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The Impact of Forced Migration on the Economies of Divided Punjab:A Case Study of Ludhiana and Lyallpur
| This research will provide a comparative perspective of the experience of migrants in the post-partition Punjab. It aims to examine the impact of partition on two urban centres; these are Ludhiana in East Punjab, India and Lyallpur in West Punjab, Pakistan. Comparisons between Ludhiana and Lyallpur are logical because in their respective countries, both play a dominant role in the local and national economy. Prior to independence, they had linkages in the form of economic migrants. At the end of the nineteenth century large numbers, mostly Jat Sikhs, from Ludhiana settled in the newly formed canal colony of Lyallpur, only to return after partition. Conversely, in 1947 many Muslims of Ludhiana were attracted towards Lyallpur because of these pre-existing links. These two case studies offer insights into how two small towns transformed themselves in the newly created landscape around them. This in part has been as a result of the impact of refugee resettlement and planned development of these urban centres following partition. The economic success of Lyallpur and Ludhiana and their rise to prominence in the national arena may never have occurred had it not been for the partition migration.
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