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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH ASIA Be warned. These are some very thick and chunky notes. There is no fill-in-the-blanks sheet for this. Cultures of South Asia -Different mixes of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam – often causes tension in the region - Thousands of languages! -Poverty remains huge problem. India is one of the worlds fastest growing economies Political Geography of South Asia Nations in South Asia: • Afghanistan became independent in 1919. • 1. 2. 3. 4. Four were created from British India after WW2 (1947) Pakistan (1947) Sri Lanka (1947) Bangladesh (1971) • Two are small countries located deep in the Himalayas, isolated until recent times 1. Bhutan 2. Nepal • One is a tiny island chain in the Indian Ocean – Maldives. Brief History of South Asia Ancient Times – Hinduism and Islam, caste system, several huge empires in region. British Rule – Britain ruled all of South Asia from 1776 to 1948. “British East India Company” controlled almost all commerce. 1947 - Independence and Partition – British freed and divided region into India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim). Influenced heavily by Mahatma Gandhi. Modern Era – Wars between India and Pakistan. Growing power of India, and Pakistan’s crisis with Islamic radicals and Taliban. What is the “Caste System”? • Ancient origins, predating Hinduism. • Divided South Asian people into different jobs and ranks in society. • Very complex, thousands of smaller groups. • Abolished in 1947, still exists. • Mostly broken down in the cities, still common in rural India Nations of South Asia India Nepal Bhutan Afghanistan Sri Lanka Maldives Pakistan Bangladesh India • ¾ of all South Asia land area; slightly more than 1/3 of the U.S. • A federal republic consisting of 28 states, 6 Union Territories, and 1 National Capital Territory • Population: 1.150 billion people • 15 official languages. English and Hindi most common. • About 80% Hindu, 20% Muslim • Emerging economic and regional military power, with advanced industrial and scientific capacity. Mohandas Gandhi (1869 - 1948) • Father of modern India • Nicknamed “Mahatma” ( great soul) • Preached non-violence, civil disobedience. • Salt March – 1930, walked to sea to protest British salt tax. • After WWII, Gandhi pushes for independence for India • Assassinated January 30, 1948 by a by a Hindu fanatic • Would nonviolent resistance have worked on other groups besides the British, like the Nazi’s for example? Why or why not? Trauma of Partition • Gandhi wanted one unified India. • Partition - split in 1947 into Hindu (India) and Muslim (Pakistan) • Riots, refugees, violence – 14 million people moved, ½ million died • 1948 Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist (intolerant of other religions). India in Transition • India divided – modern caste system. New wealth, huge poverty at same time. • Bollywood – Indian film industry, largest in world! • Booming population, bigger than China soon. • High tech industries power the economy. • Huge, overcrowded cities Pakistan • Twice the size of California • A federal republic with 4 provinces, one territory, and 1 capital territory • Population: 173 million people • Languages: Urdu and English, however 48% speak Punjabi • Formerly known as West Pakistan. Independent since 1947. • Primarily Sunni Muslim • Continuing struggles with internal ethnic groups, India, Afghanistan Crisis in Pakistan • Pakistan has internal divisions, an unstable government, an expanding young population, and troubles with Islamic Fundamentalists. • Tied into the current war in Afghanistan (USA/NATO vs. Al Qaeda/Taliban), which resulted from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. • Pakistan is violently divided between those supporting the USA’s efforts, and those supporting the Taliban. • Pakistan has 20 to 50 nuclear weapons. These could fall into the wrong hands if Pakistan collapses. Conflict Between India and Pakistan • Jammu and Kashmir – In 1947 was Muslim majority, but Hindu ruler. After partition, military of both sides moved on the region and war broke out. • After war, it stayed part of India. Sore spot for Pakistan and India, constant guerrilla war. • Several wars, including 1971 war that created Bangladesh. • Both countries now have nuclear weapons. Why do India and Pakistan both feel that they need nuclear weapons? Afghanistan • About the size of Texas • Landlocked • Population – 30,000,000 • Mostly Pashtuns, who are Muslims. • Extremely poor, mountainous country • Leading exporter of opium, heroin. • US invaded in 2001 after 9/11, to defeat Taliban. Taliban were/are funded partly by Pakistan, which is also helping to fight Taliban. Bangladesh • Slightly smaller than Iowa • Low elevation and location make almost half of land surface prone to flooding during monsoons. • Parliamentary democracy • Population: 154 million people • Languages: Bangla (Bengali) and English • Formerly known as East Pakistan. Independent since 1971. • Primarily Muslim • Cultivation of rice is the single most important agricultural activity. • One of world’s poorest nations. Nepal • Size of Arkansas • A parliamentary democracy, but was a monarchy until 2005 • Population: 30 million people • Languages: Primarily Nepali • Primarily Hindu with approximately 10% Buddhist • Tourism on Mt. Everest • Sherpas: an ethnic group from Nepal's Himalaya region famed for their climbing prowess that serve as mountain climbing guides • Home of the Gurkha, soldiers famed for bravery and the Kukri knife. Bhutan • ½ the size of Indiana • Constitutional monarchy, King Wangchuck • Population: 700,000 • Official language: Dzongkha (pronounced “zonka”) • Bhutan is still relatively isolated • Almost entirely Buddhist Sri Lanka • Slightly larger than West Virginia • Republic with 8 provinces • Population: 21 million people • Languages: Sinhala (80%) and Tamil (20%) • Primarily Buddhist (70%) • Civil War (1983-2009) between Buddhist Sinhalese majority government in south, and Hindu Tamil minority (“Tamil Tigers”/LTTE) in north. Maldives • Small archipelago, 26 separate atolls. • Population - 300,000 • Most of nation is less than 5ft above sea level, highest point only 8ft. • Islamic, run on sharia law. • Economy based on fishing and tourism • Maldives is heavily involved with UN global warming treaties and conferences. Tunak Tun • Tunak Tunak Tun • • • • • • refrain: (5x) Tunk tunk Tun Tunk tunk Tun Tunk tunk Tun Da Da Da • • • • Sweetheart, come smile with me sometimes My heart's keeper (lover) look This body is not under your or my control (4x) Sweetheart... • • refrain2 • • • • Sweetheart, the strings of the instrument play listen to what the heart says Come and love me (4x) Sweetheart... • • • • • • • • • refrain2: refrain (4x) The world is a colorful place it's not good nor bad (4x) Listen friends the iktaara(1) says Mehndi's friends refrain (4x) • • • • Sweetheart, you are moon and I am Chakor(2) there no one like us Our threads of life is in the hands of god (4x) Sweetheart • refrain2 • • (1): iktaara = Musical instrument with one string (2): Chakor = A mythical bird that is supposed to look at the moon continuously like it is in love with it Reference: http://lirama.net/ •