The partition of India was the most significant event in all of Indian history. The Hindus and Muslims failed to inculcate the feeling of harmony and unity among themselves, also making it the saddest event in Indian history. Communal tensions heightened during this period, and in some respects, Indian Muslims were encouraged to forge a distinct political and cultural identity by the British. The Muslim League arose as an organization intended to enhance the various -- political, cultural, social, economic, and religious -- interests of the Muslims.
The partition of India and Pakistan led to a major crisis in the Kashmir region. The leader of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, had been given the option of choosing to join with either India or Pakistan. This caused extreme tensions between the two nations that both wished to have Kashmir to themselves. This tension manifested itself into hostility and violence, which increased after the Maharaja chose to join with the government of India. Neither country was willing to loosen its iron grip on the region, leading to the three Indo-Pakistani wars that followed the initial negotiations between India and Pakistan during the time of partition.
In 1970, Pakistan decided to hold its first democratic elections. At the time Pakistan was separated into West and East Pakistan, and surrounded India on both sides. Discontent with the Pakistani government had been brewing in East Pakistan for a few years ever since Pakistan had placed severe restrictions on those promoting Bengali language and culture (East Pakistan was primarily composed of Bengalis). However the last straw was when the central Pakistani government refused to accept the Awami League Party’s election in 1970. While many countries were wary of getting involved, the Indian government offered immediate support to the Bengalis. What ensued was a war lasting nine months, a war that claimed the lives of more than a million innocent Bengalis, a war that caused mass immigrations that irreversibly changed population charts in south Asia, a war that resulted in the establishment of a nation that had valiantly fought not only for its political freedom but also for its cultural independence.
We hope that with this project we will be able to show how certain historical events pave the way for the future, resulting in changes that have not only affected the lives of people in the past, but continue to affect us today. We want to explore not only the lines that tie us to these stories but also the lines that tie these stories to the rest of the community through us. Although the desolation and desperation in the south Asian subcontinent was great, many stories were born out of these ashes. Through our project we hope to have successfully brought to life some of these poignant stories which have opened our eyes and we hope will open yours as well.
The partition of India and Pakistan led to a major crisis in the Kashmir region. The leader of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, had been given the option of choosing to join with either India or Pakistan. This caused extreme tensions between the two nations that both wished to have Kashmir to themselves. This tension manifested itself into hostility and violence, which increased after the Maharaja chose to join with the government of India. Neither country was willing to loosen its iron grip on the region, leading to the three Indo-Pakistani wars that followed the initial negotiations between India and Pakistan during the time of partition.
In 1970, Pakistan decided to hold its first democratic elections. At the time Pakistan was separated into West and East Pakistan, and surrounded India on both sides. Discontent with the Pakistani government had been brewing in East Pakistan for a few years ever since Pakistan had placed severe restrictions on those promoting Bengali language and culture (East Pakistan was primarily composed of Bengalis). However the last straw was when the central Pakistani government refused to accept the Awami League Party’s election in 1970. While many countries were wary of getting involved, the Indian government offered immediate support to the Bengalis. What ensued was a war lasting nine months, a war that claimed the lives of more than a million innocent Bengalis, a war that caused mass immigrations that irreversibly changed population charts in south Asia, a war that resulted in the establishment of a nation that had valiantly fought not only for its political freedom but also for its cultural independence.
We hope that with this project we will be able to show how certain historical events pave the way for the future, resulting in changes that have not only affected the lives of people in the past, but continue to affect us today. We want to explore not only the lines that tie us to these stories but also the lines that tie these stories to the rest of the community through us. Although the desolation and desperation in the south Asian subcontinent was great, many stories were born out of these ashes. Through our project we hope to have successfully brought to life some of these poignant stories which have opened our eyes and we hope will open yours as well.
THE UNENDING CONFLICT...
The First Kashmir War
|
Second Kashmir War
|
The Bangladesh War
|
Nuclear Conflict
|
The Kargil War
|