Major Features of the Boundary Commission, 1947
Pakistan Studies E-Notes
Unit 2: Emergence and Creation of Pakistan (1940-1947)
Subtopic 2.1: Political Developments (1940-1947)
SLO 2.1.7: Discuss the major features of the Boundary Commission
Introduction
The Boundary Commission was established in 1947 to determine the boundaries between the newly created Pakistan and India. Under the partition plan, the provinces of the Punjab and Bengal were to be divided because both had large Muslim and non-Muslim populations. Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer with no previous experience of India, was appointed chairman of the commissions.
Major features
1. Formation of two Boundary Commissions
Two separate commissions were set up in June 1947: the Punjab Boundary Commission and the Bengal Boundary Commission. Their task was to divide the two provinces between Pakistan and India in preparation for the transfer of power.
2. Composition of the commissions
Each commission had five members: Sir Cyril Radcliffe as chairman, two judges nominated by the Indian National Congress and two nominated by the All-India Muslim League.
| Commission | Members |
|---|---|
| Punjab | Justices Din Muhammad, Muhammad Munir, Mehr Chand Mahajan and Teja Singh |
| Bengal | Justices C. C. Biswas, B. K. Mukherjee, Abu Saleh Mohamed Akram and S. A. Rahman |
3. Criteria for drawing the boundaries
The principal criterion was the division of contiguous areas according to Muslim and non-Muslim majorities. The commissions were also told to consider “other factors”, which could include administrative and communication arrangements such as railway connections, river systems and irrigation facilities. The instructions gave no detailed formula for weighing these factors against religious majorities.
4. Division of the Punjab and Bengal
The commissions had to decide which parts of the two provinces would go to Pakistan and which to India. As a result, West Punjab became part of Pakistan and East Punjab part of India. Similarly, East Bengal became part of Pakistan and West Bengal part of India.
5. Opportunity for parties to present their cases
The commissions invited written submissions and heard arguments. Representatives of the Congress, the Muslim League and other groups presented their claims about the territories that should go to their respective states. However, the members nominated by the two major parties could not agree on important questions of division, leaving Radcliffe to make the final decisions.
6. Limited time for the work
The commissions had very little time. Radcliffe arrived in India in July 1947, and the boundaries had to be fixed before the transfer of power in August. The tight schedule made it difficult to examine every local, economic and administrative issue in detail.
7. The Radcliffe Award
The final decisions became known as the Radcliffe Award. Radcliffe completed the awards on 12 August 1947, but they were publicly announced on 17 August, after Pakistan and India had become independent. Announcing the boundaries after independence created uncertainty for people in the affected areas.
8. Controversial decisions and their consequences
The decisions caused dissatisfaction in several areas. Some districts and communities found themselves on the opposite side of the border from the state they had expected to join. The division also disrupted transport, trade, irrigation and other connected services. In the Punjab, uncertainty about the new border added to the difficulties of the mass migration and communal violence of Partition.
Summary table
| Feature | Key point |
|---|---|
| Commissions | Punjab and Bengal, June 1947 |
| Chairman | Sir Cyril Radcliffe |
| Members | Two Congress and two League nominees on each |
| Criteria | Contiguous Muslim and non-Muslim majority areas, plus “other factors” |
| Decision | Radcliffe decided because members disagreed |
| Timing | Completed 12 August; announced 17 August 1947 |
| Result | West Punjab and East Bengal to Pakistan; East Punjab and West Bengal to India |
Conclusion
Practice questions
- Why were the Punjab and Bengal divided in 1947?
- Who was Sir Cyril Radcliffe, and what was his role?
- What criteria did the Boundary Commissions use to draw the boundaries?
- When was the Radcliffe Award announced, and why was this a problem?
- Discuss the controversies and consequences of the Boundary Commission’s decisions.
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