CHAPTER 19
SECTION 1
 Former British colonies in South Asia were some of the first newly independent nations during the Cold War
 As India finally reaches its independence from Britain, the Muslim-Hindu debate reaches a head
o The Muslim League demanded a second nation to be created in a majority-Muslim area, to be called
Pakistan
 Most of the Indian Congress Party were Hindu, and many Muslims worried they would be
discriminated against; Pakistan was their solution; Tensions lead to violence between the two
groups throughout the 1940’s; As the violence increased, Britain decided they could no longer
afford it, and ultimately give both countries their independence in 1947
o After independence was declared, 10 million people flee their homes
 Hindus in Pakistan flee to India
 Muslims in India flee to Pakistan
 These refugees encountered violence along the way
 Hindu and Sikhs slaughter many Muslims as they flee
 Muslims slaughter many Hindu and Sikhs as they flee
 Around one million killed; Even more starved to death during the journey
o Following independence, the Kashmir region, in northwest India, becomes volatile in their decision of
which country to join
 Hindu leader wants into India; Muslim majority of citizens want into Pakistan; India and Pakistan
forces aid their respective sides; Fighting continues today over disputes of the true borders
o As the fights continue between India and Pakistan, both sides successfully develop nuclear weapons
 Worries many countries in the region, due to tensions between the countries; Also worried the
radical groups in either country could get ahold of weapons
o Island of Sri Lanka also encounters violent battles between Hindu and Muslim groups following their
independence from Britain
 Sinhalese-speaking Muslims were the majority; Tamil-speaking Hindus wanted their own state;
Extremely terroristic and violent; Government won the civil war in 2009, which ended most of
the fighting
 India establishes a parliamentary democracy upon its independence. It becomes the largest democracy in the
world; and, even with the numerous ethnic, religious, and economic issues, is able to become a world power
o This occurred because early leaders were strong and worked to promote growth and change
 Jawaharal Nehru
 Prime Minister from 1947-1964; Led Congress Party; Food output grew; Population rose
 Lowered discrimination
o Banned in constitution; Nehru created jobs and opportunities solely for lowercaste members
 Indira Gandhi
o Nehru’s daughter; 1966-1984; Expanded growth; Pushed for women’s rights
o Faced many religious struggles
 Minority religions were pretty concentrated within certain areas, and
wanted more say; Especially the Sikhs in Punjab; In 1984, armed Sikhs
became violent with their intentions; Occupied the holy Golden Temple,
until Indira Gandhi sent troops to oust them, causing mass bloodshed;
Leads to assassination of the leader, by her bodyguards, soonafter.
 The major religion (Hindu)’s party, the BJP, pushed for the end of a
secular constitution and government, and the creation of one based on the
religion and its principles in the late 1980’s
 The Muslim state of Pakistan also gained independence in 1947, but was crucially separated into West and East
Pakistan, with India making any trade or movement between the two excruciatingly difficult
o By 1971, the Bengali people break away and create their own nation of Bangladesh
 West Pakistan was less populated, but still controlled the government, upsetting the major East
group, the Bengalis; New economic and production programs were established in the west, with
high poverty throughout the east; Bengali’s declare independence in 1971, and West Pakistan
sends an army to stop the rebellion; India sends troops and aid to help Bengali’s become
independent
o

Pakistan struggled following independence
 Many frequent power shifts; Ethnic groups were still divided on ideas and on geography; Certain
ethnic groups ignored the new government altogether; Many Islamic fundamentalists and radicals
want a government based on Islamic principles
 These disagreements continue today
 2008
o Pervez Musharraf allows for political elections to take place; Islamic extremists
assassinate a popular candidate before the elections, causing panic and
challenges, all during world-wide recession
 November 2008
o Islamic extremists, especially in the Northwest, continue to grow; Launch terror
attacks on tourism hot spots in India; Tension continue to rise
 Taliban and Al Qaeda
o During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, many Afghans fled to Pakistan, and
joined the Islamic extremists in the West, and began to fight the Soviets; After
the Soviets left, one of those groups, the Taliban, takes control of Afghanistan;
Taliban eventually supports Al Qaeda, which terroristically attacks the United
States in 2011; Leads to United States-led overthrow of Taliban, forcing the
Taliban to flee to Pakistan, and United States military invasions follow them
there; Pakistan did not support Taliban, but was even less happy with the actions
of the United States
o Many of Bangladesh’s struggles are geographically caused, or come for their geographic issues
 Population is half the size of the United States, but majority live in an area roughly the size of
Alabama; Extremely crowded; Low land elevations causes multiple floods from tropical storms
each year
 Because of these issues, many Bengali’s were poor, and the government had little to no way to
help them
 In the 1980’s, Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank began to give out microloans to
many Bengali’s, allowing a few to open small businesses
o Helps a few other countries who model themselves after this idea
India and Pakistan were two of the first colonial lands to become independent after World War II
o Over 90 more also emerge
o Most of those countries become nonaligned
 Do not associate themselves with either of the two world “Super Powers’
 ‘Third World Countries’
 Eventually hold meetings and declare themselves the Nonaligned Movement