South Asia

Who is in control? Mid 1700’s Britain controlled India – Ended slavery, improved schools, built a large railroad network What’s the problem?

Indians were one of the 1 st people to grow cotton – Flourishing textile industry – Wove new fabrics: Calico, cashmere, chintz, muslin British used India as a market for their own machine made textiles – Imported raw cotton from India – Made into cloth – Shipped the finished product back to India for sale

An even bigger problem Indians were not treated as equals British officials placed in positions of power in the army and government Indians were expected to take the lower positions

By the late 1800’s Indians are going to develop a strong sense of: – Nationalism  pride in ones nation

Mohandas Gandhi Mahatma “The Great Soul” Led India to Independence Believed in using nonviolent resistance against injustice

Nonviolent resistance  opposing an enemy or oppressor by any other means other than violence One way he refused British rule was to boycott (refuse to purchase or use) British cloth – Stopped wearing western clothes – Wore clothes from yarn he spun himself – Urged others to follow in his footsteps Sale of British cloth in India dropped dramatically

Nonviolent resistance becomes huge – Mass movement – Millions of Indians 1935 British gave in and agreed to establish provinces that were governed entirely by Indians

Religious Conflict Hindus and Muslims 100’s yrs their relationship has been hostile Muslims – Poorer peasants, landless workers Hindus – Often landowners

1946 – British government offered independence to India on the condition that Indian leaders could agree on a form of government 1947 – British and Indian leaders agree there is only ONE solution Partition (divide into parts) the subcontinent into separate Hindu and Muslim countries India  Hindu’s Pakistan  Muslims

Independence Day August 15, 1947 – India and Pakistan gained independence – Brought joyous scenes of celebration but also caused confusion and suffering Caused one of the greatest migrations in history – 12 million people moved – Avoiding the rule of a majority religion

Long and torturous journey “They passed in eerie silence. They did not look at each other… The creak of wooden wheels, the weary shuffling of thousands of feet, were the only sounds rising from the columns” » Ashwini Kumar, young police officer

Since Independence India & Pakistan have fought 3 wars 3 rd war was in 1971 – Led to the creation of Bangladesh – Tensions rose when both nations tested nuclear weapons in 1998 – Disputes persist over control of the border territory of Kashmir

Bangladesh

Pakistan When it gained independence: – The west and East were separated by 1,000 miles of Indian territory People of West Pakistan – Belonged to several ethnic groups – Spoke Urdu, the official language of the country People of East Pakistan – Bengalis – Proud of their Bengali language and literary tradition

Economics and Politics complicates things West Pakistan – Contained some factories East Pakistan – Largely agricultural – Paid more taxes – Felt more like a colony of West Pakistan

1970 Devastating flood in East Pakistan caused by a cyclone and a tidal wave takes the lives of more than 300,000 East Pakistanis – Many of the East Pakistani people accused the government of deliberately delaying shipments of food and relief supplies to the victims

India comes to the rescue of East Pakistan December 16, 1971 West Pakistan forces surrendered East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh – Means “Bengali Nation”