Independent nations of South Asia

1
Independent nations of South Asia

• Chapter 31
• Section 1

2
Hindus and Muslims

• 1940s tension between Hindus and Muslims led to
  violence
• British decided to partition (divide) India into
  two countries
• India- Hindu majority
• Pakistan-Muslim majority

3

• After independence Muslims fled to Pakistan and
  Hindus fled to India
• Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs (another religious
  group attacked and killed each other
• India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir (a state
  in the North)
• Both countries developed nuclear weapons

4
Nehru

• In Sri Lanka-Tamil rebels fought for an
  independent Tamil nation
• Jawaharlal Nehru-was Indias first prime minister
• He tried to improve the economy and the treatment
  of dalits (outcastes)

5

• Nehrus daughter became Prime minister
• Indira Gandhi
• In 1984 Sikhs occupied the Golden Temple
• They wanted independence for the state of Punjab
• Indira had troops sent in, Sikhs were killed and
  Gandhi's own body guard who were Sikhs killed her.

6

• Later Indira Gandhi's son Pajiv Gandhi would also
  become Prime minister and be assassinated by
  religious fanatics

7
Pakistan

• A thousand miles separated East Pakistan from
  West Pakistan, west Pakistan controlled the
  government
• In 1971 Bengals called for a new government in
  east Pakistan called Bangladesh, India supported
  the rebels
• Pakistan was forced to recognize Bangladesh as an
  independent country

8
Pakistan

• Has been politically unstable
• Islamic fundamentalist want a separation between
  religion and government
• The fundamentalist gained power
• India and Pakistan organized a conference of
  independent states
• Non-alignment- political and diplomatic
  independence from the US or Soviet Union