Research Project

The Partition of 1947 is one of the largest mass migrations recorded in history. This catastrophic event implemented a two-state solution creating a Muslim-majority Pakistan and a Hindu-majority India. The Partition caused immense psychological trauma for survivors due to the violence, displacement, and suffering they witnessed. This subsequently led to the eventual transmission of their trauma to future generations. Intergenerational trauma can present itself in a variety of symptoms, including hypervigilance, high anxiety, insomnia, low self-esteem, panic attacks, and more. However, one response to trauma that is overlooked in the context of the Partition is prejudice and bias. Pakistanis and Indians who are descendants of survivors navigate historical trauma with prejudice embedded into the fabric of social structures, political discourse, and cultural narratives. This research aims to analyze implicit bias and prejudice present in descendants of Partition survivors and how this historical event has shaped perceptions of Pakistanis and Indians. This study specifically looks at two generations of Pakistanis who have immigrated to the United States. The three generations in this paper are defined as Partition survivors, children of Partition survivors, and grandchildren of Partition survivors. This research is integral to creating more positive interactions with Pakistanis and Indians on an individual, cultural, and political scale.