India and Pakistan celebrated sixty years of independence from the British Empire. In August, 1947, the British colonial government granted subcontinent independence and split it into two countries, Muslim Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India. Independence resulted in a mass migration and violence. More than 500,000 people lost their lives, while 7.5 million Muslim refugees fled to Pakistan from India and 10 million Hindus left Pakistan for India. Pakistan celebrates their independence on August 14th and India celebrates on August 15th.
Read more about the celebration in Pakistan, India Mark Independence Day from the Washington Post.
Want more information? Check out the library's foreign country guides on India and Pakistan.