South Asian Countries: India

South Asian Countries

• South Asian countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan.

India

• India is the largest state in the Indian subcontinent.
• India is known as a nation of superlatives.
• New Delhi serves as the capital, while Mumbai is the largest city.
• India surpassed China in 2022 as the world's most populated country, with 1.4 billion people
• India is one of the world's oldest civilizations.
• India functions as the world's largest democracy, with a voting population of 900 million.
• It holds the position of the third-largest military force globally.
• India is the world's 6th largest economy
• The Indian Constitution is the longest-written constitution in the world, containing 444 articles and nearly 100 amendments.
• India exhibits high diversity across numerous religions
• Hindus constitute the majority at 85%.
• India serves as the world's pharmacy, producing many vaccines and generic medicines.
• India has the largest talent pool of professionals.
• India contains the youngest population, and the largest diaspora of overseas Indians.

India's Nation Builders

• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)
• Ruled as India's first and longest-serving prime minister, from independence in 1949 to his death in 1964.
• He is regarded as "The Father of the Indian Nation."
• He turned India into a parliamentary democracy similar to Britain.
• Hindi was made the national language under Nehru.
• Indira Nehru Gandhi (1917 – 1984)
• She was Nehru's only child and had a strong personality.
• Indira was chosen by the people after her father's death for sentimental reasons.
• She became India's first female prime minister.
• India became a nuclear power and reduced illiteracy and overpopulation during her leadership.
• Rajiv Gandhi (1944-1991)
• He was the youngest Indian head of government (1984-89).
• Energy transport and communications were modernized under him.
• India became the world's largest call center industry and manufacturing center for textiles, cars, appliances, during his time.
• India became an economic middle power because of robust economic growth.

India's Concerns

• The population is expected to double to 2.6 billion by 2035.
• This increase would confirm India's status as the most populous country.
• This also contributes to traditional problems of water shortages, high poverty, limited arable land (50%), and illiteracy (30%).
• India does not have an official population control policy because it is unpopular.
• Most Indian people earn less than $2 a day, so it has mass poverty.
• Border and water disputes exist with Pakistan, China, Tibet, and Nepal.
• These conflicts have led to several wars in the past and still pose a potential source of violence and possibly nuclear war.
• There is terrorism and sectarian conflicts based on race and religion.
• India's partition from Pakistan created wounds that have not healed and terrorists from Pakistan have attacked state buildings and the Indian national parliament, as well as the cities of New Delhi and Mumbai.
• Some areas of India are prone to climate change damage, thus increasing the pressure on the already hard-pressed population.
• India stretches 3,000 km from end to end, spanning 30 degrees longitude with only a single time zone.
• The worst water crisis in the world affects most of the Indian population, related to supply, sanitation, and hygiene, with about half of India's people lacking toilets.
• India and Pakistan remain "best foes forever" where both states are armed with nuclear weapons, maintain large armies, and have a long history of conflict.
• One of India's goals by 2030 is to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls
• Indian women are inferior to men, and sexual crimes against women are a serious problem.
• India reacted early and strongly to the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Its huge population and poverty rate could not prevent it from one of the worst-affected nations.
• At one time, India was the most affected country, next to the US and Russia.

Pakistan

• Pakistan has the most fertile subcontinent and produces the most food for India and neighboring states.
• It acts as the strategic, cultural, and trade gateway between East and West.
• Pakistan became the world's first Islamic republic in 1947.
• Pakistan became the first Muslim state armed with nuclear weapons and the world's 7th largest military.
• Pakistan covers 881,913 km2 of land and its terrain can be divided into three main types: the northern glaciers and tall mountains, the Indus River plain in the east, and the Balochistan plateau in the west and south.
• It has mountain ranges that attract mountaineers – (a) the Himalayas, (b) the Karakoram, and (c) the Hindu Kush mountains.
• Iran, China, Afghanistan, India, and the Indian Ocean surround the rugged land of snowy mountains, fertile plains, and plateaus.
• Pakistan is the 5th most populous country, with 230 million people (2022).
• Their population is 96.28% Muslim.
• Northern Pakistanis differ racially from the South Indians.
• Northern Pakistanis have Aryan origin, are lighter-skinned, taller than Indians, and have a high, aquiline nose and dignified bearing.
• The three largest tribes are the Punjabi, Pashtun, and Sindhi.
• Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken among the educated.
• Pakistan is known as the food basket of the Indian Subcontinent.
• Agriculture is important to the nation, and 64% of the population are farmers.
• Pakistan has rich arable land, and its main crops are cotton, wheat (millet), rice, sugar, fruits, and vegetables.

Pakistani Leaders

• Ali Jinnah (1876-1948, referred to as the "Father of Pakistan Independence," was the first head of state.
• He was the founder of Pakistan's first political party.
• Pakistan had Military Dictators Ayyub Khan (1955-69), Yahya Khan (1969-71), Zia Ul Haq (1978-88), and Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008).
• Benazir Bhutto was the first female Muslim head of state when she was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988-90 and 1993-96.

Pakistan's Concerns

• Pakistan struggles from water scarcity due to drought or in abundance from floods.
• Pakistan has faced increasingly catastrophic cyclones, floods, and droughts, and in 2022, all the provinces were affected by major droughts.
• Pakistan's has been distracted from development to settle scores with India.
• Resources have been diverted into nuclear weapons and becoming the 9th most powerful military in the world.
• In August 2019, India revoked the autonomy (local rule) of Kashmir and allowed Indians to buy land in the region.
• This law angered Pakistanis and began a new round of the conflict with India.
• High poverty levels, illiteracy, inequality, and the effects of climate change, pollution, and natural disasters, are concerns.
• Pakistan ranks low on the Human Development Index (HDI), and 30% of its population lives below the poverty line.
• Increasing air, land, and water pollution, melting glaciers, and reduced water pose problems for Pakistan.
• Pakistan scores 124th, one of the lowest ranks in the Corruption Perception Index for 2020, affecting every sector from the government to the judiciary, police, health, education, and sports.
• High levels of debt at $250 billion exist.
• The China-Pakistan economic corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative and other international debts have made Pakistan a highly indebted country.

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh is known as the land of Bengali Muslims.
• Bengalis are the 3rd largest race, following the Chinese and the Arabs.
• Bengali is the third most spoken language.
• The Bengalis were the dark-skinned people who settled in the southern Indian subcontinent.
• The Bengal region has lush forests, Bengal tigers, fertile plains, and vast waterways, inspiring Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.
• It is where the rivers of India meet and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• Bangladesh itself is exceptionally prone to flooding due to rain and frequent cyclones.
• Bangladesh is located at the world's largest delta, the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers delta, at the northeast tip of the Indian Subcontinent next to Myanmar.
• Bangladesh is characterized by having an area of 148,460 km2, a population of 167 million (2022), and Dhaka as its capital.
• Bangladesh has the highest population density in the world at 1265/km2.
• The country's high economic growth rate (7%) is attributed to the people's industriousness and earnings from garments, leather, chemicals, food, and remittances from its foreign workers.
• Muslim Bengalis joined Pakistan because India has partitioned the Bengal region in 1947.
• Hindu Bengalis stayed in India, and Muslim Bengalis joined Pakistan.

Issues with Pakistan

• For two decades (1947-1971), the Muslim Bengalis were not happy joining the Pakistanis because of;
• Geographical separation due to the home in East Pakistan being 1,600 km away from West Pakistan, making it difficult for Bengalis to obtain services and state assistance.
• Race Prejudice where despite their shared religion, the two groups had serious differences because the dark-complexioned Bengalis spoke another language and were of a different culture.
• Economic Grievance where the Bengalis in the East were neglected and were a larger population but had a smaller share of the national budget and national attention.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the first prime minister of Bangladesh in January 1972 and was known as the "Father of the Bangladesh Nation."
• Sheikh Hasina Wazed entered politics and has been elected prime minister of Bangladesh many times (1996, 2001, 2008, and 2018).
• Her political rival is another lady politician, Sheikh Khaleda Zia, who also served as prime minister many times (1991-96; 2001-2006).
• The two women are called the "Battling Begums of Bangladesh" because of their intense but peaceful political rivalry.
• The concerns of Bangladesh show that while Bangladesh has great potential because its people are hardworking and united when facing financial problems, these are its main concerns:
  • High population is its worst problem because its capital (Dhaka) has a density of 1,300 people per km2 compared to Manila's density of 300 people per km2.
  • Poor education keeps the literacy rate low at 72% of adults, showing a lack of higher education and research institutions.
  • Friction happens with strict Muslims, Pakistani and Indian factions, and terrorists.
  • Widespread corruption at every level (government business etc.).
  • Violence against women is rampant, with Rape, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse being the consequences of the crowded places.
  • Environmental problems and natural calamities is a concern because Bangladesh is 2/3 wetlands and is prone to flooding with severe cyclones, complicated by the snow melt from the Himalayas and the monsoon rains.
  • Humanitarian care is spread thin over one million Rohingya Muslim refugees who came from Myanmar.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic required travel bans, remote office and school activities, country lockdowns, and most importantly, social distancing.
  • Climate change and rising sea levels are occurring.

Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan

• Sri Lanka describes itself as a land of tea and beautiful scenery.
• Sri Lanka (aka Ceylon, Serendib, Taprobane) is a lovely island state at the southeastern tip of the Indian Subcontinent.
• The island was part of the ancient Silk Road and Spice Route and enjoyed a rich economy.
• It covers an area of 65,610 km2 and has a population of 23 million, making it one of the larger islands in the Indian Ocean.
• Sri Lanka is known as South Asia's most vibrant economy.
• A narrow strait separates it from India, to which it was connected historically, geographically, and politically.
• Colombo functions as the capital, with the largest city and port located there.
• Most Sri Lankans are Sinhalese, the Buddhist majority (74%).
• Descendants of Arab Muslim traders (9%), descendants of Hindu Indian Tamils (4%), descendants of Malays, indigenous tribes, and Europeans (remaining population).
• There are three things are essential to Sri Lankans: tourism, a holy footprint, and tea.
• The island has green mountains and hills, beautiful beaches, and friendly people.
• Sri Lanka was like a paradise to tourists who came and brought billions of dollars a year.
• Sri Lankans are deeply religious and believe that the image of a footprint on Adam's Peak is holy for their three religions - Buddhism, Islam, and Catholicism, as either being a footprint of Buddha, Muhammad, or St. Thomas.
• Thirdly, its world-famous "Ceylon tea" is the main export product (apart from rubber and former spices), which colonizers, the British, developed.

Sri Lanka's Concerns

• National recovery needs to occur after a 26-year civil war (1983-2009) between the majority Singhalese and the minority Tamil Muslims.
• Muslim Tamil tea plantation workers were brought from India during the colonial era, andTheir descendants stood out and felt oppressed by the Buddhist Singhalese majority. ""Tamil Tiger"" rebels turned to terrorism and guerrilla warfare.
• The tourism industry (their main revenue source) was devastated by: the 2004 tsunami, the civil war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.
• Government corruption, debt, food crisis, low dollar reserves, and high inflation made Sri Lanka completely bankrupt, which resulted in losing its ports to China from loan defaults.
• On April 21, 2019. there were nine Muslim terrorists who carried out suicide bombings on several Christian churches and tourist hotels on the island, killing over 300 people.
• In July 2022, a People Power Revolution erupted in Sri Lanka. 12 People protested their worst political and economic crisis since independence because the country was in a debt crisis, with high prices and food, fuel, and basic services shortages.

Maldives

• The Republic in the Indian Ocean is Asia's smallest state and the least populated country in South Asia.
• The tiny archipelago of approximately 1100 small islands covers 300 km2 in area, with around 400,000 people.
• Ancient seafarers called the Maldives "the money isles" due to the prevalence of cowrie shells which were plentiful in the archipelago.
• The Maldives became independent of Britain in July 1965, which abolished their tradition hereditary sultanate and a democratic republic was established.
• Women enjoy political equality in the Maldives.
• After independence, the Maldives became a famous tourist destination for rich celebrities due to its secluded location, white beaches, marine life, and a well-developed tourist industry.
• It is advertised as "the sunny side of life," as a place of sun, sand, and rest.
• The Maldives is known as "the richest, the smallest, and the lowest country," with a GDP of $10,000, and its people are richer (GDP $10,000) than Filipinos (GDP $3,000).
• Due to the rising sea levels, many islands have disappeared, and the threat of climate change for the Maldives is truly significant.
• The government plans to use tourism funds to purchase land elsewhere (possibly Australia) and to evacuate everybody someday.

Nepal

• Nepal is called "On Top of the World,” for being among the highest elevated countries.

• Nepal is a landlocked country resting on top of the Himalayas, northwest of the Indian Subcontinent.

• It is the starting point for mountaineers who want to climb Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 meters).

• Nepal is famous as the home and burial place of Gautama Buddha.

• Nepal was a Hindu monarchy until 2011, when the king was driven out, and it turned into a communist republic.

• Communism is strong in Nepal and controls 6 out of the 7 provinces.

Bhutan

• Bhutan describes itself as tech-savvy.
• Bhutan is named as the "pioneer of national happiness."
• Bhutan is the last Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas.
• Bhutan is a small landlocked country bordering India and China's Tibet.
• The area is 38,394 km2, and the population is 789,000 (2022).
• Named its capital, Thimphu, "Shangri-La," the magical Himalayan kingdom.
• Bhutan has never been colonized by any country, unlike Tibet and Sikkim.
• Bhutan protected itself even if it had no military by signing pacts with Britain, India, and Bangladesh.
• Bhutan became a limited and a parliamentary democracy in 2008.
• Bhutan is politically stable and South Asia's least corrupt country, the first regarding economic freedom and ease of doing business, and the most popular government.
• Pakistan shares a 477-km-long frontier with China and India where border skirmishes and tense confrontations sometimes happen.
• China has invaded part of Bhutan's land and has built about 600 villages along its border with India to fortify its Himalayan frontier since 2017.