(i) The Partition led to the largest, most-abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. Large number of people were killed in the name of religion. Lahore, Amritsar and Kolkata were divided in ‘communal zones’.

(ii) Minorities on both sides of the border fled their home and often secured shelter in ‘refugee camps’.

(iii) Thousands of women were abducted on both sides and were made to convert to the religion of the abductor and were forced into marriage.

(iv) The Partition led to division of properties, liabilities and assets, administrative apparatus and financial assets and things like tables-chairs and musical instrument of police band.

(v) The employees of the government and the railways were also divided.

(vi) It led to a violent separation of communities who had hitherto lived together as neighbours.

(i) The first challenge was to shape a nation that was united, yet accommodative of the diversity in our society. India was a land of continental size and diversity. Its people spoke different languages and followed different culture and religions. At that time it aws widely believed that a country full of such kinds of diversity could not remain together for long.

(ii) The second challenge was to establish democracy. The Constitution had granted fundamental rights and extended right to vote to every citizen. India adopted Representative democracy based on the parliamentary form of goverment.The challenge was to develop democratic practices in accordance with the Constitution.

(iii) The third challenge was to ensure the development and well-being of the entire society and not only of some sections. The Constitution had adopted the principle of equality and provided special protection to socially disadvantaged groups and religious and cultural communities. The real challenge was to evolve effective policies for economic development and eradication of poverty.