Author:

Swagatam Khan
Independent Scholar
Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh, India

Email: swagatam91@gmail.com

Abstract:: The Partition of India in 1947 remains one of the most contested events in modern South Asian historiography. While structural explanations emphasize communal mobilization and British administrative withdrawal, the roles of key nationalist leaders remain central to historical debate. This article examines the contrasting roles of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru during the final phase of decolonization. It argues that Gandhi embodied a moral resistance to Partition rooted in his commitment to intercommunal harmony, whereas Nehru increasingly adopted a pragmatic acceptance of division amid escalating violence and administrative urgency. By situating both leaders within evolving historiographical interpretations, the article highlights the interplay between ethical politics, state-building imperatives, and the contingencies of late colonial governance.

Key Words:: Indian National Congress, Decolonization,Communal Violence, Partition of India etc.