7/31/2019 Hour1_Nielsen_PartitionEssay

1/3

Hldi Nielsen

Kauls

Hour 1

Partition in India

I think the partition was a bad thing, because it lead to the continuation of Muslim, Sikh,

and Hindu conflict, the relocation of many families, and the separation of a nation (India) that

could have been great (if not divided).

In India, before the partition, there was a lot of Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh conflict, but the

partition worsened it. In one village, Thoa Khalsa, the Sikhs looked so poorly upon Muslims that

they would not eat food a Muslim had touched (Document A-1). The partition did not solve this

conflict, but rather worsened it. Without a partition, the Muslim League and (Hindu) Congress

would have been forced to work together and treat each other as equals (Document A-5). This

cooperation would have shown Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs all across India that working

together produces good results. Without the partition, religious conflict in India could have been

resolved.

A serious effect of the partition, was the relocation of many people of all religions and

classes. For some, mostly upper-class citizens, this relocation was relatively easy and simply

meant packing up and getting on a train (Bourke White photo of the train to Pakistan). But, for

people who were less well-off, relocating meant walking miles upon miles with all of their

belongings on their backs (Bourke White photo of man carrying his sick wife). Many people died

on this journey and many had to leave part of their livelihood behind (Reading A-2). The deaths

and hardships of relocation could have been avoided if the partition had not occurred.

Despite of the religious conflict, India before the partition was on its way to becoming a

great nation. It was gaining independence and had many strong leaders rising in power. The

partition stunted Indias growth in becoming a great nation, by dividing it up into two weaker

7/31/2019 Hour1_Nielsen_PartitionEssay

2/3

nations. As I mentioned earlier, the (Hindu) Congress and the Muslim League did not cooperate

well together. The Muslim League never attempted to explain its stand to the Hindus. and

Congress was not prepared to recognize the Muslim League as an equal. (Document A-5). If

these two powers could have learned to agree and listen to one another, the partition could

have been avoided and India could have grown as a nation.

The partition of India was a bad thing, because it lead to the continuation of Muslim,

Sikh, and Hindu conflict, the relocation of many families, and the separation of a nation (India)

that could have been great (if not divided).

7/31/2019 Hour1_Nielsen_PartitionEssay

3/3