Read the sentence from the section "1947: A Nation Divides." Leaders hoped it might actually bring an end to violence and herald a new beginning. The author uses the word "herald" to mean

to announce

Explanation:

Origin of the verb to herald lies in old days' calling of a person who was announcing things or passing the messages; messenger. That has been done mostly between two lands, armies etc. We can notice that many newspapers has in its name herald.

Today herald is a person whose occupation is connected to genealogy.

This verb can also mean to greet enthusiastically or to praise.