Before the partition in 1947, India and Pakistan were part of a single entity known as British India. It was a territory under British colonial rule that consisted of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The term ‘British India’ referred to the entire subcontinent under British rule, which began in the 18th century. This period saw a diverse range of cultures, religions, and languages coexisting, but also significant tensions between various communities, particularly between Hindus and Muslims.
The demand for a separate nation for Muslims based on the two-nation theory, which argued that Muslims and Hindus were distinct nations, eventually led to the creation of Pakistan. In contrast, the majority of the territory remained India, which became a secular nation. Thus, the historical understanding of the region prior to 1947 is primarily through the lens of British India, characterized by its complex demographic and political landscape.