Text size:

Partition's legacy in New York

By Tara Kyle and Tahara Miah | Special to amNewYork

August 14, 2007

Jackson Heights is the epicenter of South Asian culture in New York. Along the blocks near the 74th Street-Roosevelt subway station, South Asians shop for the same clothes and music, and eat at the same restaurants.

New York's Indian-American and Pakistani-American communities have more than doubled since 1990. More than 200,000 Indian-Americans and 30,000 Pakistani-Americans now live in New York City, according to the U.S. Census 2000.

The population of immigrants coming from Bangladesh, which gained independence from Pakistan in a nine-month war in 1971, is growing at an even more rapid rate.

Partition history

In June 1947, the United Kingdom granted independence to what was then known as British India and separated it into two countries, divided along religious lines. Individual states had to choose whether to join Hindu India or Muslim Pakistan.

Millions of people fled their homes in the hope that they would find safety in the country where they were members of the majority religion. In both countries, many people were slaughtered.

Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan until 1971, when Bengali residents of East Pakistan won their liberation from Punjabi West Pakistan.

Partition events in NYC
The partition anniversary will be marked by the Indian Independence Day Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday along Madison Avenue from 41st to 23rd streets.

The Pakistan Independence Day Parade will pass through the same area, stopping at 26th Street, at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26.

E-mail

Related topic galleries: New York, Public Holidays, Jackson Heights

New York Real Estate

Popular stories

Special Packages

Recent Multimedia

Send Us Your Photos