NCERT Names Jinnah, Congress, Mountbatten As Responsible For Partition In New Modules

A new set of special modules prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for Partition Horrors Remembrance Day has directly named three figures as responsible for India's Partition-Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Congress leadership, and then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

The modules, created as supplementary learning resources for students, include a section titled "Culprits of the Partition". It states: "Jinnah, who demanded it; second, the Congress, which accepted it; and third, Mountbatten, who implemented it."

The middle-stage version (for Classes 6 to 8) also features a speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru in July 1947, in which he said: "We have come to a stage when we must either accept division or face continued conflict and chaos. Partition is bad. But whatever the price of unity, the price of civil war would be infinitely greater."

What the Modules Contain

NCERT has released two separate supplementary modules-one for Classes 6 to 8 (middle stage) and another for Classes 9 to 12 (secondary stage). These materials, available in both Hindi and English, are not part of the official textbooks but are designed for classroom projects, posters, discussions, and debates.

Both modules begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2021 message announcing the observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on August 14 every year. Quoting his post on X (formerly Twitter), the material recalls: "Partition's pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced, and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day."

Middle-Stage Module

The middle-stage text stresses that Partition "was not inevitable" but rather a result of "wrong ideas." It says Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel accepted the division out of fear of civil war, after which Mahatma Gandhi too dropped his opposition. Gandhi, the module notes, opposed Partition but not through violence or anger. Patel described it as "bitter medicine", while Nehru admitted it was "bad" but unavoidable.

Secondary-Stage Module

The secondary-stage version traces the roots of Partition to the belief among certain Muslim leaders in a separate identity grounded in "political Islam," which it says rejected permanent equality with non-Muslims. The text identifies Jinnah as the "able lawyer-leader" who advanced this ideology and spearheaded the Pakistan movement.

The module highlights that after Mountbatten took charge as Viceroy in March 1947, the escalation of communal violence and Jinnah's uncompromising stance forced Nehru and Patel to agree to the division. On June 3, 1947, Mountbatten announced the Partition plan, which was accepted by both the Congress and the Muslim League.

Describing Partition as having "no parallel in world history," the text notes that between 1947 and 1950, the division devastated Punjab and Bengal, fractured India's unity, caused mass killings and displacement, deepened communal distrust, and set Jammu and Kashmir on a course of turmoil that later worsened with terrorism.

Long-Term Impact

In a section titled "Long-Term Losses - still ongoing," the module argues that India continues to bear the consequences of Partition. It says the division entrenched suspicion and hostility between communities and continues to fuel external aggression and internal fragmentation.

The text further connects Partition to the Kashmir conflict, subsequent wars with Pakistan, terrorism, and the heavy costs of India's defence preparedness. It adds that foreign powers supporting Pakistan have repeatedly sought to use the issue as leverage against India, placing lasting strain on the country's foreign policy.