In response to increasing pressure from Indian nationalists and significantly depleted finances from World War II, Britain withdrew from India in August of 1947, signifying the end of British colonial rule in the region. With the withdrawal of Britain came the partition of India into two independent countries: India and Pakistan. Bengal was split between the two countries, with West Bengal going to India and East Bengal going to Pakistan. Though Haimabati Sen passed away before Britain withdrew from the region, it is still important to include this event in her timeline since it highlights the fact that she spent her entire life under British colonial rule- something that isn’t particularly apparent throughout the course of her text. Additionally, since she passed away a little over a decade before India gained its independence, this means that she was alive for part of India’s fight for sovereignty.

Sources:

“Bangladesh - The British Period, c. 1700–1947.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Bangladesh. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

BBC - History - British History in Depth: Britain, the Commonwealth and the End of Empire. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/endofempire_overview_01.shtml. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Colonial Period - Banglapedia. http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Colonial_Period. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Office, Public Record. “Learning Curve British Empire.” Public Record Office, The National Archives, Public Record Office, https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/empire/g3/cs3/background.htm. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Ph. D., History, et al. “How British Rule of India Came About—and How It Ended.” ThoughtCo, https://www.thoughtco.com/the-british-raj-in-india-195275. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.