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🌿|The Infamous Divide|🌿

♠️The Infamous Divide♠️
Written by- JyotiiD

“Hindustan had become free. Pakistan became independent  soon after its inception but man was still a slave in both these countries- slave of prejudice, slave of religious fanaticism,  slave of barbarity and in humility.” - Saadat Hasan Manto

The dawn of 15 August 1947 brought with it misery for Hindustan as the country was divided into three separate countries: West Pakistan(Pakistan), Bharat(India), and East Pakistan(Bangladesh). Although the officials and some people elated about the partition, most people have to sacrifice a lot for it. Most people had to leave behind everything and move to a totally new country, and some never even made it, they were slaughtered midway. The day of partition is one of the bloodiest days etched in Indian History. Blood flowed as if it was water. After ruling for about 300 years, the Britishers had to leave Hindustan as Hindustan won the battle for their independence. But the Britishers, being the hypocrite they are, ignited the fire of tension between the Hindus and Muslims, which was primarily to cause a partition.

Hindustan before Partition

At the midnight of 15 August, India gained independence from both the East Indian Company and slavery. A new country was created for the Muslim population and was named “ Pakistan”.  As the Standard Time of Pakistan is 30 minutes behind India, it was 11:30 PM in Pakistan when the partition occurred. Therefore, Pakistan celebrates its independence day, a day before India does, i.e. on 14 August.

We all know why Hindustan was divided into three parts, some claim that Hindus are responsible for it, some claim that Muslims are responsible for it and some even claim that Britishers are responsible for it. But largely, everyone is responsible for it, the need to be in power was primarily the reason for dividing the nations on the basis of religion.

Let’s not get into why partition happened, but instead let us have a walk down the memory lane, discussing the scenario during partition. Humanity was lost, men had become beast scavenging those who came in front of them. The massacres, the riots were not even brutal, they were barbaric. People started slaughtering those, with whom they used to share their food, until a day before. Why? Just because they were from an opposite religion. There was bloodshed everywhere, the nation was literally painted in blood. Muslims in Pakistan started to kill all the Hindus and Sikhs living there and similarly, Hindus and Sikhs of India started to kill all the Muslims living there. Violence was not just from one side, both the nations equally participated in killing each other.

Houses were burned and looted, men were killed, children were butchered and women faced the worst. Many women were gang-raped in the streets and sold into the brothel, they were forced into prostitution. Babies were pulled out of the wombs of pregnant women and crushed. Refugees were killed. Train full of dead bodies arriving from the opposite country is another example of an ensuing bloodbath. The partition forced millions of people to leave behind their house, property, land, cattle and relocated. Children became orphans, parents lost their children, families were separated. Barbarism was at its peak!

And again in 1971, history repeated itself. Again a war broke out, but this time it was a military war. The war that broke out was between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. The struggle is also known as Bangladesh Liberation War. Bengalis of East Pakistan denied being ruled by the Pakistani Government. In March 1971, Pakistan Armed Forces along with locals started violence against Bengalis and restricted them from most of the activities. Violence escalated as a result. The conflict lasted for nine months and many people were killed, and women were raped mercilessly, again. After a brief war, the Pakistan Army had to surrender and a new country “Bangladesh” was created.

(Refugees of Bangladesh Liberation War)

Now, although we have achieved independence, the roadmap to this independence was not at all easy. Millions of people lost their lives. We can never, ever  understand that the people during those times have endured. Even after 73 years, we are still not independent in the true sense. Now also riots break out in the name of religion. Masjids are demolished to make temples and as a response temples are demolished to make masjids. It’s high time people need to stop associating religion with everything if we don’t want our country to be partitioned again. Only if we stop discriminating against everything on the basis of religion, can we be independent. We should live in harmony, it doesn’t change anything if a person is Hindu or Muslim or Sikh or Christian or Jain, all humans are the same. We all are made of flesh and blood, religion doesn’t change everything.

Remember, God is one be it Allah or Ram or Jesus or Waheguru. He is the eternal power and he is one!

Love and hugs
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May 4, 2021 (Tuesday)