1. Post-WWII US Global Studies 10
Partition of India
Post-WWII
US Global Studies 10

2. Different Cultures Often View Events From Different Perspectives
There are many examples in recent world history in which people from different backgrounds or cultures have viewed the same event differently
Example #1
The Partition of India and Pakistan

3. In 1947, the British prepared to grant independence to India
The British colony of India had both Hindu and Muslim populations. After WW II, British leaders recognized that they were too weak to resist Indian demands for freedom.
India
In 1947, the British prepared to grant independence to India
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

4. Gandhi became the leader of the Indian Independence Movement urging non-violent civil disobedience against the British

5. January 1931
March 1930
June 1947

6. Hindu Indian Ocean Muslim Muslim
However, leaders of the Muslim minority in India made it clear they did not want to become citizens of a new Hindu ruled state.
Muslim
Hindu
Hindu
Muslim
Indian Ocean

7. India Indian Ocean Indian Ocean West Pakistan East Pakistan
To accommodate the Muslims, areas in the northwest and eastern parts of colonial India were made into the nation of Pakistan for the Muslims
West
Pakistan
India
East Pakistan
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

8. Hindus living in Pakistan migrated to India, while millions of Muslims in India moved to Pakistan. Thousands were killed in riots during these migrations.
Muslims Praying
Hindu Women

9. The partition of India in 1947 led to a process which we today probably would describe as "ethnic cleansing". Hundreds of thousands of people were massacred and millions had to move; Muslims from India to Pakistan, Hindus in the opposite direction. Photo shows part of the crowds of refugees which poured into the city of New Delhi.

10. India China Indian Ocean Tibet Pakistan Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Tibet
Pakistan
Nepal
India
Bangladesh
East Pakistan got independence from West Pakistan in 1971 and renamed itself Bangladesh
Indian Ocean

12. The proposal by Great Britain to grant Indian independence in 1947 drew opposition from Muslim leaders. Their view was that they were denied a voice in the Hindu-dominated independence movement. As a result, Indian Muslims wanted
a. a separate independent Muslim country.
b. the continuation of British rule until differences could be resolved.
c. an independent India dominated by Muslims.
d. the forced evacuation of Hindus from India.

13. As British rule in India came to an end, violence sparked by religious differences between Hindus and Muslims led to the decision by Britain to divide the country into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. However, after the partition, many Muslims still lived within the borders of Hindu India. The perception of Hindus and Muslims that the cultural differences between them were greater than their similarities led to
a. invasion by neighboring countries.
b. a return to British rule to establish order.
c. continued violence and many refugees.
d. the end of democratic government in India.

14. At the time that India was seeking independence from Britain in the 1940s, Muslims and Hindus in India fought because of differing perspectives on what issue?
a. whether India should modernize its economy by building factories
b. whether India should be divided into two different countries along religious lines
c. whether India should align with the United States or the Soviet Union in the Cold War
d. whether the new government of India should be a parliamentary democracy or a theocracy