Partition of India

The Mountbatten Plan, also known as the June 3 Plan, was announced on June 3, 1947, by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India. The plan outlined the steps for the partition of India, which included the division of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab and setting provisions for the princely states to choose to join one dominion or the other, or remain independent.

The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament on June 3, 1947. It outlined the partition plan of India, leading to the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, on August 15, 1947. The act provided for the division of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab, among other administrative changes.

On July 18, 1947, King George VI gave the Royal Assent to the Indian Independence Act 1947, which was passed by the UK Parliament. This enabled the partition of India into two sovereign states, India and Pakistan. The Act set the stage for independence but also for immense challenges related to migration and communal tensions.

On August 14, 1947, the Dominion of Pakistan was formed, marking a significant event in the partition of British India. This new country was created to be a home for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent, and it initially included territory from the eastern and western parts of the subcontinent. The partition led to massive population transfers and communal violence.

On August 15, 1947, as the independence and partition of India came into effect, Calcutta (now Kolkata) experienced severe communal riots. These riots were part of the direct aftermath of the partition, where Hindus and Muslims engaged in violent confrontations leading to significant loss of life and displacement in the region.

On August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation after 200 years of British rule. This event marked the end of British control and the beginning of self-governance under a democratic system. However, the country was partitioned into two dominions, India and Pakistan, leading to widespread communal violence and the displacement of millions of people.

The Radcliffe Line, which designated the boundary between India and Pakistan, was officially announced on August 17, 1947. It was named after Cyril Radcliffe, who was the chairman of the Boundary Commissions for India and Pakistan. The boundary demarcation led to significant social and political upheaval, causing displacement and violence.

In the weeks following the partition, Punjab witnessed one of the largest mass migrations in history, accompanied by brutal communal violence. Approximately 14 million people were displaced along religious lines, leading to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives as communities clashed violently across the newly drawn borders between India and Pakistan.

On October 26, 1947, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India after the Pakistani tribal invasion. Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession, which led to the first Indo-Pakistani war and set the stage for the longstanding Kashmir conflict between the two countries.

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist. Gandhi's assassination was a major event in post-partition India as he had been a proponent of non-violence and worked tirelessly to restore peace between Hindus and Muslims during the turbulent partition period.