2. India: The Road to Independence

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In 1947-48, a momentous event occurred: Indian independence and the establishment of Pakistan took place almost simultaneously.

The Road to Independence Faced Many Hurdles

British Rule: By 1849, India was effectively under British control, with the cooperation of a few states governed by their own rulers. From the mid-1700s, the British East India Company gradually transferred India’s manufacturing base to Britain. Previously, India had been one of the largest industrial producers in the world, exporting high-quality textiles globally. With the loss of its manufacturing base, India became a country that primarily exported raw materials to Britain.

At the same time, Britain taxed the Indian population, using the revenues to purchase Indian products — indigo, grain, cotton, and opium for Britain and other markets. Effectively, Britain financed its own industrial development and that of its colonies, including the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Ghandi House in Mumbai

Mohandas Ghandi Marching for Freedom

Growing Resistance: 

Opposition to British rule grew by the early 1900s, spearheaded by the Indian National Congress. By 1920, Mohandas Gandhi became a key figure in the Congress, coordinating a national campaign of non-violent protest. This movement later became known as the Quit India Movement in 1942. How India shaped the world in the most significant of forms here.

Muslim Versus Hindu: Following World War II, the two major Indian political parties wanted independence, but differed over who would hold power. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, sought a separate Islamic state, whereas Jawaharlal Nehru advocated for an independent Greater India (which, before 1947, included present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh).

Violence erupted between the two groups, leading British representatives, Jinnah, and Nehru to agree on partitioning the country into India and Pakistan, despite Gandhi’s strong opposition. Tragically, Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.

The British representatives drew the boundary lines for the new nations. Due to two major Muslim regions being separated by Hindu-dominated areas, three nations were created: India, West Pakistan, and East Pakistan. The Sikh community, based in the Punjab (northwest India), lobbied unsuccessfully for its own nation.

Huge Population Interchanges Took Place: Hindus in the new Pakistan migrated to India, while Muslims migrated to Pakistan. Violence erupted during this transition. By the time it ended, more than 10 million people had relocated, and at least 1 million were killed. Wars with Pakistan in 1965 (over Kashmir) and 1971 (over Bangladesh) continued the tension between the two countries.

Bangladesh: In 1971, West and East Pakistan fought the Bangladesh Liberation War, leading to Bangladesh’s independence by the end of that year. During the conflict, millions of refugees fled from East Pakistan into India. As a result, India entered the war against West Pakistan (now Pakistan), achieving a swift victory.

Tension Issues Remain Alive Today

Since independence in 1947, India has experienced ongoing disputes with its neighbours, including:

1. Pakistan: India and Pakistan share a 3,300-km border, with 740 km partially secured by a barbed-wire fence in Jammu and Kashmir. Both armies patrol this area, with the Indian army positioned along the entire length to prevent Muslim refugees from entering India. India is considered a more attractive place to live. However, the country remains concerned about the growing influence of Islam, particularly in northern India. Currently, 70% of Indians are Hindu, and 20% are Muslim.

   
   

2. Kashmir: Originally, "Kashmir" referred to just the Kashmir Valley, but now the term includes Indian-administered regions of Jammu and Ladakh, two Pakistan-administered territories, and two China-administered territories. Both India and Pakistan claim ownership of each other’s territories. Recently, the Indian government revoked Article 370, allowing Indians to migrate to Kashmir and purchase property. Opponents in Kashmir view this as an attempt by India to gradually assimilate the region.

   
   

3. China: A war broke out in 1962 between China and India in the Kashmir region. China sought to build a railway connecting Tibet to its mainland, but India objected, losing 38,000 square kilometres in the process. In 2024, the leaders of both countries agreed to settle border disputes.

   
   

4. Bangladesh: In 2024, a coup led to the Bangladesh Prime Minister fleeing to India following protests against her government. These events were seen by India as a significant setback to its trade, logistics, and security initiatives with Bangladesh. Additionally, India is concerned that Bangladesh might transform into an Islamic state.

How India shaped the world along with it's neighbours is clearly evident here.

Your next read in the series: 3. Spiritual Centre of India – Varanasi