[POWER - SHOT SERIES + PYQs]
OVERVIEW
At midnight of 14 - 15 August 1947, India gained Independence.
Nehru gave a famous speech - Tryst with Destiny
2 Goals everyone agreed upon -
1.) Democratic Government
2.) Benefit of all citizens
Born in a challenging time, faced Partition
Unprecedented Violence + Displacement
3 CHALLENGES INDEPENDENT INDIA FACED
1.) B - Benefit and development of the country
2.) U - Unity and inclusiveness of diversity
3.) D - Democracy establishment
However, the Primary challenge was - Unity and Security of
India
Eradication of Poverty and Economic Development - Top
Priorities
Partition of British India - 2 nations were created - India and
Pakistan.
, Muslim League gave the Two Nation theory, which stated that
India consisted of two people, Hindus and Muslims.
Demand of Pakistan - Separate country for Muslims, Congress
opposed.
The principle of religious majorities followed for Partition. Areas
with a Muslim majority would make Pakistan and the rest with
India.
Painful and hard to implement
Process of Partition
No single belt of the Muslim majority in British India
Not all Muslim-majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan
Two Muslim-majority provinces (Punjab and Bengal) had large
areas where Non-Muslims were in the majority
The problem of minorities on both sides of the border
● Lakhs of Hindus + Sikhs were trapped in Pakistan
● Lakhs of Muslims were trapped in India