

ENCYLOPEDIA OF INDIA

AND

THE GREAT BOOKS

THE TRAIN TO PAKISTANTHE CARAVAN IS GONE