Toward Partition and Beyond

Toward Partition and Beyond documents the political activism that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, as well as the destruction, violence, displacement, and loss of life that took place in the lead up to and in the wake of the Partition of India. Though the photographs of Muhammad Bakhsh Bhatti have been displayed in various exhibits and printed in publications over the years, he has not been consistently credited for his labors during this critical time in history. This digital exhibit seeks to make his work accessible to researchers and the public alike. Princeton is grateful to the Bhatti family, particularly Mr. Shahzeb Bhatti, for their trust and patience as we have worked to describe and display Mr. Bhatti's photographs.

Many thanks go to Dr. Maria-Magdalena Pruss (Princeton Class of 2019, Religion), who contacted Princeton about the collection in 2023 and connected Princeton with the Bhatti family. Maria has provided research support regarding the descriptions and order for many of the photographs, as well as translations of Muhammad Bakhsh Bhatti's original Urdu captions when available. Princeton is also grateful for the contributions of Prof. Manav Kapur (University of Texas at Austin), whose knowledge of Lahore and careful eye also greatly enhanced the descriptions for each of the photographs. Thanks also go to Hajra Farooqui (Princeton graduate student in Religion), who carefully translated the Nawa-i-Waqt Sunday Magazine article about the life of Muhammad Bakhsh Bhatti from Urdu to English.


029 | Women activists of the Muslim League, including Geeti Ara (center), marching in January/February of 1947.
042 | Women in white burqas protesting in front of the Lahore Jail in February of 1947.
059 |  Male leaders of the Muslim League after their release from the Lahore Central Jail on February 26, 1947.
110 | Muslim League members, including Begam Salma Tasadduq Husain (center), walking through the rubble and destruction in the Walled City, Lahore.
113 | Begam Salma Tasadduq Husain (left), Fatima Begam (center), and others visiting a hospital for the injured.
120 | Refugees travelling by bullock cart in Lahore.
130 | Walton Refugee Camp.
140 | Food distribution at the Walton Refugee Camp.