It has been almost seven decades since India became independent, and with that the subcontinent was also divided into two parts. Though it has been a long time, the violent partition has left a scar on the history of the subcontinent. Nehru during the AICC vote on the Mountbatten plan | Source: Homegrown/Homai Vyarawalla Archives, Alkazi Collection of Photography

Amidst this turmoil, India's first female photojournalist, Homai Vyarawalla fought against gender boundaries, and went on to take pictures of the historic vote, that altered the course of history drastically.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah at his last press conference before leaving for Pakistan. | Source: Homegrown/Homai Vyarawalla Archives, Alkazi Collection of Photography

The communal turmoil led to the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, led by Jinnah and Nehru respectively, going ahead with the two state plan. Millions of people bore the brunt for this, as Jinnah left for Pakistan.

AICC members voting for partition | Source: Homegrown/Homai Vyarawalla Archives, Alkazi Collection of Photography