India - 60 years on

Today in 1947, India gained independence from Great Britain. The day before, Pakistan had broken away as a Muslim state. The result was devastating. Muslims in India headed for Pakistan, Hindus and Buddhists in Pakistan went to India. Thousands died in ensuing violence. India and Pakistan have been at war three times since 1947, and still maintain a less than cordial relationship. Things are improving, but at the only authorised land border crossing, you have to disembark from the bus on one side, carry your goods across the frontier and rejoin another bus on the other side. Kashmir remains a thorn in both nation's side, with a large area of disputed territory. Both countries are nuclear powers.

Until 20 years ago, India was poor, with urban slums and grinding rural poverty. The urban environment has become more affluent, but the countryside has not benefited. Pakistan finds itself in an unenviable position as frontline state to the lawlessness of Afghanistan, and its own tribal areas on the northwest frontier housing Osama bin Laden.

I cannot call the independence of India in 1947 a masterpiece of British policy. It falls into the same category as what happened in the Middle East, although arguably not as severe. I wish both nations well in the years to come, and hope that aspirations for improved relations will come true sooner rather than later.