In 1947, due to the partition, there was a massive transfer of people on both sides of the new border. As the result the population of Delhi swelled.

The following changes could be seen in Delhi after Partition:

(a) Delhi becomes the city of refugees.

(b) Transfer of people to Delhi resulted in an increase in population of Delhi, change of job and culture of the city and its people.

(c) The riots followed the Partition, thousands of people in Delhi were killed, their homes looted and burned.

(d) Over two-third of the Delhi Muslims migrated, and almost 44,000 homes were abandoned.

(e) The refugees who came from Pakistan occupied the empty houses of Shahjahanabad. Many refugees came to Delhi from Punjab.

(f) As most of the migrants were from Punjab, the Urdu based culture of Delhi was replaced by the new culture of Punjab and other native places of migrants.

(g) New shops and stalls were set-up to meet the demands. New colonies of Lajpat Nagar and Tilak Nagar were formed at this time.

(h) Old Delhi also witnessed the extinction of Havelis.