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Correct Answer: the regions that became pakistan and east pakistan were deemed to have a muslim majority.
the partition of british india into three regions in august 1947 was driven by significant religious and cultural differences that had been simmering under colonial rule. the regions that eventually became pakistan and east pakistan (later bangladesh) were predominantly populated by muslims, which led to their separation from the predominantly hindu regions that became the republic of india. this decision was not arbitrary but stemmed from deep-rooted historical, social, and cultural divides that were exacerbated during the british rule through policies such as "divide and rule."
leading up to independence, there was a strong push by leaders of the muslim community for a separate nation where muslims could reside as the majority and avoid being a minority in a predominantly hindu india. this was championed by the all india muslim league and its leader, muhammad ali jinnah, who argued that muslims would be politically and culturally marginalized in a hindu-majority india. the concept of two separate nations based on religious majorities was articulated as the 'two nation theory.'
the violence and communal riots that escalated at the time of partition exemplified the severe communal tensions between hindus and muslims. these events further underscored the necessity, as perceived by many leaders of that time, to establish distinct nations to ensure peace and governance that respected the demographic and cultural realities of the different regions. the british, under mounting pressure and unable to propose a unifying solution acceptable to all parties, agreed to the creation of independent india and pakistan.
the eastern and western parts of what became pakistan were separated by a wide expanse of indian territory. despite this geographic disjunction, both regions shared a common religion, which was a central unifying factor. this shared religious identity was pivotal in the formation of pakistan and east pakistan as separate from india. however, the geographical and cultural differences between west pakistan and east pakistan eventually led to conflicts that resulted in the secession of east pakistan and the formation of the independent country of bangladesh in 1971.
the partition of british india into india, pakistan, and east pakistan (later bangladesh) was thus a complex decision influenced by a multitude of factors including historical divisions, cultural identities, and political exigencies. the primary rationale was to create nations where the major religious groups could govern themselves and coexist peacefully, albeit separately, which was deemed impossible within a unified state given the intense communal tensions of that period.
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