Shaurya Y7

Kashmir Essay
India and Pakistan, two countries that you have heard of numerous times, used to be one country called India. Before August 15th, 1947, these two countries were together. India used to consist of two religions; Islam and Hinduism. These two religions had formed an empire called the Mughal Empire. Various things occurred that will be mentioned below and so India divided into two countries; India and Pakistan.

Before 1947, India and Pakistan were a joint country called India, as mentioned. This country consisted of two religions; Islam and Hinduism. So, some people in India were Muslim and some people were Hindu. During the two religions living together, they had found out dissimilarities between them. Hindus would believe in different Gods and Goddesses while Muslims would believe in one God; Allah. Both the religions had different beliefs and customs from each other. Muslims eat cows while the Hindus find it totally against their belief and custom. There were many other problems that they found out as time passed by. They tried to sort it out till they couldnt. The two religions could not stand each other and hated each other as time passed by. Many wars had been fought due to their intolerance. Because of this, people wanted that Muslims and Hindus should not stay together in one country. They wanted to live in different places. This lead to partitioning. When India was separated on 15th August, 1947, a new country was formed named Pakistan. Hindus lived in India while Muslims lived

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in Pakistan and they still do. People had a lot of trouble due to this partitioning as people had to move from place to place. People were poor and didnt have useful and convenient transportation to move and transport from place to place as they couldnt live in either India or Pakistan due to the partitioning and the decision of Hindus in India and Muslims in Pakistan. Some people were just stuck in the middle since they werent Hindus or Muslims. Some were both and some were none. Because of this, those people who were both or none had to move out of India and Pakistan, out to another place on Earth since they werent eligible for both places. A lot of trouble was caused due to this partitioning. Lives were ruined and killed, discomfort situations were created for people and many other things. But even after they were partitioned, they problems were not solved. There was a place that was in the middle of both countries. A place that both countries claimed. It was Kashmir. India and Pakistan both demanded Kashmir as a part of their land. Arguments and wars were fought between the two opposing sides just like before, except for one difference that wasnt there before and now is. They are now two different countries; India and Pakistan. These two sides wanted to rule over Kashmir. Kashmir, on the other hand, had a totally different choice. They didnt want to be ruled by anyone. They wanted to be free as their own country. Kashmir did not like to be a part of any of the countries. They had many protests in which they had said about declaring wars, bad things about India and freedom. Whereas India also had protests with a different choice. They had said that no one should ask for Kashmir. They want to rule it. Kashmir should be a part of India. Whether it was Pakistan, India or Kashmir, they all had arguments, wars, deaths, protests and destructions going on.

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But finally after all the arguments, wars, deaths, protests and destructions, India had won the battle. Kashmir is now a part of India. Pakistan did not win and so could not claim Kashmir as a part of their country. But, since then and till now, people believe that the fight hasnt been fair. For both India and Pakistan, the most singular conflict unresolved since partition has concerned the former Princely State of Kashmir, whose fate was left undetermined at the time the British left. Lying as it did on the border, Kashmir was claimed by both countries, which have been to war over this region on numerous occasions. Bates, C. (2011, March 3rd). The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/partition1947_01.shtml. During the wars of the partitioning and Kashmir conflict, thousands of lives were lost and many were ruined. Destructions of places and disorder of things. People had to migrate from place to place and many discomfort situations arrived and occurred. But overall if we connect this to our Big Idea, beliefs and customs from the past have a powerful effect on our lives today, you can see how it relates. Islam and Hinduism from the past were together in one country and they found out that both the religions couldnt live together as they had dissimilarities and problems living together. So they had all these wars, partitioning, and conflict of Kashmir. Our world today would be totally different if these things from the past didnt occur. Pakistan wouldnt have ever existed and so Kashmir would have never been a part of India today. Kashmir today is a city in India and is a gorgeous, elegant and lovely tourist attraction. India, Pakistan and Kashmir still have a powerful connection and impact in the world till this date.

Credits:

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BBC. (2014, January 31st). Kashmir Profile. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-11693674 Bates, C. (2011, March 3rd). The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/partition1947_01.shtml. Princeton University. (2008, October 30th). Crossing the lines: Kashmir, Pakistan, India. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LLnuglrW34