Following the Second World War, India's fight for independence culminated after over two centuries of british domination. As indians became more and more agitated for self-rule and felt their contributions to the military effort entitled them to political autonomy, the protracted campaign, which started with the Revolt of 1857, acquired impetus. prime minister Clement Attlee's newly elected british government in 1945 was committed to granting independence, but maintaining a united india in the data-face of escalating intercommunal tensions was a difficulty.
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad ali Jinnah, and the indian National Congress, led by jawaharlal nehru and mahatma gandhi, were unable to agree on the new country's organizational framework. Following the cabinet Mission Plan's defeat in 1946, Jinnah's call for a distinct Muslim state grew stronger. The Great calcutta Killings and the bloodshed in Noakhali exposed the precarious status of Hindu-Muslim ties, and communal violence broke out throughout the nation. As hostilities increased, british officials concluded that the only practical way to stop more deaths was to divide the country.
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the final british Viceroy of india, declared on june 2, 1947, that britain had chosen to split the subcontinent into two sovereign states: india, which had a majority of Hindus, and pakistan, which had a majority of Muslims. West pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and east pakistan (now Bangladesh), two geographically distinct regions, were combined to form the new Pakistan. Mountbatten formally declared independence on august 15, 1947.
The Partition of the Army
The military was also divided as a result of the country's split, which presented both practical and psychological difficulties. At first, Mountbatten opposed dividing the indian army, which had functioned as a unified force under british rule. In order to ensure the security of both india and pakistan, he recommended that the indian army stay unified under an english commander. However, Jinnah flatly rejected the plan, stating that pakistan needed its own autonomous armed forces.
Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, the final Commander-in-Chief of the british indian army, was tasked with separating the armed forces. The british indian military establishment came to an end on august 14, 1947, when Auchinleck and Major General Reginald Savory signed the order to dismantle the old indian Army. The choice to enlist in the indian or Pakistani military was offered to soldiers, but with a restriction: no non-Muslim from india could enlist in the Pakistani military, and no Muslim from pakistan could enlist in the indian Army.
British military reports state that one-third of the indian Army's personnel decided to join pakistan, while two-thirds decided to stay with India. Approximately 2,60,000 of the 3,91,000 soldiers at the time stayed with india, while 1,31,000—the majority of whom were Muslims—went to Pakistan. India and britain split up the Gorkha Brigade, which was recruited in Nepal.
Division of the air Force and Navy
Additionally, the roughly 13,000-person british indian air Force was divided. Pakistan gained 3,000 airmen, while india kept 10,000. Similarly, the 8,700-sailor Royal indian Navy was split, with pakistan acquiring 3,000 and india keeping 5,700. To assist in overseeing the changeover, a few of british officers were temporarily hired. General Sir Frank Messervy was the first military leader of pakistan, and General Sir Robert Lockhart was the first army chief of India.
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad ali Jinnah, and the indian National Congress, led by jawaharlal nehru and mahatma gandhi, were unable to agree on the new country's organizational framework. Following the cabinet Mission Plan's defeat in 1946, Jinnah's call for a distinct Muslim state grew stronger. The Great calcutta Killings and the bloodshed in Noakhali exposed the precarious status of Hindu-Muslim ties, and communal violence broke out throughout the nation. As hostilities increased, british officials concluded that the only practical way to stop more deaths was to divide the country.
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the final british Viceroy of india, declared on june 2, 1947, that britain had chosen to split the subcontinent into two sovereign states: india, which had a majority of Hindus, and pakistan, which had a majority of Muslims. West pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and east pakistan (now Bangladesh), two geographically distinct regions, were combined to form the new Pakistan. Mountbatten formally declared independence on august 15, 1947.
The Partition of the Army
The military was also divided as a result of the country's split, which presented both practical and psychological difficulties. At first, Mountbatten opposed dividing the indian army, which had functioned as a unified force under british rule. In order to ensure the security of both india and pakistan, he recommended that the indian army stay unified under an english commander. However, Jinnah flatly rejected the plan, stating that pakistan needed its own autonomous armed forces.
Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, the final Commander-in-Chief of the british indian army, was tasked with separating the armed forces. The british indian military establishment came to an end on august 14, 1947, when Auchinleck and Major General Reginald Savory signed the order to dismantle the old indian Army. The choice to enlist in the indian or Pakistani military was offered to soldiers, but with a restriction: no non-Muslim from india could enlist in the Pakistani military, and no Muslim from pakistan could enlist in the indian Army.
British military reports state that one-third of the indian Army's personnel decided to join pakistan, while two-thirds decided to stay with India. Approximately 2,60,000 of the 3,91,000 soldiers at the time stayed with india, while 1,31,000—the majority of whom were Muslims—went to Pakistan. India and britain split up the Gorkha Brigade, which was recruited in Nepal.
Division of the air Force and Navy
Additionally, the roughly 13,000-person british indian air Force was divided. Pakistan gained 3,000 airmen, while india kept 10,000. Similarly, the 8,700-sailor Royal indian Navy was split, with pakistan acquiring 3,000 and india keeping 5,700. To assist in overseeing the changeover, a few of british officers were temporarily hired. General Sir Frank Messervy was the first military leader of pakistan, and General Sir Robert Lockhart was the first army chief of India.