BRITISH COLONIAL LEGACY: DIVISION OF INDIA AND DURAND LINE FALLOUT

Abstract

This paper aims to highlight the influences of the Mughal and British empires, which up till date have an impact or have impacted the sub-continent post-independence. Contrary to common perception that the Mughals ruled India in its entirety, it was only the north of India controlled by this dynasty, excluding Bengal and anything south of India or better known as the Deccan was a coveted region the Mughals made efforts to annex, only to their demise. The British get undue blame for dividing India as if it was entirely at their discretion, without any role of the natives; moreover, subsequent problems of the region, are many a time reverted to the British divide and rule policy. This paper aims to highlight rifts that existed amidst the natives before the British took power or even prior to their arrival in India; after establishing this and analysing the British role leading to independence, there will be an attempt to see how such differences and influences have impacted India, Pakistan and Afghanistan post-independence. These countries still have neighbouring conflicts, often times for which the British are up to this date blamed. It being almost eight decades of British departure, it would do well to see who in fact is responsible for the woes of the region.