Why is Partition viewed as an extremely significant marker in South Asian history?
The following reasons can be put forward for the given view:
•The partition of India had a unique nature. This partition was based on religions. The partition took place in the name of the communities. History has never witnessed such type of partition.
•The partition marked a severe violence. Innumerable people were killed. People began to kill each other irrespective of their earlier relation. Earlier they lived with each other in harmony and peace but now started to kill each other. Government machinery failed to check this.
•People faced a lot of problems. Their life became miserable. Their near and dear ones were killed. Many people were abducted.
•People moved across the border. Most of the Muslims of India crossed over to Pakistan and almost all Hindus and Sikhs came to India from Pakistan. They were forced to start their life afresh.
•People lost all their movable and immovable property all of a sudden. They became homeless and forced to live in refugee camps.
How did women experience Partition?
How did the Congress come to change its views on Partition?
Examine the strengths and limitations of oral history. How have oral-history techniques furthered our understanding of Partition?
Why was British India partitioned?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
What were Mahatma Gandhi’s arguments against Partition?
How did ordinary people view Partition?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?
Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?
What historical forces shaped the vision of the Constitution?
Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
In what way did Mahatma Gandhi transform the nature of the national movement?