The Partition of India
The Partition of India in 1947 divided British India into the independent nations of India and Pakistan, triggering one of the largest mass migrations in human history alongside devastating communal violence.
Ending nearly two centuries of British colonial rule, this partition simultaneously created two new nations and triggered one of the largest and most traumatic mass migrations the world has ever seen.
The End of British Colonial Rule
The partition marked the end of British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent, dividing the territory into the newly independent, primarily Hindu nation of India and the primarily Muslim nation of Pakistan.
Drawing New Borders
Colonial administrator Cyril Radcliffe was tasked with drawing the new border between the two nations in just a few weeks, a hasty process that left many communities suddenly on the "wrong" side of the divide.
Mass Migration and Violence
The partition triggered the migration of an estimated 14 million people across the new borders, accompanied by devastating communal violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs that killed hundreds of thousands.
A Lasting Regional Legacy
The partition's legacy continues to shape relations between India and Pakistan today, including ongoing territorial disputes over the Kashmir region that trace directly back to the 1947 division.
