Genocide: - DIIS

Anders Bjørn Hansen
Punjab and 3,8 million non-Muslims in Western Punjab. 162 It was estimated
that since August 1947 around 2,1 million Muslims had left Eastern Punjab
and 2 million non-Muslims Western Punjab. According to the Joint Evacuation
Movement Plan, the remaining 3,2 million Muslims in Eastern Punjab
and 1,8 million non-Muslims in Western Punjab were to be moved across
the border, either in foot convoys, motor transport convoys or by train. A
major problem was the shortage of troops to protect the marching columns
along with the risk of delays. Approximately 10 million men, women and
children were forced into migration and one should remember that behind
these fi gures lies the untold misery of the refugees. On December 16, 1947,
Mudie wrote to Jinnah that, “our exchange of population is practically
over now”. 163
Conclusions
The introduction of political autonomy in 1937 triggered off a struggle for
political supremacy in Punjab and marked the fi rst escalation of violence
which was followed by a spell of peace for the next two years. In the 1940
Lahore resolution Jinnah denounced the coexistence of the three communities
thus sharpening the communal cleavages. Though it is a matter of
debate as to whether Jinnah proposed the resolution as a mere bargaining
counter, it nonetheless succeeded in alarming the minority Sikh community
raising fears of future Muslim aggression. This led to the creation of
self-defence mechanisms like armed volunteer bands in each community
and during 1942/43 an uneasy truce prevailed. In 1944-45 the violence
reappeared and a new escalation occurred in 1946 as a result of the provincial
elections. The various private armies also witnessed an alarming
increase in membership and activities.
In the 1945/46 provincial elections a change took place in the way Punjabi
politics was viewed. The Muslim League won a landslide victory but was
unable to form a Government and the Unionist Party managed to remain
in power with the support of Congress and the Sikhs. Deprived of political
162 Joint Evacuation Movement Plan, October 20, 1947, in Singh (1991), p. 548-52. The number
of Hindus were 2.3 million and Sikhs made up 1.5 millions.
163 Mudie to Jinnah, December 16, 1947, in Singh (1991), p. 575-76.
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