05:23Residents of New Delhi hit out at British partition - and claimed a 'united India would've been even stronger' - speaking on Wednesday, ahead of August 15's Independence Day.
"It was a wrong decision by the British to split the country," said businessperson Sourabh Gupta. "Due to the partition, thousands of people have died. Even today, we are facing the repercussions of the partition. It was a wrong decision, and if it had not happened, united India would have been even stronger, and the name would have been different as well."
The dissolution of the former British Raj saw the area divided into the broadly Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1947, displacing around 15 million people, with up to 1 million believed to have been killed. Bangladesh later seceded from Pakistan in 1971.
While hostilities have marred relations between the nations ever since, Gupta said he believed the country's borders were 'safe' under the current administration.
"During partition, so many people were killed," added Lakumar Sen, a contractor. "The difficulties these people had to face during partition cannot be measured. It is a very sad and shameful incident."
"Not every Muslim is bad, not every Hindu is good," said student activist Rishitha Akkar. "Everyone is good and bad, being a human being. We all learn goodness and badness through our environment, not from our caste, not from being Hindu or Muslim. So I don't think splitting any religion is good."
Akkar also said he believed one of the main challenges facing the country was education, and called for reform to move away from 'marks and tests' and towards 'broader learning'.
Independence Day in India is marked with a large number of parades and ceremonies across the nation, marking the end of 90 years of British rule.
'United India would've been even stronger' - Delhi locals condemn British partition on eve of Independence Day
Residents of New Delhi hit out at British partition - and claimed a 'united India would've been even stronger' - speaking on Wednesday, ahead of August 15's Independence Day.
"It was a wrong decision by the British to split the country," said businessperson Sourabh Gupta. "Due to the partition, thousands of people have died. Even today, we are facing the repercussions of the partition. It was a wrong decision, and if it had not happened, united India would have been even stronger, and the name would have been different as well."
The dissolution of the former British Raj saw the area divided into the broadly Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1947, displacing around 15 million people, with up to 1 million believed to have been killed. Bangladesh later seceded from Pakistan in 1971.
While hostilities have marred relations between the nations ever since, Gupta said he believed the country's borders were 'safe' under the current administration.
"During partition, so many people were killed," added Lakumar Sen, a contractor. "The difficulties these people had to face during partition cannot be measured. It is a very sad and shameful incident."
"Not every Muslim is bad, not every Hindu is good," said student activist Rishitha Akkar. "Everyone is good and bad, being a human being. We all learn goodness and badness through our environment, not from our caste, not from being Hindu or Muslim. So I don't think splitting any religion is good."
Akkar also said he believed one of the main challenges facing the country was education, and called for reform to move away from 'marks and tests' and towards 'broader learning'.
Independence Day in India is marked with a large number of parades and ceremonies across the nation, marking the end of 90 years of British rule.
Residents of New Delhi hit out at British partition - and claimed a 'united India would've been even stronger' - speaking on Wednesday, ahead of August 15's Independence Day.
"It was a wrong decision by the British to split the country," said businessperson Sourabh Gupta. "Due to the partition, thousands of people have died. Even today, we are facing the repercussions of the partition. It was a wrong decision, and if it had not happened, united India would have been even stronger, and the name would have been different as well."
The dissolution of the former British Raj saw the area divided into the broadly Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1947, displacing around 15 million people, with up to 1 million believed to have been killed. Bangladesh later seceded from Pakistan in 1971.
While hostilities have marred relations between the nations ever since, Gupta said he believed the country's borders were 'safe' under the current administration.
"During partition, so many people were killed," added Lakumar Sen, a contractor. "The difficulties these people had to face during partition cannot be measured. It is a very sad and shameful incident."
"Not every Muslim is bad, not every Hindu is good," said student activist Rishitha Akkar. "Everyone is good and bad, being a human being. We all learn goodness and badness through our environment, not from our caste, not from being Hindu or Muslim. So I don't think splitting any religion is good."
Akkar also said he believed one of the main challenges facing the country was education, and called for reform to move away from 'marks and tests' and towards 'broader learning'.
Independence Day in India is marked with a large number of parades and ceremonies across the nation, marking the end of 90 years of British rule.