Pakistani Woman Deported After 41 Years in India, Sparks Debate on Two-Nation Theory
New Delhi, May 2, 2025 — A Pakistani woman, who had been living in India for 41 years after marrying an Indian citizen, was deported recently as part of a larger wave of deportations following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The incident has ignited a heated online debate about immigration policies, the legacy of Partition, and the relevance of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Two-Nation Theory.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was among 786 Pakistani nationals deported via the Attari-Wagah border since April 24, according to a report by ABP Live. She expressed her anguish in an emotional interview with ANI, saying, “I have been staying here for the last 41 years. Whatever is happening is not right. We don’t stand with them [terrorists]. Their legs should be broken, and they should be hanged… I appeal to the government that whatever is happening with us is not right.” The image of her speaking through the bars of a vehicle, surrounded by microphones, has since gone viral on social media platforms like X.
The deportations come in the wake of heightened security measures following the Pahalgam attack, with many Pakistani nationals—some of whom had lived in India for decades—being sent back. Among those deported were individuals with deep ties to India, including a Jammu and Kashmir police officer and his siblings, as well as a newly married woman and a final-year student, highlighting the personal toll of such policies.
Advocate Sanjoy Ghose, a prominent voice on X, shared the woman’s story, arguing that her deportation undermines the Two-Nation Theory—a foundational ideology of Pakistan’s creation that claimed Hindus and Muslims could not coexist in a single nation. “Bhakts are gleeful that this Pakistani lady who was married to an Indian & lived here for 41 yrs is being deported,” Ghose wrote. “Idiots don’t realise that people like her are living testaments to the failure of Jinnah’s two nation theory!” His post, which included the viral image, garnered significant attention, amassing thousands of reactions.
Bhakts are gleeful that this Pakistani lady who was married to an indian & lived here for 41 yrs is being deported. Idiots don’t realise that people like her are living testaments to the failure of the Jinnah’s two nation theory!
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) May 1, 2025
pic.twitter.com/BmbqHvO0UA
The post sparked a polarized debate on X. Some users supported the deportation, emphasizing the woman’s illegal status. “They have taken one-third land in partition which happened on religious line and now they pushing the very same ppl who never wanted to live with us,” wrote user
@rishibagree
. Others resorted to personal attacks, with @Shivdas1611
using abusive language to dismiss Ghose’s argument, to which Ghose responded with a heartfelt note about his late father, urging for more empathy in discourse.On the other hand, some users criticized the deportation policy for its human cost. The ABP Live report highlighted the emotional toll on deportees, many of whom left behind families, careers, and lives built over decades in India. Research from Community Psychology underscores the broader impact of such deportations, noting that they often lead to family separation, economic hardship, and emotional trauma for children, who may face behavioral challenges like anxiety and withdrawal.
The Two-Nation Theory, championed by Jinnah and the All-India Muslim League, argued for a separate Muslim state due to irreconcilable differences between Hindus and Muslims. However, cases like this woman’s—where cross-border marriages and long-term coexistence occur—challenge the theory’s premise, as Ghose pointed out. Historical perspectives, such as those from Wikipedia, note that even figures like Savarkar and Ambedkar engaged with the theory, though with varying motivations, reflecting its complex legacy.
As India grapples with security concerns and immigration policies, the deportation of individuals with deep ties to the country raises questions about balancing national interests with humanitarian considerations. For now, the woman’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind geopolitical tensions, leaving netizens divided on what her deportation truly signifies for India’s past and future.
