2. South Asia after Empire
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Starting Points Map: Asia
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Independence and Conflict
Map: Religious Groups in India and Pakistan
India after Independence
Challenges in South Asia

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4. South Asia after Empire
Main Idea
India gained its independence from Great Britain, but the region entered an era of conflict and challenges.
Reading Focus
What events led to independence and conflict in India?
What happened to India after the nation won its independence?
What challenges face the countries of South Asia?

5. Independence and Conflict
Great Britain had controlled India for nearly two hundred years, but by the early 1900s the British control of the region was starting to weaken. At the same time, religious tensions were pulling India apart.
Movement for independence gained strength in early 1900s
By mid-1930s Indian National Congress, Mohandas Gandhi had won some self-rule for Indians
Nationalism Grows
British told Indians to fight for allies in World War II
Forced to participate in war for democracy while being denied independence, INC refused to support war effort
INC and War
Gandhi began “Quit India” campaign
British imprisoned Gandhi, INC officials
Riots erupted
Convinced British maintaining control of India too costly
Quit India

6. Religious Conflict and Partition
Religious Groups
India had long had two main religious groups: Hindus, Muslims
1940, home to 255 million Hindus, 92 million Muslims
Smaller numbers of Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists
Muslim Fears
As hopes for Indian independence rose, so did religious tensions
Some Muslims feared large Hindu population would dominate independent democratic India, wanted separate nation to protect their rights
Muslim League
Muhammad Ali Jinnah led Muslim League, worked for interests of India’s Muslims
1940, Muslim League called for a partition, division of India, creation of separate Muslim, Hindu countries

7. British Favored Partition
Gandhi strongly opposed division of India, little he could do
Violence between Muslims, Hindus increased during early 1940s
British leaders believed partition best way to ensure safe, stable region
Divided India into separate Hindu, Muslim nations
Violence Increased
Great Britain formally ended colonial rule of India, August 1947
Two new nations created: Muslim East and West Pakistan, Hindu India
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister: “A new star rises, the star of freedom in the East…”
Two New Nations

9. Violence After Partition
Division of India also divided religious groups living there
Most Pakistan residents Muslim; most in India were Hindu
Followers of other religions lived in each new country as well
Millions of people on each side decided to move
Gandhi Victim of Violence
As millions crossed subcontinent, violence between religious groups flared; over a million people died
Gandhi also victim of bloodshed
January 1948, shot, killed by fellow Hindu who blamed Gandhi for partition, believed he sacrificed Hindu interests to protect Muslims

10. War over Kashmir Not all border issues had been settled at partition
Major point of conflict, region of Kashmir, near northern border of India, Pakistan
India, Pakistan began to fight over control of Kashmir
Continued until 1949 cease-fire divided region into two parts, one controlled by each nation
Later China claimed control of part of Kashmir as well

11. Identify Cause and Effect
How did India’s independence lead to conflict?
Answer(s): When India gained independence, new nations were formed along religious lines, leading to conflicts between the groups.

12. India after Independence
India became the world’s largest democracy when the nation won its independence in 1947.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru led India through difficult early years of independence
Emphasized need for unity, economic and social reforms, respect for democratic ideals
Worked to increase legal rights of women, improve lives of poor, prevent discrimination
India Under Nehru
Under Nehru, India utilized modern science, technology to improve industry, agriculture
Played important role in formation of nonaligned movement during Cold War
Focused on economic development instead of taking sides in the conflict
Nonaligned Movement

13. Attack at Golden Temple
After Nehru
1964, Nehru died; two years later, daughter Indira Gandhi elected prime minister; served four terms
Rise to power showed role of women in India society improved after independence
Faced challenge from a Sikh independence movement in state of Punjab
1984, militant Sikhs occupied Golden Temple, holiest shrine
Gandhi ordered Indian troops to drive militants out of temple
Hundreds of people killed
Attack damaged temple, Sikh holy scriptures
Attack at Golden Temple
Violent attack outraged many Sikhs, including those who had not supported militants
October 1984, Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards assassinated her
Touched off wave of anti-Sikh violence, left thousands dead
Gandhi Assassinated

14. Prosperity and Poverty
Modern India
1990s, India undertook reforms that have led to significant economic gains
Government loosened controls on many industries, reduced trade barriers to help encourage growth of new businesses
Although most Indians still work in agriculture, service industries have expanded rapidly
Industrial Growth
Indian economy has grown at remarkable rate in recent years
Strong economy has brought prosperity to only minority of country’s 1.1 billion people
Millions live in poverty in crowded cities
Variety of charity groups work to provide clothing, food, medical aid to poor
Prosperity and Poverty

15. How did India change after winning its independence?
Summarize
How did India change after winning its independence?
Answer(s): focused on economic development; increased rights for women and the poor; became the world's largest democracy

16. Challenges in South Asia
The history of other nations in South Asia has been as turbulent as that of India. Today, those nations face a range of challenges.
1947, Pakistan created in two parts, West and East
Separate areas, deep differences in language, religion, culture
Government policies, spending favored West, East remained poor
Civil War in Pakistan
1971, East Pakistan decided to seek independence
Pakistani government responded with armed force
Civil war followed, thousands of people died
India Joins the Battle
After India sent troops to support East Pakistan, Pakistan was forced to accept the independence of the East—now called Bangladesh.

17. Bangladesh and Pakistan
One of poorest, most densely populated countries in the world
Only a few feet above sea level, devastating floods, storms often sweep across country, killing many, leading to widespread famine
Series of governments since independence
Now trying to build stable democracy
Troubles in Bangladesh
Pakistan has also faced instability since civil war
Ethnic, religious conflicts common
Disagreements about role of Islam in government
Many leaders have taken power; some elected, some through military coups
Instability in Pakistan

18. Continuing Issues Musharraf Nuclear Weapons
1999, General Pervez Musharraf overthrew elected government, took power
Musharraf’s government has worked with U.S. to fight al Qaeda, Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan
Nuclear Weapons
Relations between India, Pakistan usually tense
War near-constant threat
1974, India’s testing of nuclear weapon caused alarm around world
1998, after another Indian test, Pakistan tested own nuclear bomb
Threat of nuclear war has kept tensions high

19. Ethnic and Religious Tensions
Conflict in Region
Region continues to experience powerful divisions, conflict
Based on religious, ethnic differences
Hindu, Muslim Hostility
Much stems from longstanding hostility between Hindus, Muslims
Continues to cause conflicts between India, Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Ethnic fighting also plagues India’s neighbor, Sri Lanka
As Ceylon, island was British colony until late 1940s
Ethnic Fighting
Fighting between Buddhist Sinhalese majority, Hindu Tamil minority killed thousands
Religious tension intensified struggle between ethnic groups

20. Identify Supporting Details
What challenges do the nations of South Asia face today?
Answer(s): poverty, religious and ethnic tensions, nuclear weapons, famine, political upheaval