Reimagining: How India Would Have Looked Like As A Nation Today If The Partition Had Never Happened?

It¡¯s been 75 years since India became independent. In this time, the country has experienced a whirlwind of events, from ISRO¡¯s successful Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) to moments of pride like exemplary performances by Indian athletes at the Birmingham CWG 2022.

PTI

And as we gear up to celebrate Independence Day, we couldn't help but think that 15 August not only mark the day we declared ourselves free from British rule in India but that it also is a day when the subcontinent was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan. And since the partition on 14-15 August 1947, both the countries charted their separate journey forward.

While the aftereffects of partition are living history, one wonders what would have been if India had not been partitioned at all. How different our lives would have been if Pakistan was still a part of India? How the politics and economy would have looked like? Would the two now bitter rivals could have fared as a superpower if still been a single country today? Let's take a guess:

1. Strongest Army

An Indian Army contingent takes part in the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day | AFP

One of the best advantages of an undivided India would have been the Indian army as it would have been one of the strongest armies in the world. And RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) would have worked together for the safety of the nation.

2. The Jammu and Kashmir issue

Dal Lake Jammu & Kashmir | Twitter

If India had remained undivided, the Kashmir issue perhaps wouldn¡¯t have existed and the tug of war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir would not have existed today, and nor China would have been occupying a part of Kashmir.

3. Stronger in different sports like Cricket and Hockey

Indian Hockey Team | PTI

The Indian cricket team would have more powerful bowlers and skilled batsmen and dominate in the international tournament. A united India could also have done wonders for hockey, giving the team an opportunity to soar higher than already existing rivals.

4. Protection of minorities

Pakistan has often failed to protect minorities like Hindus and Christians who have been attacked and seen their communities perish under an unpatronising majority government. A secular India would protect their right to practise their religion and defend them from sectarian as well as communal violence.

5. Women's empowerment

BCCL

Without partition, countries would not be able to impose the culture of a male-dominated society thereby offering women greater opportunities to pursue their dreams.

6. Greater Maritime presence

The maritime and naval component is an important part of the political, economic and military domain of a maritime nation. Pakistan and India apart from being hostile neighbours with over 3,323 km of the international land border also share maritime space in Indian Ocean Region. If the India-Pakistan partition never happened, India would have had extended maritime borders.

7. Political and cultural impact

United India would be blessed with more land and states but that would only mean more political parties trying to extend their ideologies on the areas under their control. They would have most likely not cooperated with the central government on conflicting issues and this could have also limited the dynastic rule of the Congress party.

As result, this would have brought selective progress around the country i.e bringing progress to some parts while others would have been left behind.

8. More religious harmony in the country

If India was undivided, less religious violence would have taken place and no politician would have been able to say, ¡°Go to Pakistan.¡±

9. Focus on education and health instead of defence sector

Agency

Instead of spending a huge amount of money on the defence sector, India would have focused more on improving quality of life, health, and education if the country would have been still undivided.

10. There would not be movies like Border and Bajrangi Bhaijaan

The movies like 'Border' and 'LOC' would not have been made and the related genre wouldn't have been this prominent. Sunny Deol wouldn't have broken a hand pump in Lahore and instead would have been working in some other action-based films.

Pakistani actors would have had greater access to work in major Bollywood productions, with Fawad Khan replacing the likes of Ranbir Kapoor in the hearts of crazy fans.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan | YouTube

India, if united, Bajrangi Bhaijaan movie would not have been made.

11. Iran-India natural gas pipeline

Iran-India natural gas pipeline | heritage.org

Iran-India natural gas pipeline was conceptualised in the 50s, and was to connect Iran to India in supplying Natural Gas thereby benefiting both economies tremendously. However, it never happened due to Pakistan's inability to make up its mind. It was scrapped as Pakistan came under pressure from Saudi Arabia and the US to back out.