American History

The separation of Hindus and Muslims in India during the 1940s was considered by many people as the most shocking incident of the 20th century. There are several issues surrounding the division of these two groups, but the major issues that apparently caused the ultimate severance were their religious belief and their fear that they would not receive ample representation in the Indian government. First, Muslims feared that they will be ruled by the more numerous Hindus, which they regard as infidels worthy of being eradicated. As a consequence of this intolerant and aggressive religious belief, peaceful unification among the native born Indians became impossible. Second, because of the uncertainty of establishing an independent nation, fierce disagreement between Hindus and Muslims was exacerbated. Although the implementation of the India Act in 1935 granted Indians a legislative body, yet it resulted to the election of many Hindus in Indias legislative department that further enraged the minority Muslims who had little representation and power in the government. With both sides reluctant to cooperate, the division of India into two independent states, one governed by Hindus and the other governed by Muslims, ultimately resulted.

Mohandas Gandhi was a strong advocate of non-violent protests, peace and reconciliation. When Gandhi returned to India, he urged the Indian people to cast their ethnic and religious disparities aside in settling their respective independence cause, as well as encouraged them to force the British colonists out of their country through non-violent protest. However, in 1947, despite Gandhis efforts, India was all the same partitioned to two independent states that highlighted the final division between Indias Muslim and Hindu population. Nevertheless, Gandhiss philosophy has aroused several important resistance movements of the 20th century, including the movement in South Africa to stop discrimination led by Nelson Mandela, and the Civil rights movement in the United States led by Dr. Martin Luther King.