INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN |
The National Congress party started to press for self-rule for India.
Towards the end of World War II, it was clear that European colonialism had run it's course and Indian independence was inevitable. Moreover the UK no longer had the power to maintain it's vast empire.
The large muslim minoity realised that an independent India would be a nation dominated by Hindus, so the country was divided on religious grounds. The Muslim league was headed by Md. Ali Jinnah. The Indian Congress party, led by Jawaharlal Nehru.
1947 - India and Pakistan achieved independence. The two overwhelmingly Muslim regions of pre - partition India were on the exact opposite sides of the subcontinent, in Bengal, named East Pakistan and the Punjab and other adjoing Muslim areas called West Pakistan.