Independence in South Asia

Terms and People partition – division Sikhs – a religious minority in India, a major world religion that split from Hinduism and are identified by a turban Kashmir – an Indian state located in the Himalayan mountains; subject to persistent unrest due to its divided population of Hindus and Muslims dalits – outcasts; members of the lowest Hindu caste in India Bangladesh – formerly East Pakistan; became an independent Bengali nation in 1971 nonalignment – political and diplomatic independence from the two Cold War superpowers

How did nationalist demands for independence affect South Asia, Africa, and the world? As the Cold War was unfolding, global independence movements were reshaping the world. Among the first new nations to win independence were the former British colonies of South Asia and Africa.

In 1947, India finally won independence from Britain In 1947, India finally won independence from Britain. But independence brought with it new conflict. Mohandas Gandhi- non violent political leader, and the Hindu Congress Party wanted a unified India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League feared Hindu domination. Britain decided to divide South Asia into two separate countries. India would be largely Hindu and Pakistan largely Muslim.

Religious beliefs split India in two, Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu)

The partition of South Asia led to violence. Hindus and Sikhs in India murdered Muslims, and Muslims in Pakistan killed Hindus. An estimated 1 million people were killed; many more starved or died of exposure. When the new borders were announced, about 10 million refugees fled, mostly on foot. Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist who opposed his efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims.

When India became independent in 1947 it faced many issues. The Indian Caste System was a challenge to the modernization of India. The Indian Caste system placed each person in a certain level of society. A person was not to move up or down from what ever Caste they resided in. India’s 1947 Constitution banned discrimination against the dalits, members of the lowest Hindu Caste, but discrimination still continued. The Indian government set aside jobs and places in Universities for dalits and other lower-caste Indians. Still, higher-caste Hindus generally got better jobs and education.

Conflict has continued in the decades since independence. India and Pakistan fought a series of wars over Kashmir, an Indian province on the Pakistani border with a large Muslim population.

Although the province was given to India in the partition, a majority of the people of Kashmir are Muslims.

In the 1970s, a nuclear arms race developed between India and Pakistan. Both nations successfully held nuclear tests by 1998. Neighboring countries in South Asia were alarmed by the increasing hostility. They feared that extremists might get access to nuclear weapons.

India is the world’s largest democracy, but it has faced great difficulty in creating unity. Uniting speakers of over 100 languages and dialects has been a challenge. Religious hostility among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others has threatened India’s democracy.

The two parts were separated by 1,000 miles of Indian territory. East Pakistan was mostly Bengali, while West Pakistan was home to other ethnic groups. West Pakistan dominated the government, though East Pakistan was more populous. The government focused most economic development programs on West Pakistan. East Pakistan remained deep in poverty. Pakistan was created as a single nation in 1947, but it was physically divided into East Pakistan and West Pakistan.

Bengalis in East Pakistan resented governmental neglect. In 1971, they declared their independence from Pakistan. East Pakistan took the name Bangladesh. The Pakistani army tried to crush the rebellion, but India sent forces to help Bangladesh. Pakistan had no choice but to recognize the new nation. INDIA

Since winning independence, Bangladesh has struggled to modernize. It is a very crowded and poor nation. It suffers from frequent tropical storms and floods. INDIA

Muslim fundamentalists favored stricter Islamic law. Other groups sought to separate government from religion. Tension among ethnic groups and other factions has caused frequent conflict. Pakistan has suffered from political instability. Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, have set up strongholds in northwestern Pakistan.

The British colony of Ceylon gained independence in 1948 and changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972. A majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhists who speak Sinhalese, most Buddhists left India and moved to Sri Lanka for religious freedom. This included the highest ranking Buddhist, the Dalia Llama A minority of Tamil-speaking Hindus have struggled for independence since the 1970s. Terrorism and brutality have been a constant in the conflict.

India, Pakistan, and other new nations tried to stay neutral in the Cold War. Pakistan and India were among the first former colonies to gain their independence after World War II. In 1955, India and Pakistan organized a meeting of newly independent nations. They called for nonalignment, refusing to side with either the United States or the Soviet Union.