The Aftermath of Partition in South Asia (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia)

This book draws upon new theoretical insights and fresh bodies of data to historically reappraise partition in the light of its long aftermath. It uses a comparative approach by viewing South Asia in its totality, rather than looking at it in narrow 'national' terms. As the first book to focus on the aftermath of partition, it fills a distinctive niche in the study of contemporary South Asia. Cover Page 2 Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Maps and Tables 8 Maps 8 Table 8 Brief Biographical Notes 9 Preface 17 1. Introduction: The Place of Partition In South Asian Histories 21 Celebrations: The Half-Centennial of Independence In South Asia 21 Stock-Taking and Introspection 27 Partition: ‘The Other Face of Freedom’ 30 Historiography and Its ‘Silences’ Over Partition 32 Lifting the Veil Over Partition 46 Reappraising Partition and Its Aftermath 52 2. ‘The Enigma of Arrival’: 14–15 August 1947 and the Celebration of Independence 60 Introduction 60 Preparing for the ‘Appointed Day’ 62 ‘A Day of Mourning!’ 74 The Consecration Rituals In Karachi 80 ‘It Was a Lovely Time to Walk In Delhi’ 93 Beyond Capitals 105 ‘Mahatma’s Miracle’ 115 From Euphoria to Aporia 124 3. Partition and the Making of Southasian Boundaries 130 Introduction 130 The 3 June Plan 132 Submissions to the Boundary Commissions 141 The Radcliffe Award 152 Partition and Disruption 156 Conclusion 160 4. A Community In Crisis: Partition and the Sikhs 163 Introduction 163 Sikhs and the Lahore Resolution 164 Sikhs and the Cripps Offer 167 The Demand for ‘Azad Punjab’ 170 Sikhs and the ‘CR Formula’ 173 Sikhs and the Cabinet Mission 178 Partition and Holocaust 183 Post-1947 Conundrums 192 Conclusion 196 5. From Displacement Todevelopment: East Punjab Countryside After Partition, c. 1947–67 198 Introduction 198 Post-Partition East Punjab Countryside 199 Early Relief Measures 202 Towards Permanent Resettlement: ‘Standard Acres’ and ‘Graded Cuts’ 206 Long-Term Effects 209 Consolidation of Holdings 210 New Irrigation Infrastructure 212 Punjab On the Threshold of Prosperity 213 Conclusion 217 6. Divided Landscapes, Fragmentedidentities: East Bengal Refugees and Their Rehabilitation In India, 1947– 79 220 Introduction 220 Refugees In West Bengal 224 Refugees In Dandakaranya 233 Settlers’ Experiences 238 Desertions and Return to Bengal 243 Conclusions 245 7. ‘Capitol Landscapes’: The Imprint of Partition On South Asian Capital Cities 250 Introduction 250 Dhaka: From Muffosil Town to National Capital 254 Calcutta: The ‘Dying City’ 263 Lahore: From Punjab’s Pride to Border Town 267 Karachi: From ‘Stop-Gap’ Capitol to ‘City of the Dead’? 272 Islamabad: The ‘Super Cantonment’ 282 Chandigarh: ‘Temple of New India’ 285 Delhi: From Islamic City to Refugees’ ‘Wild West’ 293 Conclusion: Capitol Transformations 302 8. Punjab and the Making of Pakistan 308 Punjab In Post-Colonial Pakistan 308 Roots of a Civil-Military State 312 Political Entrenchment of the Civil-Military Lobby 318 War, Independence and Partition 326 Conclusion 330 9. Contemporary South Asia and the Legacies of Partition 332 Introduction 332 The Kashmir Imbroglio 334 Security Concerns In South Asia 340 Environmental Costs of Partition: Water-Sharing Between Bangladesh and India 344 Partition and the South Asian Diaspora 347 Problems of ‘Minorities’: The Muhajirs In Pakistan 351 Problems of ‘Minorities’: The Muslims In India 355 Problems of ‘Minorities’: The Biharis In Bangladesh 360 Building People-To-People Bridges 362 Glossary 366 Notes 373 1. Introduction 373 2. ‘The Enigma of Arrival’ 386 3. Partition and the Making of South Asian Boundaries 398 4. A Community In Crisis 404 5. From Displacement to Development 409 6. Divided Landscapes, Fragmented Identities 418 7. ‘Capitol Landscapes’ 428 8. Punjab and the Making of Pakistan 445 9. Contemporary South Asia and the Legacies of Partition 450 Bibliography 457 Private Manuscript Collections 457 Official Documents 458 Primary Printed Documents 459 Oral Interviews 460 Newspapers 460 Printed Collections of Documents 461 Selected Articles In Journals 461 Selected Chapters In Books 469 Books 474 Unpublished Dissertations and Theses 501 Mimeographs 501 Electronic Resources 502 In the autumn of 1997, as these lines are being written, commemorative events are under way in the Indian subcontinent to mark the fiftieth anniversary of independence and partition. The Aftermath of Partition in South Asia draws upon new theoretical insights and fresh bodies of data to historically reappraise partition in the light of its long aftermath.