Today: Cultural Issues Religious Diversity Hinduism Islam Buddhism Sikhism Language Population

Hinduism Dominant over most of India and Nepal Complex Hierarchical Social Roles Belief in transmigration of souls through reincarnation

The Caste System Socio-Historical Significance Main Groups: Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Sudras Dalits

Mohandas Gandhi South African Influence “Civil disobedience” Points of Protest Unfair taxation Discrimination Poverty Liberation of Women Religious/Ethnic Peace End of Caste System Independent India Ties to American Civil Rights Movement

The Law of Karma The law of action and reaction Answers questions often difficult to address in religion

Buddhism Reaction to Hinduism Siddhartha Guatama Sri Lanka Himalayas Tibetan Buddhism Four Noble Truths Noble Eight-Fold Path

Islam Arrives 700 Covers Pakistan, Bangladesh, and North India by 1700 Distinctly different than Hinduism Pakistan, Bangladesh, India Muslim population ~400 million

1700

Sikhism Punjab: 60% Sikh Combines elements of Islam and Hinduism Principal components Path to salvation is through disciplined meditation Equality

Languages Very diverse in terms of language Indo-European Family Dravidian Family Tibeto-Burman Family Colonial Impact: English

Population India, Bangladesh and Pakistan together have ~1.4 billion people Very young population Rapid growth rate: ~1.8% High, but decreasing Total Fertility Rate India: 3.0 Pakistan: 4.8 Bangladesh: 3.0 Sri Lanka: 2.0 Life Expectancy: ~62 years

Population Cont. Poverty >300 million India citizens below poverty line 60% of Bangladeshi children malnourished

Economic Indicators GNI per capita: Bangladesh: 1,770 India: 2,650 Pakistan: 1,960 Sri Lanka: 3,510 U.S.: 31,000

Status of Women Low status in much of region due to Hindu and Muslim traditions Skewed male: female ratios Neglect of female children Infanticide Bride Killing Poor status of women is not everywhere Ex: Kerala and areas of Northern South Asia