The Dark Truth Behind the Radcliffe Line ft. Pragati | Jist

By Jist

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In 1947, India and Pakistan became two new countries. But one crucial question remained unanswered, Where would the border between them be drawn? The answer came in the form of the Radcliffe Line, a boundary drawn by British lawyer Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who had never visited India before 1947. Given roughly five weeks to divide Punjab and Bengal, Radcliffe had to make decisions that would permanently reshape the map of South Asia. But drawing the India Pakistan border was far more complicated than simply dividing areas according to religious majorities. The Boundary Commissions had to consider rivers, canals, railways, roads, irrigation systems, administrative boundaries, cities and other factors. Decisions involving Lahore, Gurdaspur, Ferozepore, Calcutta, Nadia and the Chittagong Hill Tracts became part of one of the most consequential boundary-making exercises in modern history. The Radcliffe Award was prepared just days before Independence but was officially published on 17 Augus

Tags: Radcliffe Line, Partition 1947, India Pakistan, India Pakistan Border, Cyril Radcliffe, Radcliffe Award, Partition of India, 1947 Partition, British India, Lahore 1947, Punjab Partition, Indian History, History Explained