Radcliffe Commission, Composition and Challenges
The Radcliffe Commission was a two-member boundary commission appointed by the British government in June 1947 to determine the borders between India and Pakistan. The commission was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British barrister and judge. The other member of the commission was Justice Muhammad Munir, a Muslim judge from the Punjab High Court.
The Radcliffe Commission was faced with a number of challenges in drawing the borders between India and Pakistan. The two countries were divided along religious lines, with Muslims predominantly living in the western and eastern regions of British India, and Hindus and Sikhs predominantly living in the central and northern regions. However, there were also large minority populations in all regions.
Another challenge faced by the Radcliffe Commission was the need to divide the Punjab and Bengal provinces, both of which were home to large populations of both Hindus and Muslims. The Radcliffe Award, which was published on August 17, 1947, awarded the western part of Punjab to Pakistan and the eastern part to India. The province of Bengal was also divided, with the eastern part awarded to India and the western part awarded to Pakistan.
The Radcliffe Award was controversial and led to widespread violence and displacement of people. Millions of Hindus and Muslims were forced to migrate across the new borders. The partition of India and Pakistan was one of the largest mass migrations in human history.
Composition of the Radcliffe Commission:
- Sir Cyril Radcliffe (Chairman)
- Justice Muhammad Munir
Challenges faced by the Radcliffe Commission:
- Dividing a country along religious lines
- Dividing provinces with large populations of both Hindus and Muslims
- Ensuring that the new borders were fair and equitable
Outcome of the Radcliffe Commission:
- The Radcliffe Award divided British India into two new countries, India and Pakistan.
- The western part of Punjab and the western part of Bengal were awarded to Pakistan.
- The eastern part of Punjab and the eastern part of Bengal were awarded to India.
- The Radcliffe Award was controversial and led to widespread violence and displacement of people.
The Radcliffe Commission played a pivotal role in the partition of India and Pakistan. The commission's award had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people on both sides of the new borders.
