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5 days ago
- Politics
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How a British judge divided India and Pakistan in just 5 weeks
In 1947, India and Pakistan were split by a man who had never seen the subcontinent before. Sir Cyril Radcliffe had just five weeks to draw borders that would change millions of lives forever. The result? A rushed line that caused mass migration, bloodshed and decades of conflict Refugees crowd onto a train as they try to flee India near New Delhi in September 1947. Some 15 million people crossed new borders during the violent partition of British-ruled India. At times, mobs targeted and killed passengers travelling in either direction; the trains carrying their corpses became known as "ghost trains." File Image/AP Seventy-eight years ago, on August 15, 1947, British India was split into two new sovereign nations — India and Pakistan — marking the end of over three centuries of colonial rule. But independence did not come with clarity. Instead, it came with confusion, panic, and heartbreak, as the land was hastily through a boundary whose foundations were drawn up in less than six weeks by a man who had never visited the region before. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The border that would divide one of the most diverse and densely populated regions in the world, affecting millions of lives, came to be known as the Radcliffe Line. It marked the end of British India and the beginning of two new nations: a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan (which later split into Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1971). But the hurried nature of this division continue to define the politics in the region nearly eight decades later. Why was the partition of India rushed? By the end of World War II, Britain was financially and militarily depleted. The colonial administration in India was becoming increasingly untenable amid growing nationalist unrest. Large-scale violence during the August 1946 communal riots had raised fears of a civil war. While the British had initially set a deadline of July 1948 for their withdrawal, the urgency to leave escalated. Map speculating on a possible division of India from The Daily Herald newspaper, June 4, 1947. Image/Wikimedia Commons The timeline was advanced by a full year, and Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, announced in June 1947 that independence would be granted in August of that same year. Mountbatten's announcement of partition into two dominions — India and Pakistan — did not come with clarity on where the dividing lines would lie. The task of determining those borders fell to an English judge who had never studied, written about, or even visited India: Sir Cyril Radcliffe. Who was Cyril Radcliffe, why was he chosen? Radcliffe was a barrister with no prior connection to India. On July 8, 1947, he arrived in the country for the first time — just over a month before the date set for independence. He was assigned to chair two boundary commissions, one each for the provinces of Punjab and Bengal, which were to be divided due to their mixed religious demographics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cyril Radcliffe also served as the first chancellor of the University of Warwick from its 1965 foundation until 1977. Image/National Portrait Gallery, London The reasoning behind his selection was based on his presumed impartiality. His lack of familiarity with Indian politics and geography was seen as a virtue, under the logic that someone with no personal or political bias could be trusted with an even-handed decision. However, his lack of local knowledge quickly became a liability. Radcliffe himself acknowledged the limits of his capabilities and the near-impossible task at hand. In a 1971 interview with journalist Kuldip Nayar, Radcliffe recalled how close he had come to assigning Lahore to India before being warned that Pakistan would be left without any major urban centre if that were to happen. He told Nayar, 'The time at my disposal was so short that I could not do a better job. However, if I had two to three years, I might have improved on what I did.' Despite recognising the enormity of the task and his unsuitability, Radcliffe accepted the assignment out of a sense of duty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By August 12, just five weeks after he began, he submitted his recommendations to Mountbatten. He departed India the very next day and never returned. Notably, he refused to accept payment for his work after learning about the communal violence that erupted. How were the India-Pakistan borders decided? Radcliffe was instructed to draw the borders based on religious demographics — primarily the distribution of Hindus and Muslims — but was also told to factor in 'other considerations.' These additional variables were never clearly defined but are believed to have included infrastructure, such as irrigation networks and railway systems, as well as economic and administrative viability. Map 'Prevailing Religions of the British Indian Empire, 1909' Key: Pink Hindu Green Muslim Diagonal lines Sikh (small area in Punjab) Yellow Buddhist (Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts) Blue Christian (Goa) Purple Animist (several inland hilly areas) The Andaman islands are not mapped. Image/John George Bartholomew - The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Oxford University Press, 1909. The ambiguity surrounding these considerations meant that Radcliffe had immense discretionary power. He was not only tasked with dividing land but with drawing a line through the hearts of communities, districts, and even families. His decisions, although aided by local legal advisers — two each from the Congress and the Muslim League — were ultimately final. With Radcliffe holding the deciding vote in each commission, his judgement became the basis for the creation of two nations. The job was made more difficult by the complex demography of the subcontinent. In provinces like Punjab and Bengal, there was no overwhelming religious majority. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Populations were mixed at various administrative levels — districts, tehsils, towns, and even villages. The Punjab Boundary Commission saw conflicting claims. The Muslim League insisted on the inclusion of Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, and laid claim to areas such as Ferozepur, Jullundur, Amritsar, Ambala, and Hoshiarpur based on the principle of contiguous Muslim-majority regions. The Congress, meanwhile, argued that Hindu and Sikh economic dominance in certain areas like Lahore and Gurdaspur should tilt the decision in India's favour. The Akali Dal, representing the Sikhs, also lobbied hard, focusing on control over canal systems vital to agriculture. A discussion on the partition of India involving (from left) Jawaharlal Nehru, vice president of the interim government; Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, counsellor to Lord Mountbatten; Lord Mountbatten, India's viceroy; and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, president of the All India Muslim League. In Bengal, the challenge was even greater. The border here was nearly six times longer than in Punjab. Religious and political loyalties were deeply entwined with economic and cultural realities. The Hindu Mahasabha also added its own voice. Radcliffe was so pressed for time that he could not even attend key public hearings in Lahore, remaining instead in Bengal to complete his assignment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ultimately, Punjab was split into East Punjab (India) and West Punjab (Pakistan), while Bengal was divided into West Bengal (India) and East Bengal (Pakistan, later Bangladesh). The provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, being Muslim-majority, were awarded entirely to Pakistan with minimal contestation. What happened after the partition? The consequences of Radcliffe's lines were immediate and catastrophic. Over 10 million people were displaced in the months that followed, as Hindus and Sikhs fled Pakistan and Muslims moved toward Pakistan from India. This migration, unlike any before it, was marked by brutal violence, massacres, and sexual violence on a horrifying scale. Indian soldiers walking through the debris of a building in the Chowk Bijli Wala area of Amristar, Punjab, during unrest following the partition. File Image/AFP Estimates suggest that between 200,000 and one million people were killed during the mass movement. Thousands more died from disease and starvation in refugee camps. Women were especially vulnerable; tens of thousands were raped, abducted, or mutilated, regardless of religious identity. Families were torn apart, homes were abandoned, and entire towns were emptied of their original populations. The postal services, military divisions, currency systems, and civil administrations of what had been a unified colony had to be split almost overnight. While Punjab saw much of the immediate bloodshed, the consequences of partition in Bengal were drawn out over decades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Waves of refugees from East Pakistan, and later Bangladesh, continued arriving in West Bengal well into the late 20th century. By 1981, it was estimated that one in every six people in West Bengal was a refugee, significantly impacting the state's population density, economy, and political dynamics. A refugee special train at Ambala Station during the Partition of India. Image/Govt of India The issues faced by these displaced populations — landlessness, job insecurity, communal tensions—continue to affect the region today. In many ways, the legacy of Radcliffe's border-drawing still dictates the demographic and political challenges of the eastern part of India. In the words of Lord Mountbatten, 'For more than hundred years you have lived together… My great hope was that communal differences would not destroy all of this…' But communal differences did indeed fracture the unity. The line drawn by the English judge with little knowledge of the subcontinent created a wound that has never fully healed. What happened to Kashmir? While the Radcliffe Line dealt primarily with British provinces, princely states — semi-autonomous regions under local rulers — were allowed to choose which nation to join. Among them, Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region ruled by a Hindu Maharaja, became the most contentious. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Maharaja's decision to accede to India after independence was met with outrage in Pakistan. This triggered the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48 and sowed the seeds for a dispute that continues more than seven decades later. A battery of Indian army artillery guns fire at the positions of Islamic guerillas in the Dras sector of Kashmir, June 1, 1999. File Image/AP Four wars, multiple skirmishes, and enduring political hostility between the two countries all stem from the unresolved status of Kashmir, a region whose fate was influenced by the same hasty decisions that defined partition. What is Radcliffe's legacy? Radcliffe returned to Britain after submitting his report and remained largely silent about the partition for the rest of his life. He passed away in April 1977, having never revisited India. He knew the consequences of his work were tragic, and he was reportedly deeply affected by the human cost that followed. In this September, 27, 1947 file photo, Muslim refugees crowd onto a train bound for Pakistan, as it leaves the New Delhi, India. File Image/AP According to a poem written about him and countless historical analyses, Radcliffe's line has been seen as a tool of fate, determining the identity and destiny of people with clinical indifference. "…He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect, But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect…" - an excerpt from British-American poet Wystan Hugh Auden's 'Partition'. His decisions have been the subject of intense historical scrutiny. Many scholars argue that the Radcliffe Line is among the most arbitrary and unscientific international borders ever drawn. To understand the borders of India and Pakistan is to confront one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the subcontinent. As generations grow up hearing tales of the freedom struggle, it is equally important to remember the stories of those who lost homes, families, and lives because of a line. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
USA Today Network Style Guide unveiled as resource for journalists, community
Dear loyal readers, The Gannett/USA Today Network is thrilled to announce the launch of the USA TODAY Network Style Guide, a crucial tool that embodies our unwavering commitment to clarity, accuracy, consistency and transparency in journalism. This guide is not only a valuable resource for journalists but also a free tool for our community, including students, teachers, bloggers and anyone with a passion for writing. In an ever-evolving landscape of language and communication, the USA TODAY Network Style Guide serves as a dynamic and sensible resource. The document aims to provide clarity and accuracy in reporting, addressing contemporary issues and nuanced terminology with precision and sensitivity. Crafted to adapt to the unique demands of each story, the guide provides flexibility, while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Our purpose is to empower those who seek to communicate effectively, fostering trust and understanding within our communities and beyond. The USA TODAY Network Style Guide is available for free by clicking the link on The Daily Herald website at Its benefits extend beyond our newsrooms to those who learn, teach and create content every day. The network hopes that this guide will be used and referenced in the spirit it was intended: as a tool providing guidance regarding language as we deliver on our mission of serving our communities. To view the Style Guide, visit . Very best, Kerri Bartlett Middle Tennessee Region Editor This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: USA Today Network Style Guide unveiled as resource for journalists, community
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Teen killed in spring break crash, IN cops say. Dad ‘never got to say goodbye'
A family spring break trip ended in tragedy when a car crash claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy from Illinois. Jordan Laskowski, his sister Riley, his mother, his grandmother and another sister, were driving through Lebanon, Indiana, when the single-car crash occurred April 4, according to WMAQ. The crash ejected Jordan and Riley from the car, WMAQ reported. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital and his sister was severely injured, the outlet reported. WLS reported his other sister, mom and grandma weren't seriously injured. 'This is a very tough time for (the) family,' a friend said in a GoFundMe. The Daily Herald reported that Jordan was an eighth grade student at Wredling Middle School in St. Charles Community Unit District 303. His father Scott called Jordan an 'amazing kid' in a Facebook post expressing his devastation. Before the crash, he was excited to watch his son play high school football within the year. 'I never got to say goodbye to my son,' he said. 'He was my best friend and everyone knew that. I wish I could trade places with him.' The crash is still under investigation, WRTV reported.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mule Day on track, Wagon Train arrives despite stormy weather, 'Everything is good here'
After another round of storms swept through Maury County on Wednesday evening, emergency workers continue assessing damages and if attendees will endure a soggier-than-usual Mule Day this year. In Maury County, several church shelters opened for those seeking refuge from the storm Wednesday, which brought high winds, heavy rain and a tornado warning. The storm follows two tornadoes that touched down in Maury County just days before on March 31, destroying a home in Mt. Pleasant in Maury County. More: Maury Co. farmers continue cleanup after Sunday tornado, 'It was like a freight train' More: Three Tennessee storm deaths reported in McNairy, Obion, Fayette counties As of Thursday morning, Mule Day events have not been affected by Wednesday's storms, Mule Day PR Director Louise Mills said. "Everything is coming off normal, and we are prepared to open the park today at 10 a.m.," Mills told The Daily Herald on Thursday morning. "Everything is good here, and we don't have any wet ground. It didn't rain much here at all. We heard the wind a little bit, but it was all good." More: Things to do: Mules, markets, First Fridays, CAB Festival, Clean Comedy at Packard The annual Mule Day Wagon Train also reached Maury County Park without a hitch after a few days of travel by mule-drawn wagons throughout counties in Southern Middle Tennessee. 'The mule train had a fabulous week traveling and arrived at the park about 4 p.m. Wednesday,' Mills said. "I think they had three very nice days on their wagon train." Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder posted to social media on Wednesday stating that safety during Mule Day is the city's number one priority. "Mule Day emergency preparedness and oversight is one of the most sophisticated operations we handle," Molder stated. "The latest predictions show a 'break' in the bad weather for Friday thru Sunday afternoon. As far as events, most events will be inside the park and OEM and the Maury County Sheriff's Department have EOC set up at the [Ridley] 4-H center to monitor events. CPD will assist with any requests for help." Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia Mule Day on track, Wagon Train arrives despite bad weather
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Columbia officials honor late WWII Iwo Jima vet with ceremonial wreath
On Friday, the city of Columbia, along with military representatives and community members, gathered to honor John Harlan Willis, a Medal of Honor recipient, during a wreath-laying ceremony at the John Harlan Willis Bridge Memorial on Highway 31. This event marked the 80th anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where Willis demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness, paying the highest price to help save his fellow Marines. John Harlan Willis was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee. He enlisted in the United States Navy on November 5, 1940. On Feb. 19, 1945, Harlan landed with the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines on Iwo Jima. He participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima as a rifle company platoon corpsman and, on Feb. 28, while aiding fallen Marines during a fierce action near Japanese-held Hill 362, was wounded by shrapnel and ordered back to the battle-aid station. Disregarding his injuries, Willis returned to the battle area to resume casualty assistance. He was treating a wounded Marine when the enemy attacked his position with hand grenades. After throwing eight grenades back at the enemy, he was killed when a ninth grenade exploded in his hand. For his heroic actions that day during the battle, Willis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 'John Harlan Willis is a true American hero whose bravery on the battlefield inspires all Columbians," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "On this 80th anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice, dying while serving our country in World War II during the Battle of Iwo Jima, we gather to honor his memory and ensure that future generations never forget the courage and selflessness that defined him and his generation. Columbia and Maury County are proud to call him one of our own.' Friday's ceremony was well attended by local officials, military representatives, including retired U.S. Army Colonel Ashley Brown, who participated in the tribute. The colors were presented by American Legion Post 170, and attendees gathered to reflect on the legacy of courage and selflessness that John Harlan Willis left behind. 'It's important that we not only honor our veterans but ensure their sacrifices are remembered," City Manager Tony Massey said. "John Harlan Willis' heroic actions represent the very best of what it means to serve. His courage is a beacon of strength for our community, and today we stand united in remembering his incredible legacy. He was a true patriot.' The event concluded with a moment of silence as a wreath was placed at the John Harlan Willis Bridge Memorial, marking the 80th anniversary of his death and reaffirming the city's commitment to preserving the memory of its fallen heroes. Jay Powell is a reporter at The Daily Herald. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia officials honor late WWII Iwo Jima vet with ceremonial wreath
