Caste System Pyramid
Even before the partition of India, India as a country was divided. For a long time Muslims and Hindus had been at disagreements with one another. These disputes came primarily from the differences in their religious beliefs, and because of how the Hindu majority suppressed the Muslim minority. In particular, Hindus were very strict about caste relations and how Muslims fit into their system. In the years leading up to partition the British government also faced a lot of resistance from the Indian populace.
Hindu and Muslim Relations
Before the talks of Indian independence and partition began, Muslims had been working towards their own state. Muslims had felt that for a long time the Indian government had been discriminating against them and were working to keep them from achieving equality. This seemed to be especially true in the analysis of the caste system. As a Hindu, there is a strict caste system, or hierarchy that is followed by everyone. The castes are as follows; bramins, kshatryias, vaishyas, and shudras. This is the caste system from top to bottom and excluded from that system are the untouchables. Bramins are at the top of the caste system and they are usually Hindu priests or scholars. Next are kshatryias, their professions includes warriors and kings. Next are the vaishyas, which includes merchants and landowners. Lastly are sudras, they are commoners, peasants, and servants. Below the entire caste system are untouchables, which are people who do the jobs that most people in society do not want to do. Untouchable’s job professions include jobs like street sweepers, latrine cleaners, and leather workers. This hierarchy is extremely important to know in regards to the relationship between Hindus and Muslims. This is because the Hindus treated Muslims worse than untouchables in most cases. Hindus did not allow Muslims to drink out of the same water source that Hindus did. Instead, a Hindu had to be present at the water source and get the water for the Muslims. This was because Hindus felt that if a Muslim touched their water, it would become contaminated and they would no longer be able to use it. As partition neared, the treatment of Muslims only worsened and soon many riots and murders were taking place throughout India. As Muslims began to kill Hindus, Hindus would retaliate and kill Muslims. This relationship continued all the way until partition happened.
Untouchable man working in the sewers
British Government
More important information about the cultural background leading up to partition and during the year 1947 has to do with the British government. As the year 1947 approached the British were finding it more and more difficult to deal with the Indian populace. The British government was very afraid of an open rebellion and had adopted a more violent approach to putting down opposition to British rule. With Gandhi’s nonviolent and noncooperation movement getting larger and larger the British government was finding itself in negotiation with Indian government officials for the independence of India. They could no longer ignore the Indian populace after a series of mishaps that helped to discredit the British rule in India. Most notably was the Amritsar massacre, in which a British officer ordered a firing squad to fire on nonviolent protestors. After this event many of the people around the world began putting pressure on the British government to allow India’s independence. As time passed WWII erupted and the British became heavily involved in the war effort. Gandhi still promoted noncooperation and he and many of his followers were thrown into jail because of it. At this point in time the Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah began to gain power because of the support that they gave the British during the war. This allowed them to engage with the British when talks of Indian independence finally occurred. As the war ended the British Empire was bankrupt. They had little funds and could no longer station large amounts of people in India. Fearing a rebellion, the British had decided that it would be best if they left India altogether.
Indians protesting the arrest of Gandhi in 1930
Amritsar Massacre (1919)