Ethnic and Religious Conflicts after 1947
- Independence in August 1947 was immediately followed by mass violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs during the Partition.
- Nearly 12 to 15 million people were displaced, and over one million were killed in riots and massacres.
- The new Indian government faced the enormous task of rehabilitating refugees, restoring order, and asserting unity in a country divided by religion and region.
- Religious tensions persisted in border states such as Punjab, Bengal, and Kashmir, as well as in regions with large minority populations.
- Ethnic and linguistic diversity created additional challenges in defining a national identity under a secular constitution.
Definition
Secularism
- The principle of separating religion from state affairs, ensuring equal treatment of all faiths.
Definition
Communal Violence
- Hostility or conflict between different religious or ethnic communities, often leading to riots.
The Integration of Princely States
Political Integration
- At independence, over 560 princely states existed, each ruled by local monarchs with semi-autonomous power under British protection.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, led the campaign to integrate these states into the Indian Union.
- Most rulers acceded to India through Instruments of Accession, giving control of defense, foreign affairs, and communications to the central government.
- Persuasion, negotiation, and occasional military force were used to achieve unity.
- The integration process transformed India from a patchwork of kingdoms into a single federal nation.
Resistance and Resolution
- A few states resisted integration, notably Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Kashmir.
- Hyderabad’s Nizam sought independence, but Indian forces launched Operation Polo (1948), annexing the state.
- Junagadh’s Muslim ruler attempted to join Pakistan despite a Hindu majority, leading to Indian intervention.
- The Kashmir conflict erupted when its Hindu ruler acceded to India despite a Muslim-majority population, sparking war with Pakistan.
- Patel’s decisive actions earned him the title “Iron Man of India”, symbolizing strong central authority in the new nation.
The Kashmir Conflict and Nehru’s Domestic Policies
- Kashmir became the most contentious issue of post-independence India. The region’s accession to India in October 1947 led to the First Indo-Pakistani War (1947–1949).
