The Day India Burned: Partition
BBC
India, 2007
English and Punjabi
90 Minutes

Director: Gurdip Bhangoo

Sixty years ago, August 1947, the British decided to quit India, nearly 200 years after taking control. The British exodus triggered one of the biggest land migrations of a people in history, displacing more than 15 million people resulting in lost lives in an attempt to reach the other side. A line was drawn on the map of the largest most ethnically diverse nations in the world, now divided.

This is the moving story of the worst communal massacre of the 20th century, told through powerful and often emotional personal testimonies of people who had lived together for centuries, but were now forced out of cities, villages and their homes.

Set in India against the backdrop of the triumphant Independence celebrations in August 1947, this drama-documentary tells the story of families, a British soldier and key witnesses from each side of the divide. The 'big story' of Mountbatten, Nehru and Jinnah is brought to life through fresh new colourful archives. This film describes the mistrust, violence and upheaval that ensues as Britain, the once great colonial power, looks on as India burns.

Director’s Bio

Gurdip Bhangoo heads up the BBC Asian Programmes Unit in Birmingham. The Unit produces programming in a range of genres from landmark documentaries to arts and culture and food. Gurdip has worked his way up from researcher to Executive Producer and was responsible for initiating, developing and overseeing the landmark drama-documentary looking back at the tragic events around Partition, along with a number of other peak-times programmes to mark the 60 anniversary of India and Pakistan.