India Pakistan Partition- Documentary Review
The India Pakistan Partition is a documentary created by BBC for the purpose of informing its audience about the India and Pakistan
Partition of 1947. The main message that director wanted to get across the audience was that the Partition was very difficult and resulted in many losses for both sides, losses that were both necessary and unnecessary at the same time. I knew about the subject before I watched the documentary, so I had already had an idea of what was going on in the film. In the documentary, I expected to see the background of the partition, including the Indian independence movement, the roles of key players in the Partition, and interviews from the witnesses. Questions I had about the subject prior to watching the subject included why it was so necessary for Muslims and Hindus to lived separately, what the main instigators of this partition had in mind when they imagined two separate states, and where the Sikhs stood in the negotiations.
The subject of the documentary was the India/Pakistan Partition, and it depicted several events and topics, such as the background of the partition, the prejudices between Muslims and Hindus, the portrayal of India before and after the partition, the roles played by Gandhi, Nehru, and Jinnah, and the stories of the Partition’s witnesses. It was filmed in India and Pakistan, but it also included footage of the two countries pre-partition and post-partition. I liked how the documentary included the interviews because from them, I learned what it felt like to be in the subcontinent during the Partition and what it was like to stand on the sidelines of one of the greatest moments of history. Unfortunately, I also found out what it was like to witness some extremely horrific and disappointing events, such as the killings of thousands of civilians, the impoverished journeys of Indian and Pakistani refugees, and the riots that took place throughout the nations.
In the documentary, I liked how the makers tried to refabricate the experience of witnessing the Partition by showing old footage, recreating their own scenes, and interviewing people about what they felt. I felt like I was actually standing on the rice fields of 1940s India, watching as people trekked across the nation and running for their lives. However, I did not like how specific the interviewees described some of the horrors of the partition, such as how families abandoned their children on roads and how many women were systematically raped. I learned from the documentary that the Sikhs stood with Hindus and not the Muslims and that even though some were against the partition; many supported it because of their prejudices. I also learned how any why so many killings occurred in this historical event. I was surprised by how deep the hatred ran in the veins of Hindus and Muslims, and it was shocking to hear the story of one Hindu whose mother would not even eat food cooked by Muslims. The drawbacks of the documentary was that it did not compare present India and Pakistan to the past nations, so you could not see how the countries have progressed since then. I would recommend this documentary to anyone who is interested in how the events of the partition played out step by step and who has the time and patience to watch a two hour documentary.
The India Pakistan Partition is a documentary created by BBC for the purpose of informing its audience about the India and Pakistan
Partition of 1947. The main message that director wanted to get across the audience was that the Partition was very difficult and resulted in many losses for both sides, losses that were both necessary and unnecessary at the same time. I knew about the subject before I watched the documentary, so I had already had an idea of what was going on in the film. In the documentary, I expected to see the background of the partition, including the Indian independence movement, the roles of key players in the Partition, and interviews from the witnesses. Questions I had about the subject prior to watching the subject included why it was so necessary for Muslims and Hindus to lived separately, what the main instigators of this partition had in mind when they imagined two separate states, and where the Sikhs stood in the negotiations.
The subject of the documentary was the India/Pakistan Partition, and it depicted several events and topics, such as the background of the partition, the prejudices between Muslims and Hindus, the portrayal of India before and after the partition, the roles played by Gandhi, Nehru, and Jinnah, and the stories of the Partition’s witnesses. It was filmed in India and Pakistan, but it also included footage of the two countries pre-partition and post-partition. I liked how the documentary included the interviews because from them, I learned what it felt like to be in the subcontinent during the Partition and what it was like to stand on the sidelines of one of the greatest moments of history. Unfortunately, I also found out what it was like to witness some extremely horrific and disappointing events, such as the killings of thousands of civilians, the impoverished journeys of Indian and Pakistani refugees, and the riots that took place throughout the nations.
In the documentary, I liked how the makers tried to refabricate the experience of witnessing the Partition by showing old footage, recreating their own scenes, and interviewing people about what they felt. I felt like I was actually standing on the rice fields of 1940s India, watching as people trekked across the nation and running for their lives. However, I did not like how specific the interviewees described some of the horrors of the partition, such as how families abandoned their children on roads and how many women were systematically raped. I learned from the documentary that the Sikhs stood with Hindus and not the Muslims and that even though some were against the partition; many supported it because of their prejudices. I also learned how any why so many killings occurred in this historical event. I was surprised by how deep the hatred ran in the veins of Hindus and Muslims, and it was shocking to hear the story of one Hindu whose mother would not even eat food cooked by Muslims. The drawbacks of the documentary was that it did not compare present India and Pakistan to the past nations, so you could not see how the countries have progressed since then. I would recommend this documentary to anyone who is interested in how the events of the partition played out step by step and who has the time and patience to watch a two hour documentary.
The Ideology of Pakistan
The Two Nation Theory evolved during the period of growth of Muslim nationalism in the Hindu-majority India in the early 1900s. It was the
basis of the Partition of India in 1947 and a theory put forward by the Muslims leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah. However, it was Allama Iqbal who first
propounded the idea of a separate homeland, believing that there could be no peace in India unless the Muslims were recognised as a nation
themselves. The theory stated that the Muslims and Hindus form two separate nations because they belong to two different religious philosophies
with different customs and traditions. Muslims and Hindus did not intermarry, eat together, and had different outlooks on life. They ultimately
belonged to two different civilisations with foundations based on opposing ideas. For these reasons, Jinnah believed that Muslims should have an
autonomous homeland in the Muslim majority areas of British India for the safety of their cultural, political, and social rights, whether or not there is a United India. The rigid application of this theory is said to be one of the main causes of the Partition of India.
The Two Nation Theory evolved during the period of growth of Muslim nationalism in the Hindu-majority India in the early 1900s. It was the
basis of the Partition of India in 1947 and a theory put forward by the Muslims leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah. However, it was Allama Iqbal who first
propounded the idea of a separate homeland, believing that there could be no peace in India unless the Muslims were recognised as a nation
themselves. The theory stated that the Muslims and Hindus form two separate nations because they belong to two different religious philosophies
with different customs and traditions. Muslims and Hindus did not intermarry, eat together, and had different outlooks on life. They ultimately
belonged to two different civilisations with foundations based on opposing ideas. For these reasons, Jinnah believed that Muslims should have an
autonomous homeland in the Muslim majority areas of British India for the safety of their cultural, political, and social rights, whether or not there is a United India. The rigid application of this theory is said to be one of the main causes of the Partition of India.
The Promise of Pakistan Documentary
Reflection
I thought that the documentary was different than others I have watched because of its date of release, which was in 1950. Therefore, the document was filmed from a different perspective than how it would have been filmed and viewed today. What I especially liked about the documentary was how it did not focus only on the time period in which Pakistan was created and its idea discussed, but it also talked about the nation’s history going back to before the birth of Christ. It also depicted the cultures of the different people in Pakistan, like Pashtuns and people living in the southern areas. I learned how the Khyber Pass was a path for invaders, trade route, and the main entry to the subcontinent at the time. I also learned how Pashtuns are known to be very strong and tough, and more so then other residents in the Pakistani area. I liked how it showed different types of Pakistanis in its day-to-day life as well. The documentary also did not fail to give information about how Pakistan was created and other general information about Pakistan.
Questions and Answers
1.) What was Khyber Pass used for in past times?
A trade route and passage for invaders
2.) What are the ethnic origins of Pakistanis?
Indo-Aryan, Semitic, Mongolian
3.) What was the most vital problem for Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the time of Pakistan’s creation?
Defence of the country’s borders
4.) At least how much does Pakistan spend in defence of its borders?
62% of the country’s budget
5.) What is the chief dispute between Pakistan and India?
The principality of Kashmir in the north of the subcontinent
6.) What is another problem concerning Pakistan?
The water that irrigates Pakistan comes from rivers in India and if India were to divert the flow of these rivers, the fertile lands in Pakistan might become arid.
7.) What is the main occupation of Pakistani citizens?
Farming
8.) How much of Pakistan’s land is dedicated to food crops?
Over three-fourths of its land
9.) Where do the majority of Pakistanis live?
In villages
10.) What non-food crop is Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) known for?
Jute
Reflection
I thought that the documentary was different than others I have watched because of its date of release, which was in 1950. Therefore, the document was filmed from a different perspective than how it would have been filmed and viewed today. What I especially liked about the documentary was how it did not focus only on the time period in which Pakistan was created and its idea discussed, but it also talked about the nation’s history going back to before the birth of Christ. It also depicted the cultures of the different people in Pakistan, like Pashtuns and people living in the southern areas. I learned how the Khyber Pass was a path for invaders, trade route, and the main entry to the subcontinent at the time. I also learned how Pashtuns are known to be very strong and tough, and more so then other residents in the Pakistani area. I liked how it showed different types of Pakistanis in its day-to-day life as well. The documentary also did not fail to give information about how Pakistan was created and other general information about Pakistan.
Questions and Answers
1.) What was Khyber Pass used for in past times?
A trade route and passage for invaders
2.) What are the ethnic origins of Pakistanis?
Indo-Aryan, Semitic, Mongolian
3.) What was the most vital problem for Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the time of Pakistan’s creation?
Defence of the country’s borders
4.) At least how much does Pakistan spend in defence of its borders?
62% of the country’s budget
5.) What is the chief dispute between Pakistan and India?
The principality of Kashmir in the north of the subcontinent
6.) What is another problem concerning Pakistan?
The water that irrigates Pakistan comes from rivers in India and if India were to divert the flow of these rivers, the fertile lands in Pakistan might become arid.
7.) What is the main occupation of Pakistani citizens?
Farming
8.) How much of Pakistan’s land is dedicated to food crops?
Over three-fourths of its land
9.) Where do the majority of Pakistanis live?
In villages
10.) What non-food crop is Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) known for?
Jute
Lahore Resolution 1940
The Lahore Resolution was a political decree drafted by the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League. It was adopted by the Muslim-League membership at its 1940 session, which was held in Lahore. The declaration was presented at Minto Park, now called Iqbal Park, in Lahore by A. K. Faslul Huq on the directions of the Working Committee. It demanded:
Later, many thought of this resolution as a demand for a separate Muslim state, which would later be called Pakistan. However, the resolution simply laid down the principles without working out the detail. It was on the basis of this resolution that caused the Muslim League in 1946 to decide to go for one state for Muslims instead of two.
The Lahore Resolution was a political decree drafted by the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League. It was adopted by the Muslim-League membership at its 1940 session, which was held in Lahore. The declaration was presented at Minto Park, now called Iqbal Park, in Lahore by A. K. Faslul Huq on the directions of the Working Committee. It demanded:
- Parts of the subcontinent should be reserved as areas from which Muslims can create separate, autonomous states
- A greater Muslim autonomy, or self-government, in British India
- The Muslim State should consist of Punjab, N. W. F. P., Balochistan, and Sindh in the west and Bengal and Assam in the East
- Appropriate safeguards should be provided for minorities in order to protect their religious, cultural, economic, political, and administrative rights, and that arrangements should be made for Muslims in the areas where they are minorities.
Later, many thought of this resolution as a demand for a separate Muslim state, which would later be called Pakistan. However, the resolution simply laid down the principles without working out the detail. It was on the basis of this resolution that caused the Muslim League in 1946 to decide to go for one state for Muslims instead of two.
The Objectives Resolution 1949
The Objectives Resolution of 1949 was the first document that proved to be the foundation of the constitutional developments in Pakistan. It provided limits and principles to the legislators, and it made the process of forming the constitution a simper task by setting some particular objectives before them that the people of Pakistan would find suitable. The Objectives Resolution was moved by the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, and was later approved in the same year. The Objectives Resolution, which many considered to be the Magna Carta of Pakistan’s history, proclaimed that:
This document was deemed to be very important because it contained elements from both Western and Islamic democracy, causing a fusion of Islam and modernism. The similarities between the Objectives Resolution and the Lahore Resolution is that the Objectives Resolution was a more detailed of the latter and provided a sort of continuation for it. The differences are that Allah (SWT) never directly gave the Muslims the right to hold authority over their land and even though there would be religious minorities in the country, they would still be subject to Muslim laws. The Objectives Resolution became a part of the Constitution of Pakistan in 1985 under the Eighth Amendment.
The Objectives Resolution of 1949 was the first document that proved to be the foundation of the constitutional developments in Pakistan. It provided limits and principles to the legislators, and it made the process of forming the constitution a simper task by setting some particular objectives before them that the people of Pakistan would find suitable. The Objectives Resolution was moved by the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, and was later approved in the same year. The Objectives Resolution, which many considered to be the Magna Carta of Pakistan’s history, proclaimed that:
- the sovereignty of Pakistan will ultimately belong to Allah (SWT) and that the Pakistani state will utilize its authority through representatives chosen by the people.
- The principles of democracy, freedom, equality, and tolerance, as depicted in Islam, will be entirely observed.
- The Muslims will also be able to live in accordance with the Islamic teachings laid out in Holy Quran and Sunnah.
- In addition, the minorities have the freedom of religion and culture.
- Pakistan be a federation with an independent judiciary and fundamental rights guaranteed to all of its citizens.
This document was deemed to be very important because it contained elements from both Western and Islamic democracy, causing a fusion of Islam and modernism. The similarities between the Objectives Resolution and the Lahore Resolution is that the Objectives Resolution was a more detailed of the latter and provided a sort of continuation for it. The differences are that Allah (SWT) never directly gave the Muslims the right to hold authority over their land and even though there would be religious minorities in the country, they would still be subject to Muslim laws. The Objectives Resolution became a part of the Constitution of Pakistan in 1985 under the Eighth Amendment.