MARCH 17, 2017 “All Quiet on the Western Front” Propaganda Extra Credit Due Monday 3/21

The Independence of India and Pakistan 1947 MARCH 17, 2016

British India consisted of the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanamar.

India was known as the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire. It was also referred to as the British Raj.

The British Empire 1919 Some colonies of the British Empire had received independence and were called the Dominions. Canada 1867 Newfoundland1907 Australia1901 South Africa1910 New Zealand1907

The British Empire 1919 During the first half of the twentieth century there was a growing demand within India for independence from Britain.

Much of India had been ruled by Britain since 1612.

While the maharajahs and many British colonial officials lived luxurious lives, the vast majority of people in India were very poor.

Hindu (majority) Muslim (minority)

There were also a number of Sikh people in India who tended to side more with the Hindus rather than the Muslims.

Religions in British India Pink – Hindu Green – Muslim Yellow – Buddhist

Slow progress towards independence between the two world wars Caused unrest among the Indian people. The British sometimes reacted with force which resulted in death and the arrest of thousands. Unrest

Amritsar Massacre in April 1919 Army soldiers fired upon unarmed men, women and children. 400 people were killed.

Mohandas Gandhi One of the great leaders of the 20 th Century. Father of modern India Goal: Get Great Britain to leave India

He worked between 1894 and 1914 in South Africa and was active in the struggle against racism there. He moved back to India in Gandhi was a lawyer born in India and educated in Britain.

Stressed the idea of non-violent resistance and non-cooperation.

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always." "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." “There are many causes that I am prepared to die for, but no causes that I am prepared to kill for." Quotes by Gandhi

Gandhi became a leader of the Congress Party, a Hindu-dominated group which believed Hindus and Muslims could share power in an independent India. Most Sikhs supported Congress. Millions of Indian people were followers of Gandhi and the Congress Party. Some Hindu extremists had no desire to share power with Muslims.

Jawaharlal Nehru. Both Nehru and Gandhi were jailed many times by British authorities for disobedience.

Tactics Used By Gandhi 1. Boycott of British products. He encouraged millions to wear traditional Indian home-spun cloth rather than paying for imported British clothing.

Tactics Used By Gandhi 2. Salt March in Gandhi led millions to defy the British salt tax laws. Thousands of Indians were arrested by British police. This was widely reported by the world’s press.

Tactics Used By Gandhi 3. Fasting. Several times when violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims, Gandhi would not eat until the violence stopped.

The Muslim League opposed the plans of the Congress Party. It called for India to be divided with a separate Muslim country called Pakistan. The Muslim League was lead by Muhammad Ali Jinnah

During World War II, one million Indian soldiers fought for Britain and they returned home with dreams of independence.

Britain was nearly bankrupt after the war and wanted to focus on rebuilding its own country.

Lord Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy of India in 1947 with instructions to prepare India for independence.

After failing to solve Hindu / Muslim disagreements, Mountbatten and Nehru reluctantly agreed to Jinnah’s demands to partition India into two countries. Ghandi was very upset by the division of India.

Religions in British India Pink – Hindu Green – Muslim Yellow – Buddhist

“11 days left to prepare for the transfer of power” To force decisions to be made, Lord Mountbatten set a very ambitious timeline for independence. Committees had 73 days to draw the new borders, form new governments, and divide up all government assets.

Transfer of power in India. Midnight, August 15, 1947 “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awaken to life and freedom.” - Jawaharlal Nehru

Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. Mountbatten became the first Governor General of India. Jinnah became the first Governor General of Pakistan.

Mass Migrations Fearing for their safety, fourteen million people started treks from one country to the other. None of the governments was prepared for this mass migration. Millions of Hindus lived in Muslim Pakistan. Millions of Muslims lived in Hindu India.

Jealousy and hatred flared into violence and an estimated 500,000 people were murdered by gangs of extremists on both sides.

Gandhi was appalled at the violence and worked hard to get Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan to live peacefully together. He was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu fanatic who opposed the message of tolerance towards Muslims.

Kashmir The Maharajah of Kashmir was Hindu. Most of his subjects were Muslim. The Maharajah wanted Kashmir to remain independent. Shortly after Pakistan was created in 1947, it invaded Kashmir to force it to join Pakistan. The Maharajah appealed to India for help. India agreed provided that Kashmir join India. The Maharajah accepted this demand and Indian troops entered Kashmir.

War broke out between India and Pakistan. There have been three wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir: 1947, 1965, and In addition, there was a small war in 1962 between India and China over the same area.

Kashmir remains a disputed territory and is a source of tension between India and Pakistan to this day.

Pakistan Civil War 1971 Civil war between East and West Pakistan broke out in Millions of refugees flooded into India. India invaded East Pakistan and helped to secure its independence as Bangladesh.

Map 2009

Nehru was Prime Minister of India from 1947 until his death in His daughter, Indira Gandhi, was prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until she was assassinated in Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, was prime minister from 1984 until he was assassinated in 1989.

Many former European colonies in Africa and Asia had great difficulty after gaining their independence. India has surprised many people by remaining the world’s largest democracy after 60 years.

Pakistan has had some democratic governments and some periods of military rule. Tensions are still very high between Pakistan and India. Both countries developed nuclear weapons in the 1990’s which is a concern for the rest of the world.

Gandhi has become a symbol of non-violence throughout the world and his legacy inspired other great leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Caste System Today –Brahmin (priests) –Kshatriyas (rulers/warriors) –Vaisyas (farmers/merchants) –Sudras (artisans/laborers) Subdivided into smaller groups over time Dalits- outside the caste system (untouchables) Can only move into another caste system through reincarnation Increased discrimination Having the Dalits is illegal (but not enforced)