I am speaking Hindustan of 1947. Whatever happened in India between January and August 15, 1947, was immortalized in the pages of history. Today in the sixth episode of this series of 15 stories, know how the dagger of Partition was tearing Mumbai’s film industry into two pieces. . As soon as it was learned that a part of Punjab was going to go to Pakistan, many film personalities came in favor of Pakistan, saying that they should return to their land. These included legendary artists like Noor Jahan, Sahir Ludhianvi, Begum Para and Bibbo.
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan had made up his mind that he would remain in Lahore. Lata Mangeshkar’s guru Ustad Amanat Ali Khan Bhendi Bazarwale also turned Pakistani. However, later many of these people returned to India. But in the meantime, the cinema of 1947 India did not stop. This year 280 films were made in 15 dialects, which was enough to show that the arts do not follow any dividing line. Here, Mountbatten, who had prepared the proposal for partition, on his return from London on June 2, declared that the transfer of power would happen soon.
The announcement was made in the presence of Nehru, Patel, Kriplani, Jinnah, Liaquat Ali, Abdul Rab Nistar and Baldev Singh. On June 3, 1947, at 7 pm, 4 prominent leaders of the country (Nehru, Patel, Baldev Singh, Jinnah) announced on the radio that they had agreed to the plan to divide India. Upon hearing this, my neighbors were shocked. Many hopes are tied, many broken. Gandhiji was desperate. As soon as Mountbatten learned that Gandhi was going to break ties with the Congress and condemn his plan at the June 4 prayer meeting, he invited Gandhi to the Viceroy’s House. Mountbatten succeeded. Gandhiji fell silent.
Talking to reporters on the evening of 4 June 1947, Mountbatten gave the date of transfer of power – 15 August 1947. The whole country was astonished. British PM Attlee, who was waiting to announce the date of India’s independence in London, was also shocked. No one thought Mountbatten would be in such a hurry. At the same time, the announcement of partition caused turmoil in the princely state of Kashmir. Raja Hari Singh was inclined towards Pakistan, but the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist population here wanted to remain part of India.
