India After Independence

Dominated Indian Politics for most of the time since independence INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS Led India to Independence Becomes the CONGRESS PARTY Dominated Indian Politics for most of the time since independence

Jawaharlal Nehru Ally of Gandhi 1st Prime Minister of India Industrialization “Green Revolution” Introduces socialism Nonalignment Movement Nehru met Gandhi in 1916 at the annual Indian National Congress convention. He participated in the nonviolent civil disobedience campaign and spent time in jail along with Gandhi. At independence, Nehru became the nation’s first prime minister and was continually reelected until his death in 1964. Nehru pushed modernization of the country, and industrialization of its economy. 1947-1964

Non-Alignment Movement

India’s “Green Revolution” Introducing higher- yielding varieties of seeds in 1965. Increased use of fertilizers & irrigation. GOAL - make India self-sufficient in food grains. India has had a "mixed economy" in which both private business and government invest in and direct the economy. Today, India has been moving away from state ownership and subsidies to business. India's government has established five-year plans to set economic goals. The Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s made great headway, but faltered due to most farmers' lack of money to buy hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. Imports still needed.

Indira Gandhi Nehru’s daughter Prime Minister of India, 1966-1984. Population control Bangladesh Ruled through state of emergency (censorship, rid opposition parties) Assassinated 1984 by Sikh Guards Indira Gandhi was Nehru’s daughter. She married a man named Gandhi who was no relation to the Mahatma. Indira continued industrialization, begun by her father. In 1975 Gandhi was convicted on two counts of corruption in the 1971 campaign. While appealing the decision, she declared a state of emergency, imprisoned her political opponents, and assumed emergency powers. Governing by decree, she imposed total press censorship and implemented a policy of large-scale sterilization as a form of birth control. When long-postponed national elections were held in 1977, Gandhi and her party were soundly defeated. Although very popular at the polls, she faced a great challenge in dealing with nationalist movements among minority groups, especially the Sikhs in Punjab state. The Sikhs sought independence of Punjab, and when they used terrorism, Indira struck back. The Golden Temple -- an extremely holy Sikh shrine at Amritsar was being used by the terrorists as a weapons storehouse and a sanctuary. Indira ordered a military raid on the temple in which hundreds of Sikhs were brutally killed. In the process, the temple was badly damaged. In retaliation, just a few months later on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards.

The Conflict with Sikhs Indira Gandhi was Nehru’s daughter. She married a man named Gandhi who was no relation to the Mahatma. Indira continued industrialization, begun by her father. In 1975 Gandhi was convicted on two counts of corruption in the 1971 campaign. While appealing the decision, she declared a state of emergency, imprisoned her political opponents, and assumed emergency powers. Governing by decree, she imposed total press censorship and implemented a policy of large-scale sterilization as a form of birth control. When long-postponed national elections were held in 1977, Gandhi and her party were soundly defeated. Although very popular at the polls, she faced a great challenge in dealing with nationalist movements among minority groups, especially the Sikhs in Punjab state. The Sikhs sought independence of Punjab, and when they used terrorism, Indira struck back. The Golden Temple -- an extremely holy Sikh shrine at Amritsar was being used by the terrorists as a weapons storehouse and a sanctuary. Indira ordered a military raid on the temple in which hundreds of Sikhs were brutally killed. In the process, the temple was badly damaged. In retaliation, just a few months later on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards.

Military Tradition and Conflict Developed strong military tradition because of constant attack Separatist movement Punjab region (Sikh majority) Feel they don’t receive large enough share of govt. resources Amritsar (Golden Temple) 1984 – govt. ordered attack on Sikh protestors (Indira Gandhi) BACK

Rajiv Gandhi: End of a dynasty? Indira’s son Congress Party Encouraged foreign investment Sent Indian troops into Sri Lanka to impose peace (disastrous) Assassinated by female Tamil Tiger Wife, Sonia, leads Congress Party today 1985 - 1989

Civil War in Sri Lanka Tamils – Hindu minority living in Sri Lanka 80s – separatists fought Sri Lankan govt. for own state Rajiv Gandhi – sent in peacekeeping troops; ended in war between Indian troops and Tamils BACK

Manmohan Singh Statesman, good record India’s first Sikh Prime Minister Statesman, good record May 2004

India Today Globalization – technology hub, outsourcing Economy Globalization – technology hub, outsourcing Large skilled workforce; Widespread rural poverty/illiteracy ¼ of econ. Dependent on agriculture World’s largest film industry Society Overpopulation – Hindu/Muslim tension Caste bias - discrimination against untouchables continues Politics tension with Pakistan (Kashmir, nukes) The population of India is just over 1 billion people. It is believed that India’s population will surpass that of China by 2020. No success with family planning, birth control/abortion. Necessity of large families in agrarian subsistence lifestyle. India's economy is uneven at best: many Indians lead a subsistence lifestyle, while a sizeable middle class and a small upper class live in the cities. The situation in Kashmir is quite dangerous. Ongoing hostilities continue, and both sides continue a low-level crossfire across the border of this divided region. Three wars have been fought over Kashmir: 1948, 1965, and 1971. The 1972 partition did not settle the issue. Because both sides, India and Pakistan, have nuclear weapons, some fear that the potential for large-scale war could lead to the use of these nuclear weapons. In the summer of 2002, India and Pakistan came within a hair’s breadth of war.

India v. Pakistan: dangerous rivals

The Conflict’s Colonial Roots 1947 – both I & P claim princely state of Jammu/Kashmir Majority Muslim state; ruled by line of Hindu princes India said it was secular War - UN negotiated cease fire in ‘48 Kashmir Slideshow- Steve Coll

The Mumbai Attack Pakistani terrorist group backing the country’s claim to Kashmir Reignited India-Pakistan dispute over the region November 2008 - Gunmen targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai, killing at least 101 people and injuring 300. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7752237.stm

Is THIS a possibility??

Honor Killings Crimes against women committed by family, clan or community members, in protection of reputation “The Interior Ministry disclosed in the National Assembly on Thursday that during the last three years of Musharraf regime, over 4,000 women were murdered all over Pakistan, including 1,019 in the name of honour.” http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=146571

Will Terrorism in Pakistan provide the “spark”?