How the Indian Empire was Unmade: A History of Borders Carved with Ink and Fire

The 1940s were momentous years for modern India. Besides being witness to the final phase of the freedom struggle, the period was marked by grave moments such as the Partition and the martyrdom of the apostle of peace, Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s death was a direct outcome of the hate and insanity which had gripped the country during the bloody days of the Partition. A blot on the otherwise glorious freedom struggle, the Partition has been a subject of debate with historians examining various facets of this tragedy: the socio-economic and political conditions which precipitated the division of the country and the impact it had on different social groups, including women and other marginalized sections like the minorities. In addition to historians, Partition studies have also seen contributions from scholars belonging to other streams of social sciences including Sociology and Political Science.