To English colonisers British India was one country, a concept that the English-educated Indians, who later became the political leaders of this country, internalised in turn. For them India was one country, in reality things were different — India was actually a continent with 20 languages, many kingdoms and many governments.

Ultimately, when the British left, they handed over power to two nations instead of one country. India had to accept the prospect of losing a part of its territory in order to gain complete independence. Pakistan had to accept an artificially created ‘Muslim region’ instead of a conglomeration of Muslim-majority states.

Today there is no common bond between India and Pakistan. Therefore let us bury the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’ once and for all.