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• Partition caused at very large scale violence, thousands of people were killed, innumerable
women were raped and abducted. There was large scale displacement of people across the
border, millions were uprooted and transformed into refugees. In all, approximately 15
million had to move across the newly created borders.
• Displaced people lost their all immovable property and most of their movable property,
separated from their relatives and friends as well. People were stripped of their local
culture and were forced to begin life from scratch.
• Speaking of these killings, arson, rape and loot that came along with partition, observers
and scholars have sometimes used the expression ‘holocaust’, with primary meaning of
destruction or slaughter on a mass scale.

Historical Background of Partition:

• There are several events which gave fuel to fire for partition of India and Pakistan, whether
directly or indirectly.
• Politicisation of religion started with separate electorate in 1909. It was further
strengthened by colonial government of India in 1919.
• Community identities no longer indicated simple difference in faith and belief, they
became mean to active opposition and hostility between communities.
• Communal identities were further consolidated during 1920s and 1930s by music before
rnasjid, by Cow Protection Movement and Shuddhi Movement of Arya Samaj. Hindus
were angered by the rapid spread of tabligh (propaganda) and tanzim (organisation).
• Middle class publicist and communal activist sought to build greater solidarity within their
communities and mobilising people against other community. Every communal riot
deepened the difference between communities.

The Provincial Elections of 1937 and its Result:

• In 1937, for the first time provincial elections were held. In this election, Congress won
majority in 5 provinces and formed government in 7 provinces out of 11.
• Congress fared badly in reserved constituencies, even Muslim league performed poorly
and captured only few seats of reserved categories. In United Province, Muslim league
wanted to form government with Congress but Congress rejected it as they had absolute
majority. This rejection led to believe by leagues member that they would not get political
power as they are minority. League also believed that only Muslim party can represent
Muslims and Congress is a Hindu party.
• In 1930’s, league’s social support was fairly small and weak, so league started working
enthusiastically to expand its social support in all the Muslim dominated areas.
• Congress and its ministries failed in countering the hatred and suspicion spreaded by
league. Congress failed in winning over the Muslim masses.
• Growth of RSS and Hindu Mahasabha also played an important role in widening the
difference between Hindus and Muslims.

The ‘Pakistan’ Resolution: