In August of 1947, the British government made a decision to partition the colony of India. All Muslims would move to the newly created Pakistan while Hindus would be in the newly-independent nation of India. This decision led to the largest migration in human history, with millions of people suddenly forced to leave their homes and large-scale loss of life.
Today, on India's Independence day, Author Ritu Hemnani shares the inspiration behind her middle grade novel in verse, Lion of the Sky.
In August of 1947, the British government hastily drew a line across the map of India, splitting it in two as part of its plan for independence. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families who had lived peacefully as neighbors for generations were torn apart by the newly created atmosphere of hostility and suspicion. In search of safety, many Muslim families became refugees in the newly created country of Pakistan while Hindu and Sikh families traced the opposite journey towards the newly-independent nation of India. This unilateral colonial decision led to the largest migration in human history, with millions of people suddenly forced to leave their homes and large-scale loss of life.
Today, on the anniversary of the Independence of Pakistan, Author Saadia Faruqi shares the inspiration behind her middle grade novel, The Partition Project and why it is so important to continue to teach the Partition to children today.
