In 1947, India achieved its independence. As the British rushed to leave, they partitioned the country into Muslim majority areas, on the East and West edges, and Hindu-majority areas in the center. At first, no major political party wanted the country to be split. However, major differences between the Muslim League, led by Jinnah, and the INC, led by Nehru, emerged. For instance, the two parties had different views on whether the new country would be a federal or a unitary state. Neither side would change its position. Each party also used religious appeals to motivate its base. Moreover, deep-seated fear of the other made partition seem like the only solution. The idea of partition was also pushed by the British who had little understanding of the complex realities of life in India; the difficulties in drawing a border; and simply wanted to leave with its honor intact, including maintaining a good relationship with future leaders. Ignoring the third major religion pushed Sikhs to fight partition altogether. Princely states were also undecided about what country to join. The general fear that the other group might attack fueled communal violence and migration of millions. Finally, the use of rape as a weapon by both sides and the honor killings in response turned Partition into an unforeseen disaster; that led to the deaths of million and the creation of two states, who would go to war three times in the next 50 years. However, decolonization had began.

Presidential address by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the Muslim League Lahore, 1940: Muslim India cannot accept any constitution which must necessarily result in a Hindu majority government. Hindus and Muslims brought together under a democratic system forced upon the minorities can only mean Hindu Raj. Democracy of the kind with which the Congress High Command is enamoured would mean the complete destruction of what is most precious in Islam. We have had ample experience of the working of the provincial constitutions during the last two and a half years, and any repetItion of such a government must lead to civil war and [the] raising of private armies, as recommended by Mr. Gandhi to [the] Hindus of Sukkur when he said that they must defend themselves violently or non-violently, blow for blow, and if they could not they must emigrate.

The British sent well-known aristocrat and World War Two commander of the Southeast Asian campaigns, Lord Louis Mountbatten to solve the problem and determinate the best path for Indian decolonization. Within weeks of his arrival, Mountbatten began seriously examining the idea of partition and his initial plan appeared in mid-April. While Mountbatten contemplated partition, nearly every other major player in the India warned against it. However, Mountbatten viewed it as the best compromise in order to resolve an increasingly unworkable and violent situation. Despite the outbreaks of violence and the increasing communal distrust, Mountbatten did not foresee the large scale movement of people partition would bring. All parties disagreed with this assessment. Jinnah cautioned Mountbatten on 20 May of the potential dangers of partition, warnings that went ignored. In contrast, Nehru predicted anarchy. The Governor of the Punjab, viewed partition as ‘unthinkable’ and believed it would “destroy the Punjab economically.” While perhaps unrealistic, Gandhi even vowed to submit to and campaign for a Jinnah government, as long as it kept India unified. Mountbatten never mentioned his plan to Jinnah. Partition was to proceed. Mostly to threaten Jinnah, and with conviction that Jinnah would veto the plan, Congress accepted the proposal on 28 April. Gandhi saw that the plan would leave Pakistan and India fighting over a number of issues long after the British had withdrawn.