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Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Why 1947 Boundary Commission awards for Punjab, Bengal irked India” published in Indian Express on 13th August 2022.
What is the News?
On August 17, 1947, the award of the Boundary Commissions for the partition of Punjab and Bengal was announced. The award caused much anguish to the people of the two provinces and also to the governments of India and Pakistan.
What were the two Boundary Commissions?
In 1947, Sir Cyril John Radcliffe, a British lawyer was made the Chairman of two boundary commissions of Punjab and Bengal. He was given the task to draw up the new borders of India and Pakistan.
The boundary commissions of Punjab and Bengal also included two nominees each from the Indian National Congress and Muslim League respectively.
The Boundary Commissions award was made public on August 17, 1947. The award caused much anguish to the people of the two provinces and also to the governments of India and Pakistan.
What were the views of Nehru on these awards?
On Bengal: Jawaharlal Nehru protested against the award of Chittagong hill Tracts to Pakistan (East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). He said that he had never considered the allocation of Chittagong Hill Tracts to East Bengal as the area has 97% population of Buddhists and Hindus.
On Punjab: Nehru said that he considered that the award of boundary commission in Punjab was likely to have a bad effect on the Sikhs.
Note: Sardar Patel’s view was that the only solution to the Punjab award was a transfer of population on a large scale.
On the Bengal award, what were BR Ambedkar and SP Mukherjee’s note?
The joint note of BR Ambedkar and SP Mukherjee pointed out that the decision of the award in some vital respects is “unjust and unfair” and against the fundamental policy of the partition and also the terms of reference.
