75 years ago today, on 15-August-1947, Britain partitioned the provinces of Britian India into two countries, India and Pakistan. The areas in white on the map were princely states, some of which decided to remain independent for a time. Large parts of the whole sub-continent were wracked by religious and ethnic cleansing.
Bloodshed, Splendor
As 2 Dominions Born
NEW DELHI, Aug 15 -- (AP) -- India's 400,000,000 shed their hated role of subject peoples at the clock stroke of a new day today and began life as two independent dominions with celebrations in Oriental pomp and splendor -- marred by bloodshed, death and terror in wide sections of the country.
In the high-domed chamber of the Constituent Assembly, Hindi India's legislators took over their responsibility promptly at the first minute after midnight, and waited impatiently for Viscount Mountbatten to appear at 8 a.m., to relinquish ceremoniously his office of Britain's last viceroy and assume his duties as India's first governor-general.
At Karachi, Thursday, he rode by flag-waving thousands at a formal farewell in that dusty new capital of Moslem Pakistan, and addressed that dominion's Constituent Assembly in words of hope for "happiness and prosperity."
Whoop It Up
Old Delhi whooped it up on independence day. Throngs jammed famed Chani Chouk, the market street which leads to Red Fort, for generations the symbol of British rule, where one of the numerous ceremonies of lowering the Union Jack and raising the new tricolor will take place later in the day.
In Bombay, a red-turbanned Mahratta (sic -- JT), tears glistening in his eyes, beat an ancient drum and announced the end of Britain's rule over this sub-continent at a solemn midnight ceremony. The Provincial Premier, B. G. Kher, hoisted the new Indian national flag and recited a prayer in Sanskit, while crowds hoarsely shouted "long live Gandhi" and "long live revolution."
But in embattled Punjab, the province to be split between Pakistan and India, wide secion of the city of Lahore and five Sikh temples were aflame and the dead were counted at 153 in murderous Moslem rioting between Moslems and non-Moslems since dawn Wednesday. The injured were listed at 136.
The disorders were set off by fears of Moslem and non-Moslem communities that they would be left on the "wrong side" of the line -- in Pakistan or India -- when a boundary commission makes its expected report. The eastern part of the province is to go to India and the western part to Pakistan.
Troops Ordered In
The joint defence command of Pakistan and India ordered two more brigades of troops to reinforce a brigade already on duty in the troubled area when the disorders spread east and west from Lahore and engulfed Amritsar, Sikh center, where 61 rioters were reported killed by troops.
Authorities said gangs armed with mortars and automatic weapons had been encountered roaming the countryside, seeking other gangs.
In Calcutta, even Mohandas K. Gandhi, almost a saint to his followers, encountered hostile shouts from demonstrating youths who resented his preachings of non-violence. Lahore dispatches said some youths had thrown stones and invaded the residence where Wednesday Gandhi had set up a "peace" headquarters but that the aged leader was not injured.
The dominion status of India and Pakistan is only temporary. Each is free to cut its strings entirely with the British Commonwealth.
The deep-toned chimes announcing midnight in New Delhi made Jawaharal Nehru, leading Congress Party minister, the prime minister of the new dominion. Mahommed Ali Jinnah (sic -- JT) who is the father of Pakistan, takes the oath as governor-general of that dominion later in the day.
With a stirring shout the assembly already in session greeted the new day which turned one of the world's most ancient countries into its two youngest states and plucked from London's rule "The Jewel of the British Empire."
It was almost 350 years since Queen Elizabeth gave a royal charter to a group of merchants to exploit India's riches and two centuries since Britain began her rule.
Thousands At Assembly
Along bedecked streets, thousands streamed to the assembly chamber to glimpse their national leaders and hear Nehru, imprisoned nine times by Britain for his political activities, declare over a loud-speaker system:
"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny. Now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge -- not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially."
His statement was an oblique reference to the fact that India was divided against the wishes of his party.
Calcutta dispatches said Gandhi received a delegation of demonstrating youths Thursday and told them "tooth for a tooth is no remedy, no end. Love is the only lasting cure of hatred."
But the youths only listened in silence, the dispatches said.
At Karachi, Moslem League slogans were shouted by hundreds waiting at the assembly gates as Jinnah drove up to the Constituent Assembly hall, followed a few minutes later by Lord Mountbatten.
Hundreds with special passes were seated on the lawn before the assembly to witness the outdoor ceremony.
Calling the birth of the new dominion "an event in history," the viceroy read a message from the King which said:
"In thus achieving your independence by agreement you have set an example to all freedom loving people throughout the world. I know that I can speak for all sections of opinion within the British Commonwealth when I say that their support will not fail you in upholding democratic principles.
"I am confident that the statesmanship and spirit of co-operation which have led to the historic developments which you now are celebrating will be the best guarantee of your future happiness and prosperity."
Responding, Jinnah said, "It shall be our constant effort to work for the welfare and well-being of all communities in Pakistan."
