Abstract
Sir Robert Francis Mudie, the Governor of the West Punjab from
15 August 1947 to 2 August 1949, has been lauded as an able
governor of Punjab whose work in resettling refugees was
considered exemplary.The article analyzes his unique ethos that
played a critical role in deciding the fate of the refugees. First,
the article looks at his early career in UP, where he witnesses
Hindu extremism and cow vigilantism, and the role it had
played in shaping his psyche. Then, through a myriad of
theoretical lenses, namely Constantine Fasolt and AmartyaSen,
we study the archival evidence in fresh light. Using two case
studies, Mudie, we argue, had both simplified and distorted
Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan, and had turned refugee issue in
Punjab to an ambivalent project, lacking in any compassion.
Today, the political climate in India may justify some of Mudie’s
fears, however, his gross stereotyping of the Hindus and Sikhs
still remains problematic
Khizar Jawad, Muhammad Iqbal Chawla. (2020) Partition, Migration and Refugee Settlement in Punjab: Refocusing on the Ethos of Sir Francis Mudie’s Governance, Pakistan Social Sciences Review, Volume 4, Issue 3.
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