The Boundary Commission headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was formed in July 1947 to demarcate the boundaries between the newly created nations of India and Pakistan.  It presented the Boundary Commission Awards on August 17, 1947.

Background of Boundary Commission or Radcliffe Award

The partition of British India into two separate nations, India and Pakistan, was announced in 1947, which led to the need for demarcating the boundaries. For this purpose, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer, was appointed as the chairman of the Boundary Commission. He had no prior knowledge of India, therefore his demarcation of the boundaries gave birth to many issues between the two countries.

Role and Responsibilities of Boundary Commission or Radcliffe Award

The primary responsibility of the Boundary Commission was to demarcate the boundaries of the two nations based on religious and demographic considerations in the Punjab and Bengal regions. Radcliffe and his team had the task of drawing the borders in a very short period, which led to immense pressure and challenges.

Challenges and Controversies

• Radcliffe faced immense challenges due to the limited time frame and lack of on-ground knowledge.
• The hasty nature of the partition and the subsequent border drawing led to significant communal violence and displacement of populations.
• The partition resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in human history, with millions of people crossing the newly drawn borders, which led to widespread chaos and violence.

Outcomes of Boundary Commission or Radcliffe Award

• The Radcliffe Line, the boundary demarcated by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, became the official border between India and Pakistan.
• The partition and the drawing of the borders led to significant social, cultural, and economic upheaval in the region, with long-lasting consequences.

Awarding Muslim Majority areas to India

Radcliffe gave Muslim-majority areas to India which caused future disputes between the two countries. Firstly, he awarded Ferozpur to India, which had canal head works. These head-works provided water to irrigate the Indus Plain of Pakistan. It caused water disputes between the two countries. Secondly, he awarded Gurdaspur to India. This district of Punjab provided India with a border with Kashmir. Moreover, on Oct 27th, 1948, India landed its troops in Kashmir through Gurdaspur. Up till date, the Kashmir issue has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. It is one of the reasons that Muslim leaders criticize the Boundary Commission of Cyril Radcliffe.

Legacy of Boundary Commission or Radcliffe Award

• The legacy of the Boundary Commission and the Radcliffe Line continues to impact the relationship between India and Pakistan, with ongoing territorial disputes and conflicts related to the border areas.
• The partition and the drawing of the borders remain deeply emotional and sensitive subjects for the people of India and Pakistan, with the events of 1947 still shaping the political and social dynamics of the region.

Conclusion

In short, the Boundary Commission of Cyril Radcliffe played a pivotal role in the partition of India and Pakistan, and its decisions continue to have far-reaching implications for the region to this day.