Role played by Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah and British in partition of India

The partition of India that happened in 1947 was based on the outcome of the clash of ambitions of 4 individual thinking entities. Gandhi, Jinnah, Nehru and the British contributed for partition in different ways.

Role of Gandhi in partition of India

• He didn’t want violence or civil war in united India but believed that partition can also create violence and everlasting problems between countries..
• Personally Gandhi was tremendously distressed over the idea of a Divided India but failed to convince others about merit of his ideas.
• Later realized that it’s inevitable as almost all congress leaders had accepted it.
• He didn’t celebrate independence and was serving people in Bengal to prevent large scale massacre in Bengal.

His argument was that the masses were in reality a united entity. There would be everlasting problems between countries” which later proved true!

Role of Nehru  in partition of India

• He considered separate electorate and division based on religion ,against integrity & unity of India
• He backed one nation-one government.
• He together with Gandhi was against partition.
• He later considered partition as better deal than weak India & advocated it with Patel.
• Signed Mountbatten plan without clarifying the borders and informing masses about it.

Role of Jinnah  in partition of India

• Wanted minority status for Muslims and Sikhs in India and to be their undisputed leader.
• There is no evidence about plan of completely independent Pakistan.
• Proposal of two nation theory was a bargaining method for separate electorate for Muslims.
• He had stubborn attitude rejecting several proposals for
• Overplay promising respect for minorities backfired without instilling faith in masses.

Role of British in partition of India

• Ruled based on “Divide and rule” concept.
• Considered PAK as a supporter of west and a bulwark between Indian & soviet union relationship and supported partition.
• Country already torn with communal violence and wanted to leave, saving the face of the empire.

Conclusion

All these stakeholders contributed together in the formation of Pakistan & it came with blood shed and violence. Little deviation from self-interest of the stakeholders could prevent partition & associated blood shed of millions of innocent people on both sides of border. We should learn from the past to avoid getting divided based on community, caste or similar and respect every human soul.