The Great Calcutta Killings occurred in August 1946. It was a series of violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in British India. The violence erupted after the Muslim League's call for Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, which was meant to demand a separate homeland for Muslims in India.

Causes of the Great Calcutta Killings:

• Direct Action Day: The Muslim League's call for Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, was the primary cause of the Great Calcutta Killings. It was meant to demand a separate homeland for Muslims in India.

• Political Tensions: The political tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities were high during that time.

• Religious Differences: The Hindu and Muslim communities had religious differences that added fuel to the fire.

• Communal Riots: There were several communal riots in Calcutta before the Great Calcutta Killings.

• British Divide and Rule Policy: The British had a divide and rule policy, which led to communal tensions between different communities in India.

Impact of the Great Calcutta Killings:

• More than 5,000 people lost their lives.

• Thousands of people were injured.

• The violence spread to other parts of India, leading to more communal clashes.

• The British government realized that India needed to be partitioned into two countries, India and Pakistan, to avoid further violence.

Conclusion:

The Great Calcutta Killings were a tragic event in India's history. It was a result of the political and religious tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities. The violence led to the loss of many innocent lives, and it had a significant impact on India's future.