SOUTH ASIA

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SOUTH ASIA

• RELIGIOUS, GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES

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GEOGRAPHIC/POLITICAL ISSUES

• Clearly defined geographically bounded by
  mountains, desert and ocean
• Worlds most poverty afflicted realm
• Has 3 of worlds land mass but 22 of world
  population with more than half of that
  subsistence farmers
• High population growth in 1999 India reached One
  Billion mark
• North Indian Plain (lower basin of Ganges)
  contains world 2nd largest population cluster
• Despite natural boundaries, invaded by Greeks and
  Muslims
• Unified under British but countries created along
  cultural lines after British withdrawal

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ISSUES, cont.

• Pakistan flanked by Islam and Hindu
• Religion in area turning toward fundamentalism
  Hindu in India, Islam in Pakistan and Buddhism in
  Sri Lanka
• Monsoon weather cycle that brings life and death
• Indus Valley is cultural hearth and birthplace of
  Hinduism
• Under British, Indians want independence lead by
  Gandhi and idea of non-violent resistance

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MUSLIM vs. HINDU

• When British leave area, create Pakistan for
  Muslims and India for Hindus but currently Islam
  is growing in India (11.3 of population)
• When split occurred, caused mass migration into
  and out of both countries
• Kashmir region in Northern India with majority
  Islam, but maharajah was Hindu
• After maharajah decided to go with India, Muslims
  created uprising and Civil War
• UN stepped in and set up boundaries with 4/5s of
  land in Indias hands
• Over history, 3 major wars have taken place, but
  currently stalemated
• Fundamentalism becoming more prevalent
• 1998 both sides tested nuclear bombs

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GHANDI

• Leader that succeeded in helping India gain
  independence from Britain in 1947
• Taught non-violent protest
• Wanted end of caste system, peace between Muslims
  and Hindus and self rule
• Very influential

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INDIA

• Trying to urbanize and industrialize but basis is
  still agricultural
• 28 of population is urbanized but that is 290
  million people living in cities
• Living conditions in cities horrible and shanty
  towns emerging
• Agricultural basis is not really productive
  devotes the largest amount of land to rice
  production in the world, but yields one of worlds
  lowest amounts per acre
• Caste system still in effect

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OTHER COUNTRIES

• Bangladesh one of poorest nations in world with
  350 GNP and only 20 urbanized
• Nepal mountains, deforestation problem,
  landlocked, GNP 210, cultural basis is 90 Hindu
  and about 9 Buddhist
• Sri Lanka massive civil war leaving the economy
  and country devastated with little hope for
  future
• Maldives Islands, tourist Mecca but with global
  warming the country may disappear as oceans rise