History
How Successful was establishment
of an independent nation between
1947 and 1948
The Problems of Partition and Nascent State
Introduction:
On 14 August 1947, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn (declared) as
Governor-General of Pakistan. He declared that ‘Pakistan has come to exist for ever’ but
new nation faced many problems. India’s Leader had accepted the partition of
subcontinent that Pakistan will not survive. This was the challenge for Quaid-e-Azam to
establish new country and hold it together, despite many problems it faced at time of
partition.
Reaction to the Radcliffe Award
Introduction:
Sir Cyril Radcliffe’s plan for partition of India was made public on 17 August 1947. Not
surprisingly, there were numerous objections to the boundaries he created and millions
of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs found themselves on wrong side of new borders.
Jinnah denounced the Radcliffe Award as unjust and incomprehensible
The Muslim’s main objections were:
• Ferozepur was given to India even though it had a Muslim Majority.
• Gurdaspur also had also had Muslim majority and was given to India instead of
Kashmir will give to Pakistan.
The Sikhs were disappointed because they made up of large proportion pf population in
Punjab, they wanted to give separate state to Sikhs but I did not happen and Sikhs
migrated from Punjab to India Punjab.
1) Geographical Problems
Introduction:
On 14 August 1947, Pakistan finally gained its long-fought for independence,
immediately faced very serious problems. Most countries have Natural Borders like as
rivers, mountains etc but in case of Pakistan was split into separate parts from thousand
miles.
East Pakistan: Comprised of most of Bengal and district of Sylhet voted in a
referendum to join Pakistan.
West Pakistan: Comprised of West Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and North West
Frontier Province. The princely states of Dir, Swat, Chitral, Amb, Humza, Gilgit and
Bahawalpur also joined Pakistan.
2) Political Problems
Introduction:
In 1947, it had been decided that old British India should be divided into two new
countries Pakistan and India. But Pakistan was to face many more Problems than India.
• India had government building, furnishings, even officials from British. Pakistan
had none of these.
• The geographical distance between East and West Pakistan made it difficult to
govern as one country.
• India had officials, members of Indian National Congress, with political
experience to take over government but in Pakistan mainly have landowners
with little political experience.
This was made worse by fact that while over half population of Pakistan lived in East
Pakistan, the majority of government and army leaders came from west Pakistan.
• Pakistan lacked both the administrative and governmental machinery to run
affairs of new country.
• Perhaps major problem which Pakistan faced was not known by its own people.
For Some years Quaid-e-Azam had suffered from illness, Governer-General was
supposed to be ceremonial but Jinnah Ignored.
3) Economic Problems
Introduction:
Pakistan was made up of states that were mostly underdeveloped, with very little
industry. Although Karachi was modern port with substantial trading and business
activity, much of Pakistan was on borders of subcontinent and had not been linked
industrialisation. Around 90% People lived in cityside and there are 8 towns with
population of 100,000 like (Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot and
Peshawar). Pakistan haven't produced surplus or material because have little Industry,
mostly depended on crops and earn money from exporting. About 70% World’s Crops
come from east Pakistan.
4) Social Problems
Introduction:
Pakistan was mainly made up of five different regions. Indeed, some historians have
gone as far suggesting with different nations.
• The Pakhtuns in the north
• The Balochs in the west
• The Sindhis in the south
• The Punjabis in the north-east
• The Bengalis in the east
These people have different traditions, culture, languages and lifestyles. In 1947
Balochistan and Bengal were not completely sure that they now wanted to transfer in
new Pakistan. Where Urdu will be Official language.
5) The Accession of Princely States
Introduction:
At Partition, Lord Mountbatten had told the leaders of the 462 princely states they
wouldn't granted as Independence. He feared that if these states will Independence so
there will be war against India and Pakistan. In 1947 the northern states of Dir, Swat,
Chitral, Amb and Hunza joined Pakistan. Bahawalpur also joined Pakistan, adding a
further 1.5 million inhabitants to new country.
Hyderabad
Introduction:
Hyderabad was the largest of princely states in the subcontinent, with a population of
more than 160 million. It was also very wealthy with annual revenue 160 million rupees.
The Indian government weren't allowed to join Pakistan so instead of Nizam forcely
joined India.
Junagadh
Introduction:
Junagadh was a small state on the coast, 300 miles south of Karachi. The population
was mostly non-Muslim, but its prince was Muslim. The Indian government sent troops
and blockade was imposed soon Junagadh was short of food. Then November 1947
Indian troops took control of the area.
The Kashmir Issue
Introduction:
The most serious disagreement between India and Pakistan concerned state of Jammu
and Kashmir. This was largest state in the subcontinent and the fact give strategic
importance for Tibet, China, Afghanistan and USSR. In 1947, most of 4 million
inhabitants of Kashmir were Muslims but ruler was a Hindu and they want to
independence. The maharaja, Hari Singh, did not treat the Muslims population. Ruler
was forced to turn to India for crush Muslims instead help the area will give to India.
Pakistan did not accept this, sent troops to help Muslims. The Pakistan government was
convinced that Indians had always planned to seize Kashmir.
6) The Division of Financial and Military Assets
Introduction:
One of major issues involved in partitioning the old British India was, how to divide up
assests of the country. They belonged two countries, not one and agreed agreement,
that 17 ratios were given to India and other 5 will give to Pakistan. In June 1947, it was
agreed that Pakistan would be paid 750 million rupees of the 4 billion rupees in reserve
Bank. The first 200 million rupees were paid. Then war broke out over Kashmir. India
refused to pay saying Pakistan shouldn't buy weapons against India and agreed Kashmir
is possession of India then we will pay.
• Pakistan also needed armed forces and military equipment; it was agreed that
they should be spilt 36% to 44% between India and Pakistan. A big problem for
Pakistan was that its army comprising of 150,000 men needed 4,000 officers.
There were only 2,500 trained Muslim officers.
• All 16 ordinance factories were in India, whereas Pakistan had no factories
capable of making military goods.
7) The Canal Water Dispute
Introduction:
The Canal Water Dispute had its origins in partition of Punjab 1947. West Pakistan is a
fertile country but has a hot and dry climate. Rainfall isn't plentiful and so it relies upon
irrigation from series canal which draw water from main rivers in area the Indus, the
Jhelum and the Chenab. The Indian government did not interfere with supply of water
to Pakistan. The Pakistan government called for matter to be settled by international
court but India refused. In May 1948 a temporary agreement was reached. India agreed
to allowed water from east Punjab to west Punjab.
8) Refuges and Accommodation Crisis
Introduction:
In the years immediately before partition, there was widespread violence between
Muslim and non-Muslims communities across India. When boundary award was
announced in August 1947, things became even worse. Millions of people found
themselves living in the wrong country and become victims of communal attacks. About
10 million people migrated India to Pakistan, this was biggest migration in history.
Some moved, taking as many possessions with them as they could. Muslims Historians
believe that Hindus and Sikhs had organised programme for massacre of Muslim
refugees. Estimates for death toll very bad, many million men, women, and children
died as result of violence. Nearly 20 million people made homeless as huge numbers of
refugees. In September 1947, the authorities in Delhi had declare martial law as non-
Muslim refugees had begun a slaughter of local Muslims.
Compiled by Nitesh Kapsheer
