The start of the Mahatma Gandhi-led Indian independence movement was a familiar sight to Britain. Although, unusual for a revolutionary leader, Gandhi resolutely rejected the use of violence to achieve his ends, his aims were at least familiar. More vexing was a question that evolved at the height of the movement: India not only wanted independence from Britain, but also independence from itself. Mutual distrust, if not outright hatred, was the dominant attitude between India’s Muslim and Hindu sides. Britain had to grant independence to two countries simultaneously.

On this day, August 14, in 1947, at the stroke of midnight Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India were granted independence.

Hindu-Muslim violence greeted the granting of the independence, particularly in the former Indian state of Punjab that was split down the middle, with East Punjab incorporated into Pakistan and West to Indian — this, despite the many Hindus and Muslims that lived in now enemy territory.