Gandhi’s Handwriting – “God is truth the way to truth lies through Ahimsa (non-violence). Sabarmati, March ” M K Gandhi

Gandhi during the Salt March, 1930.

Many Indians followed Gandhi’s nonviolent acts of protest and forced the British to recognize their desire for independence. After fighting in WWII, Britain no longer had enough money or people to keep India under its rule. On August 15, 1947, Great Britain formally gave up their colonial claims to India and the Republic of India was established. Today, many Indians credit India’s independence to the efforts of Gandhi.

India’s Independence Day

Even though India had won its independence, things were not peaceful in the country. Hindus and Muslims could not reach a solution as to how to rule an independent India. Eventually, the country was split into India for the Hindus and East & West Pakistan for the Muslims. The partition of India led to widespread acts of genocide. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in violence.

The British bungle partition Cyril Radcliffe had 40 days to draw the lines of partition—British kept it secret until after independence The province of Punjab and the city of Lahore are centers of conflict

1947: Two Muslim men carrying an old woman to their new home in Pakistan. 15 million displaced; 1 million dead

Time Magazine cover representing the partition of India – 1947.

Gandhi was very much disappointed by the partition; he wanted all Indians to live together peacefully in one country. Even though he was Hindu, he felt that all religious groups should be welcomed in India. In 1948, at the age of 78, Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated on his way to a prayer meeting in New Delhi. He was shot three times by a high-ranking Brahmin who resented Gandhi’s concern for Muslims.

Memorial where Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 PM on January 30, 1948 on his way to a prayer meeting.

Kashmir After partition, over 650 “Princely States”, run by princes (maharajas) existed within the two newly independent countries. One of these was Kashmir These princely states had the option of deciding which country to join (or remaining independent). Because of its location, Kashmir could choose to join either India or Pakistan.

Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, was Hindu. Most of the people in Kashmir were Muslims. In October 1947, Pakistan sends in a Muslim militia. Maharaja Hari Singh appealed to the Indian government for military assistance and fled to India. He signed the Instrument of Accession, ceding (giving) Kashmir to India on October 26, 1947.

Kashmir Indian and Pakistani forces fought their first war over Kashmir in

Indo-Pakistani Wars Then, they went to war again in (The United States sold weapons to both sides) Then, they went to war again in 1971.

1971 East Pakistan fights a war for independence from West Pakistan. West Pakistan attacks East Pakistan— eventually more than 1 million dead—genocide of Bengalis and Hindus India intervenes of behalf of East Pakistan, defeats West Pakistan East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh—the nation is poor, extremely densely populated, and vulnerable to cyclones

1991 Cyclone—125,000 dead

George Harrison and Bob Dylan: Concert for Bangladesh-Madison Square Garden,

Bangladesh II by Faiz Ahmed Faiz This is how my sorrow became visible: its dust, piling up for years in my heart, finally reached my eyes, the bitterness now so clear that I had to listen when my friends told me to wash my eyes with blood. Everything at once was tangled in blood— each face, each idol, red everywhere. Blood swept over the sun, washing away its gold. The moon erupted with blood, its silver extinguished. The sky promised a morning of blood, and the night wept only blood. The trees hardened into crimson pillars.. All flowers filled their eyes with blood. And every glance was an arrow, each pierced image blood. This blood –a river crying out for martyrs— flows on its longing. And in sorrow, in rage, in love. Let it flow. Should it be dammed up, there will only be hatred cloaked in colors of death. Don’t let this happen, my friends, bring all my tears back instead, a flood to fill my dust-filled eyes, to wash this blood forever from my eyes. (Translations by Agha Shahid Ali, from his book The Rebel’s Silhouette)The Rebel’s Silhouette

Sino-Indian War Meanwhile, China and India went to war in 1962, over a disputed border in the Himalayas. China won decisively China and Pakistan became allies.

The Himalayas are tall In all of these conflicts, battles have been fought on, and over, glaciers and mountains. Some battles have taken place above 14,000 feet (the top of Mt. Rainier).

Today violence and conflict continue in Kashmir between the Indian security forces and Islamic rebels-50,000-70,000 dead since 1989

South Asia’s other conflict: Sri Lanka Conflict between majority Sinhalese (Buddhists) and minority Tamils (Hindus). Ethnic/ political/(a little) religious conflicts Lasted from ,000 dead. Tamils defeated Extensive use of suicide bombers (by the Tamils) Tamils kill Rajiv Gandhi, running for prime minister of India

Sri Lankan Army Tamil Tigers

Continuing problems in India: Pollution By some measures, Delhi is the most polluted city in the world air-pollution/ air-pollution/

Continuing problems in India: Poverty The poverty rate in India has dropped but poverty is still widespread The Indian Planning commission estimates that 363 million Indians live below the official poverty rate of $2.40 per day

Continuing problems in India: Inequality

Continuing problems in India: overpopulation and lack of resources economy.html economy.html

Huge and growing population…