14ᵗʰ August marks the violent break-up of the ancient Hindu homeland
August 1947 marked the end of British rule over India. Decades before independence, Muslim leaders argued India’s two majority communities; Hindus and Muslims, were separate ‘nations’ with irreconcilable differences and hence Muslims required a separate country – Pakistan. In 1946, the majority of Muslims voted for the Muslim League – the party that mandated Pakistan’s creation and thus undivided India’s independence came with its partition into three; the Republic of India and the Western and Eastern wings of Pakistan (in 1971, East split from West to become Bangladesh). Pakistan declared its independence on 14ᵗʰ of August 1947; a day ahead of India, Hindus today mark this as day of mourning.
The Partition is marked by the traumatic experience of 14-18 million people being uprooted and migrating across the new borders. An estimated 200,000 to 2 million people died in the violence that followed the stoking up of hatred and suspicion. The brutality and communal hatred did not end in 1947. In Muslim majority Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindus and other minorities continue to experience persecution and forced conversation till this day, with their populations dwindling.
Though people of all religions suffered as a result of partition, Hindus have faced double injustice. Muslims succeeded in creating two countries where Islam is a state religion, Hindus; who overwhelmingly opposed partition, were forced to accept a ‘secular’ India where, to this day, successive governments have focused on appeasing minorities at the detriment of Hindus. Through the creation of Pakistan, Hindus have forever lost part of their spiritual homeland – Bharatavarsha. Many sacred rivers and mountains located in Pakistan and Bangladesh are now inaccessible for Hindus; and many ancient temples have been desecrated.