NCERT’s New Module Sparks Row: Jinnah, Congress and Mountbatten Blamed for Partition

New Delhi : A new special module by NCERT on the Partition of India has stirred controversy, stating that Partition was not inevitable but the outcome of decisions taken by three key figures — “Jinnah, who demanded it; Congress, which accepted it; and Mountbatten, who implemented it.”

The module was released on the occasion of Partition Remembrance Day (August) and has been prepared in two separate versions for middle and secondary school students.

Questions Raised on Congress

According to the module, the Congress leadership accepted the plans for Partition while underestimating Jinnah’s intent. It further claims: “No Indian leader had any experience of running national or provincial administration, the army or the police, and thus they failed to foresee the grave problems that would arise. Otherwise, such haste would not have been shown.”

Partition as a Human Tragedy

The content describes Partition as “the greatest human tragedy in world history.” It highlights that:

Around 15 million people were displaced

Millions were killed in massacres and sexual violence

Refugee trains often arrived “filled only with corpses”

It also recalls the horrific events of Noakhali and Calcutta (1946), Rawalpindi and Punjab (1947) as documented by historians.

Muslim League and Jinnah’s Role

The module identifies the Direct Action Day of August 1946 as the turning point in pushing India toward Partition. It cites Jinnah’s warning — “Either a divided India or a destroyed India” — which, it says, forced Congress leaders Nehru and Patel to finally accept Partition.

Interestingly, it also mentions Jinnah’s own later admission:
“I never thought it would happen. I had never expected to see Pakistan in my lifetime.”

Long-Term Impact of Partition

The module directly links Partition to lasting challenges such as the Kashmir conflict, communal politics, and external pressures on India’s foreign policy. It notes that Pakistan fought three wars over Kashmir and, after failing, turned to a policy of exporting terrorism — all as a consequence of Partition.

For younger students, the middle-stage module simplifies the narrative but reiterates the same conclusion: Jinnah, Congress, and Mountbatten were all responsible for Partition.