Sixty years ago this week India and Pakistan were granted independence from British rule. Independence meant that Pakistan and India were separated into two different countries, one for Muslims, the other for Sikhs and Hindus.
The struggle to make sure you were in the right country led to riots, murder and bloodshed, which affected the families of many people now living in Peterborough. Jemma Walton heard their stories.
Despite having much in common – like history, culture and languages – Pakistan and India have struggled to live peacefully together since they were granted independence from Britain in August 1947.
Despite having much in common – like history, culture and languages – Pakistan and India have struggled to live peacefully together since they were granted independence from Britain in August 1947.
Much of south Asia came under direct control of Great Britain in the late 18th century. The British Raj over the Indian subcontinent lasted for almost two centuries.
But The Muslim League proposed the Two Nation Theory in the early 20th century, and a campaign for partition gained pace in the '40s.
According to the Two Nation theory, Hindus and Muslims shared little in common and India should be divided into countries, one for the Muslims and the other for the non-Muslims.
The Partition of India created two countries, the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Both were part of the Commonwealth, with their own democratically elected governments and Prime Ministers.
Pakistan received independence from Britain on August 14, 1947, and India achieved independence the next day.
Tens of millions of Hindus living in Pakistan emigrated to India, while several million Muslims living in the Union of India went to live in Pakistan, but two million Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs died amid the chaos of mass emigration.
And that was just the start of the region's troubles.
According to the British plan for the partition of
India, all the 680 princely states were allowed to decide which of the two countries to join.
With the exception of a few, most of the Hindu-majority princely-states acceded to the Union of India, while most of the Muslim-majority princely states joined Pakistan.
However, the decisions of some of the princely-states – such as Kashmir – would shape the Indo-Pakistani relationship for years to come.
Each country claims Kashmir as a part of its territory. Today, as a result of a rebellion in 1947 and subsequent wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the area is separated by a cease-fire line.
After years of bloodshed, tensions between the two are beginning to simmer down. Both countries have made steps towards peace, including more high-level talks and the easing of visa restrictions.
They have even come so far that the odd game of cricket isn't out of the question, either.
With the exception of a few, most of the Hindu-majority princely-states acceded to the Union of India, while most of the Muslim-majority princely states joined Pakistan.
However, the decisions of some of the princely-states – such as Kashmir – would shape the Indo-Pakistani relationship for years to come.
Each country claims Kashmir as a part of its territory. Today, as a result of a rebellion in 1947 and subsequent wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the area is separated by a cease-fire line.
After years of bloodshed, tensions between the two are beginning to simmer down. Both countries have made steps towards peace, including more high-level talks and the easing of visa restrictions.
They have even come so far that the odd game of cricket isn't out of the question, either.
