Partition Of India

The long-held British colony ultimately gained independence when India was split up into the modern states of Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan in August 1947. Even though it was a time to rejoice, this time period is today recognized for the extensive violence that occurred on both sides of the border, which led to one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of the 20th century.

As a number of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims on both sides of the border started one of the biggest mass migrations in human history, more than two million people perished. The violence, nearly all of which was directed at the civilian population, would result in the displacement of more than 14 million people. Despite the fact that it is not officially recognized as a genocide, some British soldiers and journalists who were present at the time afterwards said it was worse than the Nazi concentration camps.

Date: 14–15 August 1947
Location: Indian subcontinent
Cause: Indian Independence Act 1947
Outcome: Partition of British India into two independent Dominions, India and Pakistan, sectarian violence, religious cleansing, and refugee crises
Deaths: 200,000–2 million
Displaced: 10–20 million