2. Over one billion people live in South Asia. The people of the region speak hundreds of languages and practice several major religions.

3. With 772 people per sq mile, South Asia’s population density is almost seven times the world average. At present rates, South Asia will nearly double its current population by the year 2050.

4. South Asia combines high population density with fragile ecosystems. Scientists are studying ways to combat South Asia’s severe air pollution problem

5. Much of South Asia’s population has limited access to clean water. For example, 80 percent of India’s population has no access to sanitation facilities. Under such conditions, untreated sewage pollutes water supplies that people depend on for normal daily use.

6. The River Ganges (ganga) Many temples and sacred sites line the banks of the Ganges. Stone steps lead down to the water and pilgrims from all over the world come to drink from and bathe in its water.

7. After centuries of intense human use the Ganges has become polluted. Since 1986 the government has tried to reverse the damage however it still remains a huge problem.

8. In recent years, many South Asians have moved to cities, drawn by the hope of better jobs. The resulting overpopulation causes shortages in housing, health care, and educational facilities, as well as serious pollution.

10. Indian Civilization began in the Indus valley around 2500 B.C. A thousand years later hunters and herders called Aryans came from the northwest to settle in the subcontinent. The light skinned Aryans drove darker skinned people called, Dravidians to the south

11. After the Aryans, other groups invaded South Asia through the Khyber Pass, establishing new empires and civilizations. First the Mauryan Empire, Mauryan leader Asoka would help spread Buddhism. Later the Gupta Empire would control South Asia Under the Gupta Hindu civilization, technology and the arts flourished.

12. By the 1100s, Muslim forces had conquered northern India. The Muslim-led Mughal (Mogul) Empire dominated the subcontinent for centuries, converting many South Asians to Islam. The Taj Mahal is an Indian Icon and the most famous piece of Mughal architecture. A symbol of love the white marble mausoleum, was constructed in the 1600’s for the emperors favorite wife.

13. In the 1500’s Europeans arrived in India looking for goods such as spices and cloth. The French, Dutch, and British set up trading costal trading colonies.

14. India would make the British East Indies Trading Company wealthy. In 1857 the British government would put down a revolt and established direct rule over India. The period of direct British control, called the Raj (the Hindi word for empire), lasted for nearly 90 years. The British restructured the school system, introduced the English language, built railroads, and developed a civil service.

15. The great India leader Mohandas Gandhi began an opposition movement based on nonviolent resistance. He worked to end the rigid social system and became known as Mahatma, or “Great Soul.”

16. Gandhi born in India in 1869 His father was a local politician Accepted to law school Went to S. Africa for 1 year law assignment Was thrown off a train car because of his skin color Stayed 21 years in Africa fighting for rights His non-violence led to many victories Was a hero when he returned to India in 1915 Threw himself into the struggle of Indian Independence He believed most leaders could not relate to the masses Gandhi adopted the life of the poor. He lived in a small hut with few possessions. In this humble place he organized resistance to British Rule Set up strikes, sit-in’s, nonpayment of taxes, and boycotts. He was arrested and jailed by the British over and over. During one protest the British opened fire killing 400 Indians Gandhi pushed for noncooperation, bringing India to a standstill

17. “An eye for an eye and soon the whole world is blind.” “I seek the blunt edge of the Tyrant’s sword not by putting up against it a sharper-edged weapon, but by disappointing his expectation that I would be offering physical resistance. My method is conversion not coercion.”

18. Gandhi slowly gained more political power through the 20’s and 30’s. When WWII ended Great Britain offered full independence. Though Gandhi achieved that goal he could not heal Muslim-Hindu Tensions. The Muslim population broke away from the new country forming Pakistan. Riots broke out. In protest to the fighting Gandhi fasted and the fighting stopped. Angered by Gandhi’s tolerance for Muslims a Hindu nationalist shot and killed Gandhi.

19. Eventually Britain gave in and in 1947 India gained its independence. Once it became independent Muslims to the west and east sought to gain their independence from the mainly Hindu India, creating Pakistan. Those with a Muslim majority became Pakistan, which was separated into two sections–East Pakistan and West Pakistan–by about 1,000 miles of land belonging to India. In 1971, East Pakistan revolted against West Pakistan and became the new country of Bangladesh.

20. Since independence, India and Pakistan have fought over the disputed province of Kashmir. Today, both countries have nuclear weapons. Since the 1980s, Sri Lanka has been torn by fighting between the Sinhalese-led government and Tamil rebel forces. Sri Lanka has been on the brink of outright civil war since the 1980s.

21. India’s 1st Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru helped India adopt a constitution and become a democracy. India, often called the world’s largest democracy, is a federal parliamentary republic. For 40 years after independence, members of the Nehru family headed India’s government. Today India enjoys a relatively stable government. Pakistan is a parliamentary republic that has endured many years of military rule. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are parliamentary republics, where intense political or ethnic rivalries have made stable government difficult. Nepal and Bhutan are ruled by monarchies that are trying to modernize and still keep some power.

23. The people of South Asia speak 19 major languages and hundreds of local dialects. About half of all Indians speak Hindi. Urdu is the official language of Pakistan, and Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh.

24. Dance and musical performance have long traditions in India. Dance styles are based on the movements of ancient temple dancers. Mumbai is home to the world’s busiest and most productive film industry, Bollywood. South Asia’s sculpture and temple architecture express religious beliefs. Modern South Asian architecture blends traditional and Western styles.

25. Life expectancies in South Asia are generally lower than in most industrialized countries. The scarcity of clean water encourages the spread of diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

26. South Asian governments are working to raise literacy rates and extend educational opportunities to women and members of lower social classes.

27. Despite improved farming techniques and government efforts, many South Asians are too poor to buy high-quality protein foods. To obtain needed protein, some people eat soy-based tofu or beans. Religious dietary regulations keep Hindus from eating beef and Muslims from eating pork.

29. Most South Asians are subsistence farmers who grow only what they need for their families. Some South Asians use oxen, water buffalo, yaks, and elephants to pull plows and to haul water and other loads.

30. Textile production is a major light industry in South Asia. Thirty-eight million Indians work in the textile industry, producing cotton, silk, and wool fabrics and garments. Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of India’s independence movement, chose the spinning wheel as the symbol of the strength India could draw from its cottage industries.

31. More and more South Asians, especially Indians and Pakistanis, work in service industries such as transportation, banking, and administration. The high-technology industry has grown rapidly in South Asia. India, for example, is the world’s second-largest exporter of software, earning $5 billion in software trade with the United States in the year 2000.