Introduction

The partition of India in 1947 influences the relationships between the South Asian nuclear neighbours – India and Pakistan – and greatly influences the social behaviour between majority and minority community members against each other’s respective countries. Beyond the border, the Partition’s impact is, to an extent, palpable in the inter-community relationships, mainly between Hindu and Muslims in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Narratives of Partition have constructed an image of people belonging to different religions based on each narrator’s experience during Partition or in its aftermath. Attempts have been made to uncover some of the alternative narratives of Partition, focusing mainly on women and the subaltern group. One group that remains underrepresented in the history of Partition is the Dalit, members of which occupy similar social positions across the religions of South Asia. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.