Echoes of Division: The Partition of India in 1947 and Its Historical Legacies

The Partition of India in 1947, marking the end of British colonial rule and the birth of India and Pakistan, stands as a defining moment in South Asian history. This event triggered the largest mass migration ever recorded, with approximately fifteen million people uprooted in just two months. The political and social upheaval led to significant violence, particularly in the Punjab region, where religious divisions between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs intensified. Gender played a critical role in shaping experiences during the Partition; men were typically tasked with protecting their families, while women faced additional vulnerabilities, including abduction and sexual violence. Historical estimates suggest that between 200,000 and two million people lost their lives, and about 75,000 women were raped or abducted. Despite warnings, the newly formed governments of India and Pakistan were unprepared for the extent of communal tensions and violence that followed. This thesis aims to move beyond traditional political narratives of Partition, focusing instead on the personal stories and experiences of those who lived through it. By incorporating oral testimonies and individual memories, it explores the lasting human impact of Partition, which continues to shape communal tensions and violence in the region today. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this work engages with historiographical debates on Partition, touching on high politics, provincial dynamics, and the historiography of violence, with particular attention to the subaltern experiences, especially those of women. The ongoing legacy of Partition is examined through its long-term effects on society, identity, and political conflicts in South Asia, demonstrating that the event is far from a closed chapter in history.

La Partizione dell'India, avvenuta nel 1947, segnò la fine del dominio coloniale britannico nel subcontinente e portò alla nascita di due nuovi Stati: l'India e il Pakistan. Questa divisione fu il risultato di profonde tensioni religiose tra la maggioranza induista e la minoranza musulmana. Il Pakistan fu creato come stato a maggioranza musulmana, mentre l'India mantenne una maggioranza induista. La Partizione fu accompagnata da violenze estreme e migrazioni di massa: circa 10-15 milioni di persone si trasferirono da una parte all'altra del confine, provocando scontri, massacri e la perdita di centinaia di migliaia di vite. Le tensioni tra India e Pakistan continuarono anche dopo la spartizione, alimentando conflitti territoriali come quello sul Kashmir.