1. Nations of South Asia 22-1

2. Independence and Partition Indian nationalists had demanded independence since the late 1800’s. After World War II, Britain finally agreed to those demands. As independence neared, a long-simmering issue surfaced. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, insisted that Muslims have their own state, Pakistan. Riots between Hindus and Muslims helped persuade Britain to partition, or dived, the subcontinent.

3. Two Nations In 1947, millions if Hindus and Muslims crossed the borders of India and Pakistan in both directions. During the mass migration plunged northern India into savage violence. Sikh and Hindu mobs killed Muslims fleeing to Pakistan. Muslims massacred Hindu and Sikh neighbors. Estimated of 10 million refuges fled their homes. One million or more, mostly Muslims may have died

4. India: World’s Largest Democracy India built on the legacy of British government, including its system of law and government. With a population of about one billion, it is the world’s largest democracy nation.

5. Unity and Diversity To achieve independence, Indians had united behind the Congress party. Still, the new nation was deeply divided. It included hundreds of princely states that had survived British rule. India’s constitution set up a federal system like that of the United States

6. The “Nehur Dynasty For 40 years after independence, members of the Nehur family led India. From 1947 to 1946, Jawaharlal Nehur worked to build a modern, secular state dedicated to promoting social justice. His daughter then his grandson ruled, both were popular and loved. Both fell victim to violence, in 1998 Sonia Gandhi became leader of the Congress party.

7. Ongoing Divisions In the 1990’s, support deepened for the Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). AS the BJP rose to power, conflict between Hindus and Muslims increased. Other divisions affected the prosperous Punjab region of northwestern India. A third center of conflict lay to the south, on the island nation of Sri Lanka.

8. Industry and Agriculture British-built railroads gave India its basic transportation network. To turn out the educated work force essential to a developing industrial economy, the Indian government built schools and universities. Seeking to make India self-sufficient in food productions, Nehur took advantage of the Green Revolution.

9. The Population Issue Rapid population growth hurt efforts to improve living conditions. AS the population boomed and the Green Revolution eliminated many agricultural jobs, millions of people streamed into cities like Calcutta and Bombay to find work. The government encouraged family planning but did not impose harsh population control measures, as China did.

10. Economic Reform An economic slowdown and pressure from international lenders forced India to make reforms. By the 1990’s, India had a significant role in textiles, technology, and other industries. Computer experts at India’s soft ware center at Madras gained a worldwide reputation.

11. Reforming the Caste System Discrimination based on caste continued. In the 1930’s, Gandhi had campaigned to end the inhumane treatment of untouchables, whom he called harijans- children of God. Despite such programs, deep prejudice persisted.

12. Women At independence, women gained the vote along with other legal rights. Yet, because of class and caste differences, many girls from poor families receive little or no education. Indian women have formed organizations and movements to meet their needs.

13. A Divided Nation West Pakistan and East Pakistan were separated by a wide swath of India territory. As tensions mounted, Bengalis broke away. To escape the bloodbath, millions of Bengalis fled west into India. India responded by attacking and defeating the Pakistan army in Bangladesh.

14. Government For years, Pakistan alternated between civilian and military governments. By 1999, Pakistan’s elected government faced economic woes, widespread corruption, and other severe challenges.

15. Economy After independence, Pakistan moved to improve agriculture. Deforestation, or destruction of forest land, caused terrible floods when monsoon rains were heavy. Yet debt service, paying interest on loans, takes 40 percent of the nation’s budget, leaving little for development.

16. Trails of Bangladesh Since 1971, Bangladesh has struggled to rise out of poverty, but geography often stands in the way. Cyclones, fierce circular windstorms, are another frequent threat. Explosive population growth has strained resources still further. Large amounts of foreign aid have brought little relief, in part because various military government have misused the assistance.

17. Conflict Between India and Pakistan Fear and mistrust have marred relations between India, with Hindu majority, and Pakistan, with its Muslim majority. Indian military units, in turn, have repeatedly savaged Kashmiri Muslims.

18. The Nuclear Issue After India tested a nuclear bomb in 1947, Pakistan felt threatened and began to develop its own nuclear capability. In 1998, both India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons. Both countries faced strong nationalist and religious pressure to use at least the threat of nuclear conflict in future confrontations.

19. Afghanistan This Central Asian country has suffered years of civil war. The Soviet exit did not end the fighting. The Taliban was also condemned for supporting al- Qaida, the international terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden. In response, an international coalition led by the United States invaded Afghanistan.