The partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 was a defining moment which has powerfully shaped the destinies of people in the South Asian region. The birth of nation-states of India and Pakistan produced reverberations which were both immediate and long-term. This book focuses on the aftermath of partition and takes stock of its long term consequences. Earlier works on partition have portrayed it as a tragic and unintended consequence of decolonisation, or subordinated it to larger dramas surrounding the advent of independence. This book sees partition in its own terms. It argues that it was not a single event, but a trigger of processes which have left a deep imprint on state and society in the region. Where other books have looked only at the causes of partition, this book broadens the horizon by looking at its effects. It is constructed around two key motifs, the dislocations and disruptions as well as the long-term impact of partition on peoples, places and institutions. This book draws upon new theoretical insights and fresh bodies of data to historically reappraise partition in the light of its long aftermath. It uses a comparative approach by viewing South Asia in its to

This book draws upon new theoretical insights and fresh bodies of data to historically reappraise partition in the light of its long aftermath. It uses a comparative approach by viewing South Asia in its totality, rather than looking at it in narrow 'national' terms. As the first book to focus on the aftermath of partition, it fills a distinctive niche in the study of contemporary South Asia.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203402081

The partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 was a turning point for the area, irrevocably altering the fortunes of the people of South Asia. This three-volume reader brings together an array of essays drawing upon new theoretical insights and fresh bodies of data, which critically examine the effects of the partition in post-colonial South Asia.

Organized thematically, the essays cover a range of topics including borders and boundaries, refugee-hood and displacement, majorities and minorities, citizenship, diaspora and the construction of post-colonial national identities. Each volume includes a critical introduction and provides a thematic overview identifying new developments and key debates within the field. Presenting a plurality of viewpoints, the contributors add a new perspective to the literature by integrating topics within a comparative framework encompassing India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir.

This collection of essays addressing concerns rooted in the post-colonial setting adds a new dimension to the current literature and paves the way for further research into the consequences of the Indian subcontinent's partition.