The year 1947 marked a pivotal moment in the history of India, as the nation gained independence from British rule. However, this freedom came at a significant cost: the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. This article delves into the intricate events surrounding the partition, from the arbitrary drawing of borders to the monumental task of integrating hundreds of princely states, and the human impact of this historic division.

The Radcliffe Line: A Border Drawn in Haste
In August 1947, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, an English lawyer with no prior knowledge of India, was tasked with the daunting responsibility of drawing the border between India and Pakistan. With limited time and unreliable maps, Radcliffe's lines profoundly impacted millions, leading to the displacement of 20 million people and the deaths of millions more. His appointment was driven by the British desire for a neutral arbiter, free from the biases of Congress or the Muslim League. The decision to partition was made quickly, as the British perceived themselves to be atop a "volcano" of unrest, necessitating a swift exit.

The Division of a Nation: More Than Just Land
The partition was not merely a division of land; it entailed the splitting of every tangible asset, from government files and furniture to ceiling fans and even ducks. A peculiar instance involved 60 ducks ordered by the Bengal government in 1946, whose ownership became a contentious issue upon their arrival in July 1947. This detailed breakdown highlights the absurdity and immense scale of the division. Radcliffe, recognizing the immense human cost of his work, refused his 2,000-pound fee, considering it his duty to the British Empire.

The Secrecy and Aftermath of the Boundary Report:
On August 13, 1947, the Boundary Commission's report was submitted to Lord Louis Mountbatten, India's last Viceroy. Mountbatten deliberately kept the report secret until after August 15, wanting people to celebrate independence before the harsh realities of the new borders set in. When the borders were finally revealed to Prime Minister Nehru and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, both leaders were enraged. A major point of contention was the city of Gurdaspur, a Muslim-majority area that Radcliffe placed in India. This decision provided India with crucial land access to Kashmir, inadvertently laying the groundwork for future disputes.

Mass Migration and Unspeakable Violence:
The public announcement of the boundaries on August 17 unleashed one of the largest migrations in human history. Millions of Sikhs and Hindus in Pakistan's Punjab and an equal number of Muslims in India's Punjab were forced to abandon their homes and migrate to a country they had never seen. Roads were choked with 50-mile-long queues of people, carrying their lives on their shoulders. The violence that erupted was horrific, epitomized by "ghost trains" — trains arriving filled with corpses, bearing messages of hate like "This train is our Independence gift to Nehru and Patel".

The Miracle of Calcutta: Gandhi's Stand for Peace
While Punjab was consumed by violence, Calcutta faced a similar threat. Mountbatten, fearing uncontrollable bloodshed in the city's congested areas, sought Mahatma Gandhi's help. Gandhi, often referred to as Mountbatten's "one-man boundary force", arrived in Calcutta on August 13 and chose to stay in a dilapidated house with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, a Muslim leader whom Hindus held responsible for the Direct Action Day massacres. Gandhi's presence and his ultimate fast for peace had an extraordinary effect, leading to a miraculous cessation of violence on August 15. The "Miracle of Calcutta" demonstrated the immense power of non-violence, as a single elderly man achieved what a 55,000-strong police force could not. Calcutta remained free of communal riots for the remainder of Gandhi's life.

Integrating the Princely States: Sardar Patel's Herculean Task Beyond India and Pakistan, 565 princely states, remnants of British colonial rule, presented another formidable challenge. These states, governed by Nawabs and Maharajas, had long been under British "paramount power" and now, with the British departure, many dreamt of independent nations. Sardar Patel, recognizing that a fragmented India would not survive, took on the colossal responsibility of integrating these states.

Mountbatten, at Patel's behest, convinced most rulers to accede to India before August 15, offering them titles, palaces, and privy purses as incentives. Jawaharlal Nehru's strategic decision to offer Mountbatten the position of India's first Governor-General was a calculated move, leveraging Mountbatten's influence with the royals and his connections to the British Crown to facilitate the merger of these states and resolve disputes.

The integration process was often challenging and emotional. Some rulers signed under duress, while others, like the young Maharaja of Jodhpur, contemplated joining Pakistan and even threatened V.P. Menon, Patel's chief negotiator, with a pistol.

Junagadh and Kashmir: The Unfinished Business
Junagadh, a princely state with a Muslim Nawab and a Hindu majority, geographically surrounded by India, declared its accession to Pakistan on August 14, 1947. The Nawab, obsessed with his 2,000 dogs and convinced by his Dewan that India would poison them, fled to Karachi with his canine companions. Sardar Patel swiftly ordered the Indian Army to surround Junagadh, leading to its eventual integration into India on November 9, 1947, confirmed by a plebiscite where 91% voted for India.

Kashmir, however, presented a more complex situation. With a Hindu Maharaja, Hari Singh, and a Muslim majority, Hari Singh initially dreamt of an independent Kashmir. Despite Mountbatten's advice to join either India or Pakistan, Hari Singh refused, leading Mountbatten to warn of potential conflict. Pakistan's attempt to force Kashmir's accession by sending Pathan tribesmen to attack the region backfired when the invaders became preoccupied with looting, allowing the Indian Army to secure the Srinagar airport. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, officially making Kashmir part of India.

The subsequent conflict led to the Line of Control, dividing Kashmir and leaving a portion under Pakistan's illegal occupation. The Article concludes by highlighting the significance of the integration process, emphasizing that without the foresight and determination of Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon, India's map might have resembled a "Swiss cheese" with numerous independent states. The partition was a tragedy, but the integration was a miracle, forming the true story of 1947 and the birth of modern India.

Source:- Dhurve Rathee Video