The 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan was a complex and tragic event with profound and lasting consequences for the region. Following over a century under British East India Company rule and an additional 90 years of the British Raj, the Indian subcontinent ultimately attained independence. What should have been a celebratory moment after years of anti-colonial struggle resulted in unimaginable violence and bloodshed instead.
Project Dastaan is a peace-building initiative that utilizes bespoke digital experiences to reconnect displaced refugees of the Partition with their childhood communities, offering a unique perspective on the human impact of the largest forced migration in recorded history.
A free classroom-friendly discussion guide is available for download below. Activities in this guide include a pre-test, informational handout and assignment, and an exercise in conflict analysis. In addition, there is an extension activity that tasks students to research different modern-day conflicts, as well as an optional activity where students view short film(s) and engage in a post-viewing discussion.
SPICE is appreciative of the support of Project Dastaan for their permission to use some of the visuals and interviews from their project in this guide. Screen the films here (password: Curriculum).
SPICE’s partnership with CatchLight is made possible by the generous support of the Chao Minami Family Fund.