ECONOMIC EFFECTS
The partition resulted in freezing of credit facilities, severe loss of skilled labor, demand for goods and reduced trade. At partition, Pakistan received the poorer share of the colonial government's financial reserves. Despite having 23% of the undivided land mass, it inherited only 17.5% of the financial assets. There was no money left for economic development after essential defense expenses were paid for.

Map source: https://www.quora.com/What-would-it-be-like-if-the-partition-of-India-and-Pakistan-had-not-taken-place
Header mage source: LIFE magazine

                                             ***********************************************************************

Survivor Story: An interview with Wing Commander C.P. Grover:

 Rishima: Please tell me your place of birth and your age at the time of partition?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
SIALKOT (PAKISTAN). Age: 15 years at the time of partition
 
Rishima: What was your opinion of the partition then and how do you feel about it now?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
When partition happened, there was a lot of confusion and people felt it was a temporary disturbance/displacement. We thought riots will subside and that they will return back some day. People left their assets with neighbors and friends for safekeeping but they could never get back. Disturbance/hostility increased and that has continued to increase over time. Geopolitical problems like border disputes continue till this day.
 
Rishima: Does your experience during the partition effect your perspective on Indo-Pak relations? If so, how and why?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
The partition was a horrifying experience for people from both sides (Pakistan & India). We crossed over from Pakistan to India (Amritsar border) and finally relocated to Pune (then Poona) which took almost 2 months.
Regarding perspective on Indo-Pak relations - the country was divided on the basis of religion and the partition provided the trigger for hostilities because of religious intolerance, which unfortunately still persists because of lack of education, poverty and political instability in Pakistan.
 
Rishima: Do you feel that partition was a correct way to solve the political, ethnic dispute over representation?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
No. The concerns and disputes tied to Independence should have been solved by staying together with mature understanding and insight from leaders of ethnic/religious groups and by offering better representation in the discussions to minority groups.
 
Rishima: Do you think the partition was avoidable? If so, who should be held responsible?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
Yes. The Muslim League political party forced Jinnah (first Governor General of Pakistan) and the religious sentiments of those who insisted on having a religion-based homeland, prevailed.
 
Rishima: Describe your personal experience(s) during the partition. e.g. did your family have to move etc.
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
The movement due to partition began in Aug 1947 and trains from both sides carried people and dead bodies from both sides. My family (with hopes of peace and stability returning), didn’t move out of Pakistan for 2 months. In October 1947, when the remaining families were told that the last train to India was leaving soon, our family decided to leave Pakistan due to an uncertain future in Pakistan and for concern for our safety. A lot of massacres occurred on the way.

On reaching Amritsar (border town in India), we didn’t know what to do and waited for a month for transportation which was not easily available. After that, our family travelled to Ludhiana (another town closer to national capital of Delhi) by truck. Some of our relatives in India arranged for us to get to Pune (a town 1000 miles away in the western part of Central India).

Our family relocated by train to Pune to a known relative’s place. Without enough money and limited resources for food, we only carried personal clothing in hand bags. We no longer had any other assets or jewelry remaining with us. When we arrived in Pune, our relatives helped my family start life all over again. As I didn’t have a school-leaving certificate from Pakistan (which was destroyed during the riots there), I had to reappear in high school exam to start school in India.

Later, we moved to the national capital, Delhi. I joined the Indian Air Force as a pilot in 1950 and was responsible for transporting dignitaries like our Prime Minister at different times during my career. I also did visit Pakistan as part of a delegation later in my career.
There is nothing good to talk about the partition experience. People relocating to Pakistan must have also faced a similar experience.
 
Rishima: What message would you like to impart to the world based on your experience during the partition?
Wg.Cdr.C.P. Grover:
Learn to live together, by solving various issues and create a peaceful environment. e.g. Germany was also reunited and the people there are living peacefully in a progressive environment.