"A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance." -Jawarhalal Nehru's speech to the nation on the nights of August 14th.
The partition of India is not only in the history of the Indian subcontinent, but a signal event in world history. Preceding the partition, India was directly under Crown rule. British rule had been established in eastern India during the mid eighteenth century to gain control of the Indian government which would convey substantial economic advantages. Organizations were created during this period to enhance the various political, cultural, social, economic and religious interest Indians and Indian Muslims. These premier bodies of nationalist opinion of India and Pakistan were the Indian National Congress and The Muslim League. With the passing of the Indian Independence Act 1947, all states were released from their obligations to the Crown. This later led to the partition of India, on August 15, 1947, and the birth of a new Islamic Republic of Pakistan. .
Unfortunately, accompanying the partition of India, and the creation of Pakistan came the separation of Bangladesh form Pakistan, and much violence. Boundary issues, left unresolved by the British, have caused two wars and continuing conflict between India and Pakistan. They are still fighting over the possession of Kashmir. Since the two countries were divided based on religion, Pakistan being Islamic and India being secular and Hindu, there have been many religious conflicts. The partition of India and its freedom from colonial rule set a precedent for nations such as Israel and effects us in many ways today.
At its peak, the British Empire held land on every continent of the world, spawning the well known phrase, "the sun never sets on the British Empire." The British presence was established in India by the East India Company , a company which eventually became responsible for actually ruling India in 1858 after the Great Rebellion.
