Radcliffe did a pretty good job given the thankless job he had
There is no way Lahore could've gone to India. It was majority Muslim
Sure. Lahore's elite and business class may have been Hindu majority
But in a democracy numbers count. Not influence
There is no way Lahore could've gone to India. It was majority Muslim
Sure. Lahore's elite and business class may have been Hindu majority
But in a democracy numbers count. Not influence
I think the Indian case was a lot stronger in Karachi
Where if I am not mistaken Hindu share was something like 47% in 1941, almost on par with Muslim share.
In Lahore, Hindu share was lower than that. Much lower
Where if I am not mistaken Hindu share was something like 47% in 1941, almost on par with Muslim share.
In Lahore, Hindu share was lower than that. Much lower
My view is -
Did the authorities back in 1947 emphasize the contiguity principle too hard?
Was it really that important?
Did the authorities back in 1947 emphasize the contiguity principle too hard?
Was it really that important?
What if we had argued for partitioning of Lahore and Karachi cities - into a Indian vs Pak lahore / karachi - while surrounded by a Pak countryside
Something similar to the partition of Berlin into East vs West Berlin post WW2
Though Berlin city was surrounded by East Germany
Something similar to the partition of Berlin into East vs West Berlin post WW2
Though Berlin city was surrounded by East Germany
This would have given India a foothold in the two major metropolises of North West India - Karachi and Lahore
A fair, well earned foothold, given that Hindus + SIkhs were indeed a large % of both cities
A fair, well earned foothold, given that Hindus + SIkhs were indeed a large % of both cities
It might have also kept open the possibility of unification more open
As it indeed did happen in the case of Germany
As it indeed did happen in the case of Germany
But Indian leaders lacked the imagination to make the case for this
They were too hung up on contiguity
They were too hung up on contiguity
In fact Rajaji's plan had suggested something along those lines
Have a plebiscite in all "muslim majority" districts involving non muslims as well.
That would have easily given us the cities of Karachi and maybe a fighting chance in Lahore
Have a plebiscite in all "muslim majority" districts involving non muslims as well.
That would have easily given us the cities of Karachi and maybe a fighting chance in Lahore
It would have meant a messier map with many Indian territories within modern Pak, and a few Pak islets within what's India today
But in my view such messiness would have indeed kept Akhand Bharat dream alive.
But in my view such messiness would have indeed kept Akhand Bharat dream alive.
I dont understand why CR Formula was rejected by everyone
People sought "neatness" and "contiguity" too badly.
People sought "neatness" and "contiguity" too badly.
