The Partition of India in 1947 left a permanent mark on the people and continues to haunt the countries to this date. It led to a large-scale loss of life, property, and an unprecedented migration between the two dominions. Somehow, among the refugees who survived a strange belief got solidified in them that safety lay among people having the same religion. In fact, Pakistan was only imagined as a refuge for the Muslims of British India.
The migrations took place in such haste and with very little warning that things ended up pretty badly. It is believed that around 14 million to 18 million people moved, and the casualties during the period of the partition are estimated to be around one million. The disorderly nature of the partition created a hostile atmosphere and suspicion between the two countries, India and Pakistan, and it continues to affect their relationship to this day.
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AI reimagined modern-day Pakistan has led us to question what if the partition never took place.
What if the partition never happened?
With the help of digital art using artificial intelligence by Madhav Kohli, we can now visualize how an undivided India would have looked like. Looks like the long-asked question by historians has finally been answered.
1. Diverse cultures
AI re-imagines modern-day Pakistan having diverse cultural roots and demographic heterogeneity with Sikhism being another one of the major religions.
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2. South Asian superpower
The images reimagined an undivided India and astonishingly the images portray it as a South Asian Superpower. Given the vastness, and powerful armies of both nations the country could have been a superpower.
3. Bucketlist worthy
With the serene beauty of both the nations coming together as well as the diversity and cultural significance, the undivided country as a whole would have attracted more tourists annually. India’s Sikh heritage which is now in Pakistan would have been bucket list worthy.
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4. Wealthy nation
Given India’s successful maritime trade links and the absence of pouring such huge amounts of resources into the terror watchlist sanctions, the country could’ve grown so much more economically. In fact, it could have been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world but guess we will never know.
5. The AI-generated images portray Pakistan as a progressive modern-day Asian country with civil liberties
6. Scientific resurgence
What Madhav Kohli tried to depict through his artwork may be hinting at the revival of Islam’s Golden Age.
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7. With properly managed colossal reserves of natural resources, the country could have been a powerhouse as a whole
All images are taken from Madhav Kohli
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