Consider the following statements about the Partition of India. 1. Pu...
- On 20 June 1947, the Bengal Legislative Assembly met to decide the future of the Bengal Presidency, whether it would be a United Bengal within India or Pakistan; or be divided into East and West Bengal. At the preliminary joint session, the assembly decided by 120 votes to 90 that it should remain united if it joined the new Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
- Later, a separate meeting of legislators from West Bengal decided by 58 votes to 21 that the province should be partitioned and that West Bengal should join the existing Constituent Assembly of India.
- There was no conception that population transfers would be necessary because of the partitioning. Religious minorities were expected to stay put in the states they found themselves residing in. However, an exception was made for Punjab where the transfer of populations was organised because of the communal violence affecting the province. This did not apply to other provinces.
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Consider the following statements about the Partition of India. 1. Pu...
Explanation:
The Partition of India in 1947 was a significant event that led to the creation of two separate nations - India and Pakistan. It resulted in the division of British India into two separate dominions, primarily based on religious lines. The following statements are given about the Partition of India:
Statement 1: Punjab and Bengal were the two provinces divided or separated based on religion.
Statement 2: The scheme of Partition included an overall plan for the transfer of population across the border.
Analysis:
Statement 1: Punjab and Bengal were the two provinces divided or separated based on religion.
This statement is correct. During the Partition of India, Punjab and Bengal were indeed divided based on religious lines. Punjab was divided into West Punjab (which became a part of Pakistan) and East Punjab (which remained in India). Similarly, Bengal was divided into East Bengal (which became East Pakistan, later Bangladesh) and West Bengal (which remained in India).
Statement 2: The scheme of Partition included an overall plan for the transfer of population across the border.
This statement is incorrect. While the Partition of India led to massive population transfers and large-scale migration, there was no overall plan for the transfer of population across the border. The movement of people across the newly created borders was largely chaotic and violent. Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan migrated to India, while Muslims from India migrated to Pakistan. The large-scale violence and displacement resulted in the loss of countless lives and the destruction of property.
Conclusion:
Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that only statement 1 is correct, and statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
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