Understanding Migration: Decision-Making Activity: Partition of India
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Section 4: Case Studies for the Advocate-Decision Making Activity
Section 4 is based around an advocate/decision-making activity, or "controlled debate." Instructions and worksheets are included, along with a series of case studies designed to be used in this activity. Each case study includes two pages of essential reading, along with supplemental materials that can be used, if time allows, or can be assigned as homework. We have made a conscious effort to use as many primary document sources as possible in order to help build critical reading and interpretation skills. The worksheets for Section 4 are included with each case study. Case Study: Should Hindus migrate from Lahore and resettle in India after Partition? After two centuries of colonial rule, the British withdrew from the Indian subcontinent in 1947, under the condition that the colony be divided into two countries: India and Pakistan. New borders were drawn for these countries based on the demographics of the two largest religious communities. India was to be primarily Hindu, while Pakistan would be mostly Muslim. Other religious communities, such as the Sikhs, were left without a specific country of their own. Within months, millions of people found themselves on the "wrong" side of the border — estimates of the number of people uprooted range from 8-18 million. This case study looks at the decision faced by Hindus who found themselves located in Lahore, in the Punjab region. The city, close to the newly formed border, was also one of the last places to be decided upon when the subcontinent was divided. When Lahore was finally awarded to Pakistan, the city's Hindu residents were forced to decide whether to stay or resettle in India. Although the majority of Hindus left Lahore after Partition, some did stay. Students will read primary source documents to defend their position in the Advocate/Decision-Making Activity.