South Asia- defining the realm
About 75 percent of the people of South Asia live in one of the hundreds of thousands of small villages in this region. South Asia has experienced many cultural influences from outside the region: some, like Hinduism and Islam, were brought by invaders; others, like Buddhism and Christianity, were the result of more peaceful diffusion.
The yearly monsoon climate cycles of South Asia are important influences on the organization of daily life and economic activities. For much of the region there are distinct wet and dry seasons.
High population densities and rapid population growth make it difficult for South Asian countries to improve the well-being of their people. Economic factors encourage large families, and cultural attitudes also contribute to high birth rates.
The main religious traditions that have influenced South Asia are Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Christianity.
The overall status of women in South Asia is extraordinarily low. This fact is attested to by literacy rates, female survival rates, gender ratios in the adult population, preference for sons, violence against females, and purdah, a custom that keeps women from participating in paid employment and government work.

South Asia is composed primarily of three populous countries,
India,
Pakistan and
Bangladesh,
with three smaller nations, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
This is the second largest population concentration in the world- 1.3 billion people in the region.

Urdu is the official language of Pakistan, but English is the Lingua Franca
150 million of India’s 1 billion are Muslims
Bangladesh- population (140 million) 85% are Muslims
India and Pakistan are locked in a conflict to control a vital mountainous area in the far east where the British withdrawal left the boundary between them unresolved.

The conflict zone
India and Pakistan land conflict
These two countries simultaneously became independent from Britain
India, 15 August 1947
Pakistan 14th August 1947

Background to the border conflict
When British India became independent, it was supposed to be divided into two parts. Areas consisting of 75% or more Muslims were to become Pakistan and the rest of the territory India (Sloan, Ismail). This arrangement did not include the Princely States, one of which is Kashmir (Sloan). The Princely were at liberty to determine their own future -- they could join Pakistan, join India, or remain as a separate state (Sloan).
The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh Dogra, decided to preserve the state of Kashmir so he decided to join neither India nor Pakistan (Sloan).
However, Pakistan sent tribal lashkars to talk to Kashmir about their decision of autonomy. The Indian government saw Pakistan's action as a sign of invasion and sent their troops to help defend the state of Kashmir.

The Lashkar is an Islamic terrorist group that uses military strategies to achieve its aims
The result of the first war between India and Pakistan involving Kashmir was Pakistan controlling 37% while India controlled 63%.

Physiography
To the north, South Asia is separated from the rest of the continent by the massive Himalayan mountain range.
To the east, the mountains and dense rain forests of Southeast Asia act as a physical barrier.
And to the west, narrow mountain passes and vast deserts complete the physical isolation of this region.

There are three clearly defined Physiographic zones
Northern Mountains
The Southern peninsular plateaus
River lowlands

The Monsoon
A monsoon is a (wind) pattern that reverses direction on a seasonal basis.
To the people of India the monsoon is a source of life
Essential for rice production
General onshore movement during summer
General offshore flow during winter
Very distinctive seasonal precipitation

Monsoons are caused by the fact that land heats up and cools down more quickly than water, owing to the difference in their specific heat. Thus, in summer, land reaches a higher temperature than the ocean. The hot air over the land tends to rise, creating an area of low pressure. This creates an extremely constant wind blowing toward the land. Associated rainfall is caused by the moist ocean air being diverted upward by mountains, which causes cooling, and in turn, condensation. In winter, the land cools off quickly, but the ocean retains heat longer. The hot air over the ocean rises, creating a low pressure area and a breeze from land to ocean. Because the temperature difference between the ocean and land is less than in summer, the winter monsoon wind is not as constant. Monsoons are similar to sea breezes, but they are much larger in scale, stronger, and are more constant.

Potential Negative effect of the Monsoon)
Widespread flooding
Property damage
Destruction to agricultural lands
Damage to transportation infrastructure
Homelessness
Disease
Malnutrition
Serious injury
Death

CULTURE HEARTH The Indus River
Where an early culture emerged and developed
Arts and trade routes emerged from isolated tribes and villages to towns and beyond.
Hinduism emerged from the beliefs and practices brought to India by the Indo-Europeans (Aryans). (6th century BC)
Buddhism born of discontent; made the state religion of India in 3rd century BC
Islam sweeps through central India from the 8th -10th centuries AD

HINDUISM
The world’s oldest religion
Diffused south and east down the Ganges
Absorbed and eventually supplanted earlier native religions and customs
Not just a religion
An intricate web of religious, philosophical, social, economic, and artistic elements
No common creed
No single doctrine
No direct divine revelation
No rigid narrow moral code

MAJOR TENETS OF HINDUISM
Three main ideas are important in understanding the Hindu religion and the caste system
Reincarnation
Karma
Dharma

Reincanation
Every living thing has a soul.
When a living thing dies, its soul moves into another living creature.
Souls are reborn in a newly created life.

Karma
Every action brings about certain results. There is no escaping the consequences of one’s actions.
n Good behavior is rewarded when the soul is reborn into a higher ranking living creature.

Dharma
A set of rules that must be followed by all living things if they wish to work their way up the ladder of reincarnation. Each person’s dharma is different.
Puja or worship
Cremation of the dead
Regulations of the caste system

Buddhism
Origin and diffusion
Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 483 B.C.)
Emperor Asoka (3rd Century B.C.)

Four noble truths
Sorrow and suffering are part of all life.
People suffer because they desire things they cannot have.
The way to escape suffering is to end desire, to stop wanting, and to reach a stage of not wanting.
To end desire, follow the “middle path,” i.e., the path that avoids the extremes of too much pleasure and desire.

Core Buddhist belief
One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. It is believed that most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.

The Three training and practices of Buddhism
1.Sila:
Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles:
The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal.
The principle of reciprocity: to do onto others as you would wish them do onto you

2. Samadhi:
Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct

3.Prajna:
Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.

Eightfold path to Right understanding
Right purpose
Right speech
Right conduct
Right means of earning a living
Right effort
Right awareness
Right meditation

FALL OF BUDDHISM ON THE SUBCONTINENT
Hinduism - broad and tolerant, accepting many of the teachings of Buddha
Buddhists in India - willing to compromise with the beliefs and customs of Hinduism
Final blow - 8th century - arrival of Islam
Destroyed the great Buddhist monasteries
Burned libraries
Killed monks
Today - only 1 million Buddhists in India

RELIGIOUS CONTRASTS
ISLAM
Monotheistic
No idols
One sacred book
Uniform dogma - 5 pillars
Intolerant (of other religions)
Eat beef/Sacrifice cows
Bury Dead
Social Equality (in theory)
Theocratic society

POPULATION
Three-quarters of south Asia’s population live in India
South Asia is populous and also growing rapidly ( 1.8 % per annum) doubling time of only 39years. Pakistan highest ( 2.1%) doubling in 33years


South Asia, realm of poverty
Contains 2/3 of the poorest inhabitants on Earth
Lowest illiteracy in the world
Green revolution impact, yet India’s children remain malnourished

Factors:
High population density-land per capita is very low
Subsistent farming
Government policies: bureaucratic controls and state planning
Cultural traditions: resistant to change
Government hoard food

Pakistan
Pakistan is the earliest urban civilization in South Asia
It is also South Asia’s Muslim frontier
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world (149.6 million)
The second most populous Muslim country
Pakistan has the seventh largest armed forces in the world and is a declared nuclear weapons state
Gained independence in 1947 which consisted of east and west Pakistan
Political conflict in 1971 led East Pakistan declaration of Independence to become the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

From independence until 1958 Pakistan's capital was Karachi in Sindh in the far south
Worries about the concentration of investment and development in that city are said to have led to the idea of building a new capital in a different location. Islamabad is the capital

The Provinces
Administratively Pakistan is divided into four provinces
Punjab
Sind
North West Frontier
Baluchistan

Punjab
Punjab is the country’s core area
It is home to 60% of the country’s population
It also contains the capital- Islamabad
Lahore is the oldest city and also is the primate city in Pakistan and it is located in Punjab

Sind
Sind- Lies in the chaotic port city of Karachi. Cotton and rice production are the major economic activity of the area

Baluchistan
Home to the Shiite Muslims. Oil and gas discovery may transform the province

The North West Frontier
It is the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. It is home to the Pashtuns (Afghans) and various other groups.


India
India Federal and Free
India makes 3/4s of South Asia. It is the world’s most populous democracy and the largest federation. India was colonized by Britain and became independent in 1947. There are many centrifugal forces that threaten India's democracy

Political administration
India is a Union of 28 States and 7 Union Territories. Each state has its own government with a Governor as the figurehead, while each Union Territory is administered directly by the President through an administrator appointed by him

States and People
POPULATION OF 1.086 BILLION PEOPLE
28% URBANIZED
India speaks 14 major and numerous minor languages
Hindi is the official language
English is the lingua franca
diverse peoples: Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims
Caste system

India Sikh
Is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of ten Gurus who lived in northern India during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is one of the world's major organised religions with over 23 million followers. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus and other saints as scripted in their 1430 page holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib.
India Sikh. Sikhism was created in the 15th -16th century to unite warring Hindus and Muslims into a single faith. Their faith rejected negative aspects of Hinduism and Islam. It gained millions of Adherent in the Punjab and other adjacent areas in India

Sikhism in India
During the colonial era the Sikhs supported the British and by so doing won the respect and trust of the British. Many of them were employed as soldiers and policemen and they formed a large middle class society in India after independence in in 1947. After Independence the Punjab became a strong hold of India’s Sikh
Haryana State is mainly the strong hold of Hindus
Centrifugal forces of India
Caste system
Hinduvta: This is a concept that desires to make India a society in which Hindu principles prevail. The aims are to Impose Hindu curriculum on schools, inhibit the activities of non-hindus
Change the family laws in a way that would be unacceptable to Muslims




Centripetal forces in India
Cultural strength of Hinduism
Hinduism is a way of life and a faith
Its diffusion over the entire country brings with it a national coherence
Democratic institutions
Better communication- continuous circulation of people, Ideas, and goods help bind the disparate states together
Before independence, opposition to British rule was a shared philosophy
Education ( literacy level between men and women are almost the same ( 65.5% men and 54.3% female)
Strong leadership: Gandhi, Nehru

Urbanization
Only 28% (300million) of the population lived in cities and towns in 2004 more than the entire population of the United States
India’s rate of Urbanization is 5% per annum. Hundreds of thousands of homeless roam the cities of India. The India’s modern urbanization has its roots in the colonial period. Britain selected Calcutta, Bombay and Madras as regional trading centers and fortified ports
Economic Development(India)

Economy
GDP OF $450 PER PERSON
38% LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FARMING AND MODERN AGRICULTURE
HANDICRAFTS, OLD AND NEW BRANCHES OF INDUSTRY
MULTITUDE OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND NUCLEAR POWER
CLOTHING INDUSTRY

Agriculture And The Green Revolution
The Successful Development Of Higher Yield, Fast-growing Varieties Of Rice And Other Cereals In Developing Countries
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH Program-1960s
Focused On The Food Crises
Increased Production Per Unit Area Via:
Miracle Crops
New Irrigation Systems
Intensive Use Of Fertilizers

Industrialization
What are some of the challenges that confront India’s industrialization process?

Bangladesh
Gained Independent from Pakistan after a brief war in 1971. It is one of the poorest and least developed countries on earth. It has a population of 139.5 million. Population growth rate is 2.2% per annum. Bangladesh is also susceptible to natural hazards
Some of the natural Harzards include cyclone ( Hurricanes). In 1991 it killed over 150,000 people

Vulnerability of Bangladesh
Low elevation of Southern Bangladesh is the deltaic plains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system attract many farmers because of its fertile soil. Meanwhile the funnel shaped nature of the Bay of Bengal sends cyclones into the delta coast.
Urbanization
only at 23%
Dhaka is the megacity capital and Chittagong are the only urban centers in Bangladesh
Physiographic density of Bangladesh is 3800people/1467 per sq.km)-The highest in the world
The textile industry produces most of Bangladesh’s foreign revenues. Discovery of natural gas is now a national debate:
Home consumption or exports?

Soical Geography
It is a dominantly Muslim society. It is not a revivalist Muslim society. For example 30 seats in the national legislature are reserved for women. The major conflict with India is over the control of the Ganges river, controlled by India but remains Bangladesh’s main source of water supply.

The Mountainous North-Nepal
Nepal has a population of 25 million. It is also a poor country. Nepalese are made are people of many sources: India, Tibet, and Interior Asia
The capital is Kathmandu
90% are Hindu
Hinduism in Nepal is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist ideals
Hinduism is the official religion of the country
90% of the people speak Nepali, a language related to India Hindi

Sri Lanka
Known as Ceylon before 1972
Became Independent from the British in 1948
It is neither a Hindi or Muslim country
Population 19 million
70% of the population are Buddhists
It is a plantation country, commercial farming is the mainstay of the agricultural economy
Majority of Sri Lanka are descendents of migrants from northwest India about 2500 years ago
Today these descendant are known as Sinhalese, and they speak Sinhala