1949 - Independence “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: justice…liberty…equality…do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.”

Indian Independence Act: - India free - Divided into India and Pakistan

Activity Each group will get one reading on 4 modern India subjects As a group you have 10 minutes to read and then put on poster paper the five most important points and draw a picture to encapsulate the topic One person will report out to the class Kashmir/Pakistan 2. Women 3. Sikh Separatism 4. Bollywood

Pakistan West Pakistan and East Pakistan West controlled country’s gov’t.-favored west; East=poor 1971-Civil War India supported East Pakistan Independent Bangladesh Poor, ethnic and religious conflict General Pervez Musharraf -1999 Worked with U.S. to fight al Qaeda & Taliban

Dividing Forces Cultural Diversity Hindu-Muslim conflict

Kashmir Hindu and Muslim differences dating to 1947. Previously an independent state. After independence, warfare led to Kashmir’s division between India and Pakistan Pakistan controls the mountainous northern and western third; India controls the west and maintains 500,000 troops in the regions; China also control a portion of Kashmir Many Kashmiris support independence from both India and Pakistan. There have been numerous bombings and many people have died in the fighting. Both Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons and are a threat. The headwaters of the Indus River flow through Kashmir – one of the reasons the region is so disputed.

Women Overall status is lower than that of men in South Asia, but there are some women in high positions of power Educational levels between men and women are unequal; female literacy rates are much lower then those for men

Marriages Arranged marriages are common Parents negotiate marriage Ads in newspapers / magazines Henna Decoration of brides hands and feet

Bride Price Dowry Indian gov’t bans dowries, but this practice is still taken very seriously Bride burning / Dowry killing – a rare practice, but it occurs (1,786 deaths in 1987) Female infanticide Sati (also, suttee) – an Indian widow would immolate herself on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre. Outlawed and thus very rare today

Sikh Separatism Sikhism – blend of Islam and Hinduism About 2% of population Often feel “left out” of government attention

Sikh Separatism Amritsar Golden Temple (1984) Sikh extremists occupy Golden Temple and refuse to leave Independence Movement Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister of India) orders in troops. Many Sikh’s were killed. Indira Gandhi assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards-leads to a wave of anti-Sikh violence http://www.sikhgenocide.org/#

Bollywood India film industry, centered in Mumbai (Bombay) Major themes of films: Romance, but less explicit Achieving the impossible Victory in contests of strength Characteristics of Bollywood movies Elaborate song and dance Varied costumes and locations Far-fetched plots; unusual coincidences http://www.videodust.com/videos/2008/10/06/My-10-Bollywood-Songs-of-Shahrukh-Khan.html

Outsourcing Why: cut costs, cheap labor, high quality What: high tech jobs:> computers, software design, call centers How: computers, internet, education, English US Pro: cheap goods, competition, keep some jobs US Con: loss of jobs or lower wages Indian Pro: more jobs, middle class, less poverty Indian Con: Brain drain, loss of culture, tough jobs

Poverty

Dividing Forces Population

As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists Child Hunger: India http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/13/world/asia/20090313-malnutrition-audioss/index.html As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists

Dividing Forces Caste System Constitution declares untouchability illegal BUT it still exists