How did the Congress come to change its views on Partition?
Initially the Indian National Congress was not in favour of the partition. But in March, 1947, the Congress high command agreed to Punjab into two parts. One part would consist of the Muslim - majority areas and the other part would consist of the areas having Hindu-Sikh majority. To most of the Sikh leaders and Congress leaders, partition of Punjab was a necessary evil. The Sikhs feared that their denial to the partition of Punjab may lead them to be overpowered by the Muslims. They would be under control of the Muslims.Situation was the same in Bengal. The Bhadralok Bengali Hindus of Bengal wanted to retain political power with them. They were also apprehensive of the Muslims. In Bengal, the Hindus were in minority. So they favoured the partition. They thought that partition would help them to retain political dominance. These reasons forced the Congress to change their view on Partition.
How did women experience Partition?
Why is Partition viewed as an extremely significant marker in South Asian history?
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?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?
What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
What were the new kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? What functions did they serve?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants, taluqdars and zamindars to join the revolt?
Examine any two sources presented in the chapter, choosing one visual and one text, and discuss how these represent the point of view of the victor and the vanquished.
What were the concerns that influenced town planning in the nineteenth century?