Why was India divided into two different countries when it won independence from Britain? (4 points)
1. Religious tensions: The main reason for the division of India into two countries, India and Pakistan, was the deep religious divide between Hindus and Muslims. Muslims, who felt marginalized and feared for their future in a Hindu-majority India, pushed for a separate Muslim state.
2. Partition plan: The British government, along with Indian political leaders, devised a plan to partition India along religious lines. This plan was known as the Mountbatten Plan, named after the last British Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten.
3. Independence movement: The Indian independence movement was led by the Indian National Congress, which was primarily a Hindu-majority party. However, the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, demanded a separate Muslim state. This led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
4. Violence and mass migration: The partition of India and Pakistan led to widespread violence, with communal riots erupting across the region. Millions of people were displaced and forced to migrate to either India or Pakistan, leading to one of the largest mass migrations in history.