1947: Children of Partition - Five survivors tell their stories
Summary
TLDRThis video script recounts the traumatic events of the 1947 Indian Partition, exploring its profound impact on the lives of those who lived through it. It delves into the horrors of communal violence, forced migration, and the personal stories of survivors like Bhagwan Das Taneja and Illa Banerjee. The script also touches on the expedited British withdrawal, the challenge of drawing borders, and the lasting emotional scars on individuals and communities. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of political decisions and the enduring quest for peace and reconciliation.
Takeaways
- 📆 The Partition of 1947 was a pivotal event in the history of the Indian subcontinent, leading to communal violence, bloodshed, and massive displacement of people.
- 🔍 The British policy of 'divide and rule' had been escalating communal hostilities in British India prior to 1947, with incidents like the Calcutta Riots of 1946.
- 👑 Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, expedited the process of British withdrawal, which had profound effects on the subcontinent's partition.
- ⏳ The hastened transfer of power from June 1948 to August 15, 1947, led to a hurried and ill-planned partition, causing a humanitarian crisis.
- 🏛 Sir Cyril Radcliffe, with no prior experience in India, was tasked with drawing the boundary lines, which would divide the provinces of Punjab and Bengal.
- 🚶♂️ The partition resulted in the largest migration in human history, with nearly 15 million people displaced and approximately one million killed.
- 👨👩👧👦 Personal stories, like that of Bhagwan Das Tanija, illustrate the profound personal impact of the partition, with families torn apart and forced to migrate.
- 🌐 The partition's effects were not limited to physical displacement; it also led to emotional and psychological trauma, particularly for women who experienced violence and loss.
- 👵🦳 Ila Banerjee's story represents the resilience of those who survived the partition, adapting to new circumstances and maintaining a positive outlook despite the challenges.
- 🏡 The partition created refugees overnight, forcing families to rebuild their lives from scratch, as seen in the experiences of Pratap Kumar Hora and his family.
- 💔 The lasting legacy of the partition is a deep emotional scar on the collective memory of the Indian subcontinent, with many still yearning for the days before the lines were drawn.
Q & A
What is considered the single most defining event in the history of the Indian subcontinent?
-The partition of 1947 is considered the single most defining event in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
What were the immediate consequences of the partition of India in 1947?
-The immediate consequences included communal violence, bloodshed, abductions, rapes, suicides, and looting.
What significant event preceded the partition of India in 1947?
-The Calcutta riots of 1946, also known as the Great Calcutta Killing, were significant events that preceded the partition.
Who was the last Viceroy of British India and what was his task?
-Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India, and his task was to prepare a plan for the transfer of power and expedite the process of British withdrawal.
Why was the date for the transfer of power from June 1948 changed to August 15, 1947?
-Lord Mountbatten was in a hurry to get back to Britain, so he changed the date of transfer of power from June 1948 to August 15, 1947.
Who was responsible for drawing the boundary between India and Pakistan during the partition?
-English barrister Sir Cyril Radcliffe was given the task of drawing the boundary between the two newly independent nations.
What was the scale of the migration that occurred during the partition of India?
-Nearly 15 million people were displaced, approximately one million were killed, and around 83,000 girls and women were raped or abducted.
How did the partition affect Bhagwan Das Taneja's life?
-Bhagwan Das Taneja, who was eight years old during the partition, witnessed violence and was forced to migrate to India with his family, leaving their home and facing struggles as refugees.
What was the impact of the partition on women according to the script?
-The partition affected women differently, with many being raped, kidnapped, murdered, and sexually assaulted. However, it is important to acknowledge the broader range of effects on women's lives beyond just sexual violence.
What was the situation in the princely state of Jammu Kashmir during the partition of India?
-The princely state of Jammu Kashmir was neither part of India nor part of the newly formed Pakistan initially. It was in a state of limbo until the first Indo-Pakistani war in 1948.
How did Pratap Kumar Hora's life change after the partition?
-Pratap Kumar Hora's family had to migrate from Pakistan to India due to the violence. They became refugees and had to adjust to a completely different lifestyle, but they never gave up and eventually managed to get back on their feet.
Outlines
😢 The Horrors of Partition
The script begins by setting the stage for the Partition of India in 1947, a pivotal event that left deep scars on the subcontinent. It discusses the communal violence, bloodshed, and atrocities that followed, which are still remembered vividly. The narrative then shifts to question whether the troubles began in 1947, revealing that the British 'divide and rule' policy had already sown the seeds of discord. The Calcutta Riots of 1946 are highlighted as a precursor, leading to the appointment of Lord Mountbatten as the last Viceroy with the task of expedited British withdrawal. His decision to advance the transfer of power to August 1947 had catastrophic consequences, resulting in the hasty division of India and Pakistan and the largest human migration in history, with millions displaced and countless lives lost.
🚂 Escape to India: Tunisia's Story
Paragraph 2 introduces Bhagwan Das Taneja, who as a child in 1947, witnessed the violent upheaval of Partition firsthand. His family, after experiencing attacks and fearing for their safety, decided to migrate to India. Their journey by rail is described, culminating in their arrival on the eve of India's independence. Despite the joy of independence, the sorrow of leaving their home loomed large. The family's struggles as refugees in India are detailed, including the challenges of finding a living and adapting to a new life. Tunisia's story is one of resilience and adaptation, as he grows up to become a store owner and starts a family, yet he still longs for the days of harmony before Partition.
👵 Women's Plight in Partition
This paragraph delves into the often-overlooked emotional and psychological impact of Partition on women, moving beyond the narrative of sexual violence to acknowledge the broader effects on their lives. Ila Banerjee's story is shared as an example. Born in 1936, her life took a drastic turn during the riots of 1950, forcing her family to flee to India. The challenges she faced, including the loss of her father and the need to adapt to a new life in India, are highlighted. Despite the hardships, Ila's story is one of strength and resilience, showing how she and her family managed to rebuild their lives.
🏡 From Jammu Kashmir to Nepal
Preetam's narrative illustrates the complex and shifting allegiances during Partition. As a resident of Jammu Kashmir, his family found themselves caught between the newly formed nations of India and Pakistan. The region's eventual accession to India and the subsequent Indo-Pakistani war led to a mass exodus of civilians. Preetam's family supported the Indian army and later migrated to Nepal, where they have lived for over six decades. His reflections on the period reveal a deep longing for a time when such divisions did not exist.
📚 A Lawyer's Family Displaced
Pratap Kumar Hora's story is one of displacement and resilience. Born in 1937, his family's life was upended by the violence of Partition. His sisters were forced to leave their boarding school due to attacks, prompting the family to send the children to a relative's home in Banaras for safety. The family's eventual move to Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, is described, along with the stark contrast to their previous life in Kasur. Despite the hardships and the struggle for survival, Pratap's family managed to regain their footing and prosper, demonstrating the indomitable human spirit.
🌏 The Lingering Wounds of Partition
The final paragraph encapsulates the lasting legacy of Partition, highlighting the enduring pain and shattered dreams of those who lived through it. Mansoor Alam's story is a testament to this, as his family's migration to East Pakistan during Partition altered the course of his life. Even after seven and a half decades, the emotional wounds of Partition remain unhealed, serving as a stark reminder of the human cost of such historical events.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Partition of 1947
💡Divide and Rule
💡Calcutta Riots of 1946
💡Lord Louis Mountbatten
💡Sir Cyril Radcliffe
💡Migration
💡Humanitarian Crisis
💡Communal Violence
💡Survivors
💡Rape and Abduction
💡Refugees
Highlights
The partition of 1947 was a defining event in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Communal violence, bloodshed, and abductions were among the horrors of partition.
The Calcutta riots of 1946 marked a significant escalation of communal hostilities in British India.
Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, expedited the British withdrawal process.
The transfer of power was rescheduled from June 1948 to August 15, 1947, leading to disastrous consequences.
Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who had never visited India before, was tasked with drawing the boundary.
The partition led to the greatest migration in human history, displacing nearly 15 million people.
Bhagwan Das Taneja's family migrated to India by rail, escaping the violence.
Illa Banerjee's life took a drastic turn in 1950 due to riots, leading her family to move to India.
Preetam Singh's family migrated to Nepal after the first Indo-Pakistani war.
Pratap Kumar Hora's family became refugees in India after the partition.
Partition affected women differently, with many experiencing rape, kidnapping, and sexual assault.
The emotional effects of partition on real people, particularly women, were profound and lasting.
Mansoor Alam's family migrated to East Pakistan, shattering his dreams for the future.
The wounds of those who lived through partition may never fully heal, leaving a lasting legacy.
Transcripts
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dj
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the partition of 1947 the single most
defining event in the history of the
indian subcontinent
the memories which leave survivors
teary-eyed to this day
communal violence bloodshed abductions
rapes suicides and looting the horrors
of partition are far from forgotten
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in today's show we'll get you the voices
of people who have witnessed the
deadliest bloodshed in indian history as
children
but did it all begin in 1947
not exactly
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incited by the british divide and rule
policy communal hostilities had been
escalating in british india
the calcutta riots of 1946 also known as
the great calcutta killing were four
days of massive hindu muslim riots in
the capital of bengal india
it left an estimated 5 000 dead
on february 20th 1947 clement attel the
then british prime minister declared
that britain would quit india in june
1948.
to handle the exit the new viceroy
arrived in delhi on march 1947
lord louis mountbatten
the last viceroy of british india
his task was to prepare a plan for the
transfer of power and to expediate the
process of british withdrawal
initially he was given time until june
1948
not 1947
to complete his mission
but he was in a hurry to get back to
britain
on june 3rd 1947 he announced his new
plan
the date of transfer of power was
changed from june 1948 to august 15
1947.
this had disastrous consequences the
subcontinent was partitioned into two
independent nation states
hindu majority india and the muslim
majority pakistan
english barrister sir cyril radcliffe
was given the task of drawing the
boundary
it is interesting to note that radcliffe
had never visited the country prior to
this visit
he had five weeks to divide the then
british colony into the new independent
nations
the fate of millions of people was
sealed and a humanitarian crisis
unfolded
the new borders which split the key
provinces of the punjab and bengal in
two were officially approved on august
17 1947.
this was the beginning of the greatest
migration in human history
muslims left for west pakistan and east
pakistan where millions of hindus and
sikhs headed in the opposite direction
nearly 15 million people were displaced
approximately one million were killed
around 83 000 girls and women were raped
or abducted
and then there was those who survived
bhagwan das tanija was born in october
3rd 1939
in kaluchi a city in the dairy ishmael
khan districts of the khyber pashtunkwa
province
tunisia grew up in a close-knit family
of five
he says his neighborhood hindus like
himself muslims and sikhs lived in
harmony until july
he was eight years old when things
changed seemingly overnight
rioters from outside the city attacked
residents looted their houses and set
ablaze places of worship
the terrified tunisia family decided to
migrate to india
foreign
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in august 14 1947 by rail his family was
among the fortunate ones
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foreign
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they arrived in india on the eve of
independence but the sorrow of leaving
their home overshadowed the joy of
attaining independents
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they
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as refugees in india the family was
allotted a house in lashpat nagar in
free india's
but the struggle of finding a living was
real including for the then
eight-year-old child
yeah
growing up tunisia excelled in maths he
went on to become a store owner just
like his father
he married pushpa and together they had
four beautiful children but he still
yearns for the good old days on the
other side of the borders
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today
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having witnessed both the indian
pakistan partition in the 1984 riots
tunisia says his definition of religion
has changed over the years
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hinduism
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while statistics give us some idea of
the scale of migration that took place
it does not reveal the deeply emotional
effects the partition had on real people
particularly women
but partition like other conflicts and
wars affected women differently
a lot has been written about the women
being raped kidnapped murdered and
sexually assaulted during and after
partition
however it is limiting only to discuss
women as victims of sexual violence it
is critical to acknowledge stories of
how it affected them in other ways
meet illa banerjee
a great-grandmother a foodie a woman
full of life and a partitioned survivor
born in 1936 in my mind singh in the
eastern side of british india
illa lived an ordinary life and attended
school in the district till 1950.
east pakistan
but her life took a 360 degree turn in
1950 when the riots erupted in her
district
the only option to live was to move to
india
fifties
within days the family decided to move
to jamshedpur india to a relative's
house but in the midst of this illa lost
her father he had gone to calcutta to
arrange his family's migration
m
her mother did not change the plan made
by her late husband and
fourteen-year-old ila along with her
sister and her newborn left for
jamshidpur via air
what 45
along with her siblings continued their
education in india but there were some
initial challenges
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84 years old now illa lives with her
daughter
mukherjee in
delhi my mother is the person with the
least material expectations in life she
is happy and satisfied with very little
and has and she can adapt to any kind of
circumstances she can leave live in one
room or she can live in a palace and it
makes no difference to her whatsoever
soon after her marriage ilav returned to
bangladesh with her husband it was a
bittersweet experience one that she does
not want to repeat again
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once a jammu kashmir resident preetim
now lives in kathmandu nepal
he was 12 years old when british india
was divided in two
1947 japanese
is
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in 1947 when the partition happened the
princely state of jammu kashmir was
neither part of india nor part of the
newly formed pakistan
maharaja hari singh of jammu kashmir
along with his prime minister rama
chandra decided not to accede to either
dominion
but everything changed in 1948.
look in 1948 mccain
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foreign
foreign
this was the start of the first
indu-pakistani war to escape the
conflict many civilians vacated their
villages
prietam singh says his father helped the
indian army in providing food and
shelter
after the war subsided his family
migrated to nepal where they have been
living for over six decades
but he continues to visit his ancestral
home
in pakistan
foreign
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nearly 90 pretend singh is enjoying his
second innings in life
reflecting on the tumultuous period of
the 1940s he says he still wishes the
lines were never drawn
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meet pratap kumar hora
he migrated from pakistan to india
born in 1937 in kashir a region south of
lahore
in the pakistani province of punjab
pratap was the youngest of six siblings
his father nand gopal hora was a
successful lawyer while his mother rani
bhaihora whom he lost at a very young
age was a freedom fighter
my father was a
leading
lawyer
at kasur and
we had our own
house which was almost three three story
house
i was unlucky that my mother died
when i was almost three and a half years
old
their lives changed in 1947 his older
sisters who were studying in a boarding
school in lahore were asked to go home
their hostel had been attacked by
rioters
my sisters were studying at lahore and
just
end of july
it was that hostel was cordoned off by
bad elements
they writers and it was planning of
those writers to abduct the
girls military police
intervened
and
facilitated the
girls to go along to their parents with
their parents to their houses
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pratap's father decided to send his
children to a relative's home in banaras
on august 6th the siblings cut a train
to india to be on the safer side
that
myself and my two sisters go to banaras
to our uncle
uncle
so he
sent us
to banaras on 6th of august
with my
other uncle
the following week their father on the
advice of his muslim accountant left his
home in kashur never to return
14th day
his assistant
main assistant
which
is called munshi
came to him and informed him that
muslims from
lahore
have come
and planned
that they will attack hindu homes on
14th night they will loot
and murder the occupants so you please
you leave
otherwise
i will not be able to save you
so he
he was hardly 200 meters stationed from
our house
so he took a train for abrasive
with the help of their extended family
the horror family relocated to bulan
shar
a city in uttar pradesh suddenly they
had become refugees
when my father settled down at buland
shahad
and the whole family
went there to
live there
so it was a
big contrast
to what we were used to
at kazoos
we had a very big koti
which had
space for
cows
and their
storage house for their father
and this was small rooms
four in a line
bathroom did not have a
door so we put a curtain our goals
have to
but we had to adjust what to do
his wife lata hora says she treasures
the family heirloom
carried across the border during
partitioning
foreign
their fight for survival in india was
real
but the family never quit
slowly they managed to get back on their
feet going from strength to strength
i've struggled yes
struggled but struggle
and with the grace of god
come out successful
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this is mansoor alam he was a child when
his family migrated to east pakistan
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the partition shattered the dreams he
had for his future
seven and a half decades have passed
perhaps the wounds of those who live
through it will never fully heal
this is the lasting legacy of partition
so
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foreign
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