Foreign Office Files for India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, 1947-1980
Sources from The National Archives, UK
Survey the high politics of Independence and Partition, social and cultural interchange after 1947 and the ramifications that these changes continue to have throughout South Asia today.
This is an outstanding resource for the political and social history of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan in this period, featuring essential content on Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Kashmir, as well as other frontier regions.
Files look at the impact on UK, US and European trade, industrial policy, education and the media through a vast array of material including diplomatic dispatches, inward and outward telegrams, newspaper cuttings and transcripts, maps, photographs, political and economic reports, accounts of visits and tours, minutes of meetings, conference proceedings, letters, leaflets and more.
Foreign Office Files for India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, 1947-1980 is part of Archives Direct, a cross-searchable multi-product platform, sourced from The National Archives, UK.
Highlights
- The birth and development of the Indian and Pakistani states, the problems of partition and the tensions over Kashmir
- Material on the government of Indira Gandhi – increasingly dictatorial, she jailed hundreds of opponents and declared a state of emergency in 1975
- The internal political situation in India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Ceylon
- The political implications of Nehru’s death and the succession crisis in the Congress Party
Included in
Modules include
| Module | Summary | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Section I |
This module explores the pivotal era from the lead-up to the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 to Jawaharlal Nehru's passing in 1964, covering significant political and societal developments. Materials include detailed documents from the FO 371, DO 133, and DO 134 series sourced from The National Archives, UK, highlighting key events such as the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pakistani wars, Nehru’s foreign policies, and India’s territorial disputes with China, Portugal, and Hyderabad. Records also examine constitutional changes, land reforms, and the evolution of Indo-US, Indo-UK, and Indo-Pakistani relations, providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges and transformations shaping the region during this period. |
1947-1964 |
| Section II |
Exploring South Asian conflicts and political transitions from 1965 to 1971, focusing on key moments such as the Indo-Pakistani wars, Bangladesh's independence, and Indira Gandhi's rise to power. It features documents from series FCO 37, DO 133, DO 134, and FO 371, providing insights into political crises, military governance, and international reactions. Topics such as nuclear developments, refugees, humanitarian relief, and key leadership changes offer an understanding of the historical and geopolitical landscape during this period. |
1965-1971 |
| Section III |
This final section explores the major political and social upheavals in South Asia during the 1970s, emphasising Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Key developments include Indira Gandhi’s emergency rule in India, the rise of communist rule and Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, multiple coups and instability in Bangladesh, and Pakistan's transition between civilian and military rule. The materials include official records from the FCO 37 series, detailing significant events such as political reforms, military interventions, and the evolution of nuclear policies. These documents provide an essential perspective on the subcontinent’s complex political landscape during a decade of transformation. |
1972-1980 |
Key data
Period covered
Source archive
- The National Archives, UK
- Birth and development of the Indian and Pakistani states
- Tensions over Kashmir
- Evolution of Indian political relations with China
- Reactions to the death of Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah
- UK and US arms supplies to India and Pakistan
- Asian immigration to the UK
- The government of Indira Gandhi
- President Nixon's visit to Pakistan in 1969
- Nuclear policy
- Indo-Soviet relations
- Diplomatic dispatches
- Telegrams
- Newspaper cuttings and transcripts
- Maps
- Photographs
- Political and economic reports
- Accounts of visits and tours
- Minutes of meetings
- Conference proceedings
- Letters, leaflets and other ephemera
- Joya Chatterji, University of Cambridge
- William Gould, University of Leeds
- Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University
- Yasmin Saikia, Arizona State University
- Mrinalini Sinha, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Robert Crews, Stanford University
- Yuanmei Yao, East China Normal University
- International Relations
- Political History and Science
- South Asian Studies
- Full-text searchable English-language materials
- Documents from the UK government's official archive
- Available within the cross-searchable Archives Direct platform
Reviews
A rich source of materials to explore and understand a critical period in India’s postcolonial history
- Author: Professor Yasmin Saikia, Arizona State University
