Partition of Punjab and Bengal
Topic: Challenges of Nation Building: Partition, Princely States and Reorganisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Challenges of Nation Building"
Meaning
The Partition of Punjab and Bengal was the splitting of these two provinces between India and Pakistan in 1947. Both provinces had a Muslim majority overall, but they also had large areas where non-Muslims were the majority. Under the Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947), their legislatures voted on dividing them. Boundary commissions then split them by religious majority at district level or below. These two provinces suffered the worst of Partition's violence and loss.
Example
The Radcliffe Line, which was the border drawn by these commissions, was made public only on 17 August 1947. So on Independence Day, many people in Punjab and Bengal did not know which country they were in. Today Punjab and West Bengal are the Indian states that were divided by Partition. Assam was also affected, through Sylhet.
Don't confuse with
- Sylhet and NWFP referendums: these areas decided by a public vote in July 1947. Punjab and Bengal were split through votes in their legislatures followed by boundary commissions.