Did religion play a factor in India being divided into two after wanted independence from Britain if yes, what were the religions and where are they mainly located after independence
Yes, religion played a significant role in the division of India into two independent nations, India and Pakistan, in 1947. The partition was largely based on religious lines, with regions having a Muslim majority being allocated to Pakistan and those with a Hindu and Sikh majority remaining in India.
At the time, India had a significant Muslim population, particularly in the northwest and eastern regions. The demand for a separate homeland for Muslims was initially put forward by the All India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Muslim League leaders argued that Hindus and Muslims could not coexist within a single united India due to religious and cultural differences, and that Muslims would be better off with a separate nation where they could govern themselves.
After a series of negotiations and political turmoil leading up to independence, the British Indian Empire was divided along religious lines. The predominantly Muslim regions became West Pakistan and East Pakistan (which eventually became Bangladesh in 1971), while the rest of the country with a Hindu majority and significant Sikh population became the independent state of India.
These divisions led to a mass migration and communal violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Millions of people were displaced, and tragic incidents of violence occurred during the process, often referred to as the Partition of India. Hindus and Sikhs living in Pakistan migrated to India, while Muslims residing in India moved to Pakistan. Geographically, India emerged as a predominantly Hindu-majority country, whereas Pakistan became a Muslim-majority nation.
In India today, Hindus form the majority religious group, followed by Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and other minorities. The country adopted a secular democratic system, ensuring religious freedom for all its citizens. In Pakistan, Islam is the state religion, and the majority of the population adheres to Islam, including different sects such as Sunni and Shia Muslims.