Resettlement Realities: Unravelling the Refugee Crisis in Malda District (1947-1971)
By Palas Kumar Saha, Biplab Biswas
Summary
The article examines the complex refugee crisis in Malda District following the 1947 partition of India, focusing on its merger with India and the subsequent influx of refugees from East Pakistan (later Bangladesh). Initially part of undivided Bengal, Malda’s allocation to India by the Radcliffe Commission on 17 August 1947 triggered mass migration, with Hindu-majority areas attracting refugees from East Pakistan while many local Muslims left for Pakistan. The district celebrated independence on 18 August 1947 after delays in the Radcliffe report’s publication. The study analyzes the socio-political and economic impact of refugees, including challenges like communal tensions, displacement, and rehabilitation. It contrasts Bengal’s “continuing process” of partition with Punjab’s single-phase migration, highlighting Malda’s unique role as a border district. The research draws on historical accounts, census data, and local testimonies to underscore the human cost of partition, including violence, uprooting, and the lasting demographic shifts in the region.
Conclusion
The partition of Bengal in 1947 triggered a prolonged refugee crisis in Malda district, with significant social, political, and economic repercussions. The delayed Radcliffe Commission decision left Malda in a state of uncertainty, leading to temporary Pakistani administration and subsequent Hindu-majority migration from East Pakistan. The influx of refugees overwhelmed local infrastructure, sparking communal tensions and violence. Despite celebrating independence on 18 August 1947, Malda’s unique history of dual flag-hoisting reflects enduring cultural scars. The crisis exposed the limitations of post-partition rehabilitation efforts, as displaced communities struggled to integrate. Malda’s experience underscores how partition’s legacy persists through continuous demographic shifts, economic strain, and communal divides, offering a microcosm of broader subcontinental trauma.