Partition and the Changing Rules of Citizenship: An Assessment of the Immediate Factors and Contestations

Abstract

The partition of the Indian subcontinent on the eve of independence played a huge role in determining the rules of becoming citizens. There were multiple ranges of claimants from both the sides of partition lines which made the process complicated. There was a huge chunk of Hindu population migrating from the places which became part of Pakistan, particularly Punjab and Bengal. And similarly Muslim population were fleeing to newly created Pakistan and later on lot of them came back to reclaim their earlier homes. There were other conditions that were involved in laying down the rules of citizenship. All these conditions took a backseat and the partition created the importance of territorial citizenship.

This paper attempts to analyse the character of Indian citizenship after Partition and the immediate implications that followed.