Painful History of India

1. Partition of India: The partition of India in 1947 resulted in the creation of two separate countries, India and Pakistan. The partition led to widespread violence and displacement, with millions of people forced to migrate across the newly-drawn border. The communal riots that erupted during the partition led to the deaths of an estimated one million people.

2. British colonization: India was under British rule for over 200 years, from the mid-18th century until 1947. The British colonization of India was marked by exploitation, violence, and repression, including the forced extraction of resources, the suppression of local cultures and traditions, and the use of violence to suppress dissent.

3. Jallianwala Bagh massacre: On April 13, 1919, British troops fired on a crowd of peaceful protesters at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing over 1,000 people. The massacre became a symbol of British brutality and oppression in India and led to widespread protests and calls for independence.

4. Emergency period: In 1975, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India, suspending civil liberties and cracking down on political opponents. During this period, thousands of people were arrested, tortured, and killed by the government.

5. Anti-Sikh riots: In 1984, after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots broke out in Delhi and other parts of India. The riots, which were largely orchestrated by political leaders, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Sikhs.

6. Gujarat riots: In 2002, communal riots broke out in the state of Gujarat, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. The riots were sparked by the burning of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, and were marked by widespread violence, arson, and looting.

7. Caste-based discrimination: India's caste system, which divides society into rigid hierarchies based on birth, has been the source of much discrimination and oppression throughout the country's history. Despite efforts to outlaw caste discrimination, it remains a pervasive and deeply ingrained problem in India.