The partition of Bengal in 1947 resulted in immense trauma for the people who had to suffer dislocation and loss of livelihood as they were forced to move across the border. Many people died on the way due to violence and family members got separated.
The economic impact was no less. The jute mills in West Bengal lost the source of raw materials. The disruption of railway lines meant that movement between North Bengal and South Bengal became difficult and needed much more time. West Bengal industries lost a large market.
The biggest tragedy was for millions who became refugees in West Bengal. Especially, poorer people with no social network could not find shelter. First, they lived on the Sealdah platform or in refugee camps in unhygeinic conditions. Many, including children, died of infectious disease and hunger. They created refugee colonies but it took them almost two decades to get ownership rights over the land.
Hundreds of people were moved to Andamans or Dandakaranya for rehabilitation. These were either forest land or uncultivable barren land. The refugees had to clear the forests themselves, build their own shelter and somehow begin farming. But they were isolated in completely new environments and had to rebuild their lives from acratch.
The refugees from east Bengal lived in the tragic memories of their erstwhile homes, too traumatic to be vocal about their experiences and passed on these memories to their next generations. We need to be aware of the sufferings of our ancestors to go ahead with our lives in peace and harmony.
