Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all Universities and Colleges to observe August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

Details –

They have been asked to organise programmes and seminars to commemorate the sufferings and sacrifices of millions of Indians during the partition in 1947.

About the two-nation theory –

• This theory held that there were two nations – one belonging to the Hindus and one two the Muslims – living in the territory of India. Sir Syed Ahmad khan was the first exponent of the Two-Nation Theory in the modern era.
• He believed that India was a continent and not a country, and that among the vast population of different races and different creeds, Hindus and Muslims were the two major components.
• Events such as the Urdu-Hindi controversy (1867), the partition of Bengal (1905), and the Hindu revivalism set the Hindus and the Muslims further apart.
• However, the annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911 by the British Government brought the Congress and the Muslim League on one platform.
• Starting with the constitutional cooperation in the Lucknow Pact (1916), they launched the Non-cooperation and Khilfat movements to press upon the British government the demand for constitutional reforms in India in the pos-World War I era.

What led to the partition of India?

• The British ‘Divide and Rule Policy’ to promote rivalry and discord among various groups.
• The Bengal Partition of 1905 dividing the province into Hindu and Muslim majority areas.
• The formation of Muslim League, initially to prevent Muslims from joining Congress.
• Separate electorate for the Muslims through Lucknow Pact (1916).
• Socio-religious movements such as Tabligh, Tanzim, Shuddhi, Sangathan all aimed at attacking the religious sentiments of both Hindus and Muslims.
• 1937 elections – Unwillingness shown by Congress to accept the league as coalition partners drove away the League for good.
• Declaration of Jinnah at the Lahore Session of the League in 1940 that Hindus and Muslims can never have a common nationality.
• Pro-League attitude of the British in the August Offer 1940.
• Failure of Cripps Mission and its acceptance of autonomy of Muslim majority province.
• Failure of Shimla Conference indirectly sub-served the League’s demands.
• The Cabinet Mission was the final nail in the coffin. This was followed by Jinnah’s brutal Direct Action Day culminating with the Mountbatten Plan 1947.