Chapter 18The Indian Subcontinent Achieves

Freedom

I. A movement Towards Independence

• 1. During WWII India struggled for independence from Great Britain.• 2. The Indian National Congress or National Congress was controlled by the mostly Hindu

population of 350 million but they truly pushed for independence.• 3. The secondary party, the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted to protect

Muslim interests since they were a minority group in India. • 4. This in the end would lead to violent conflict between the Hindu and Muslim populations.

II. Freedom Brings TurmoilA. Partition and Bloodshed

1. In August of 1946 violence erupted between Hindus and Muslims which resulted in the death of 5,000 people and 15,000 injured. This convinced Britain that partitioning was necessary.

2. Partition was the term given to the division of India into separate Hindu and Muslim nations.

3. Once completed the two Muslim nations would become known as Pakistan and Bangledesh.

4. This caused major citizen upheaval as citizens (about 10 million) would be forced to leave their home if their religion was the minority in the region. During the moves mass killings occurred by all groups.

B. Battle of Kashmir

1. Kashmir was located in the northern part of India controlled by a Hindu prince but the majority of the population was Muslim. This caused mass tension

2. Pakistan believed as a result of partition they should be able add the region to their country.3. India believed since it was rule by a Hindu prince who vowed loyalty to India that it should

remain as a part of India4. In the end a cease fire was established by the UN in 1949 and Kashmir was broken up into parts.

A third went to Pakistan and the rest to India. This area still has issues with violence by both religious groups.

Past Present

III. Modern IndiaA. Nehru Leads India

1. Jawaharlal Nehru becomes India’s first prime minister. He will head the largest democratic nation in the world.

2. Lead his country for 17 years and was able to maintain India’s neutrality during the Cold War.

3. Accomplishments: Reorganized states of India by languages, tried to elevate the status of the lower castes, and expand women’s rights.

Nehru

B. Trouble times1. After the death of Nehru, India endured some violent times.2. Indira Gandhi (Gandhi’s daughter) took office multiple times and did her

best to temper hostilities between the Sikhs and the Indian govt.3. However, after Indian soldiers destroyed the Golden temple and killed

500 Sikhs blood shed erupted.4. Indira was assassinated by her Sikh body guards causing thousands of

deaths to Sikhs for revenge.5. Rajiv Gandhi (Indira’s son) took office but was poor leader and was

assassinated by a group who opposed his policies in 1991

IndiraGandhi

C. Twenty-First Century Challenges1. One area of needed improvement is the social inequality for those

in the lower castes and women. These groups lack many rights.2. Secondly, the poor relationship that exists with Pakistan. Both

countries have obtained nuclear bomb capabilities which could lead to devastating consequences.

IV. Pakistan Copes with FreedomA. Civil War

1. Like India, Pakistan dealt with much instability especially since the initial creation of East Pakistan and West Pakistan were 1,000 miles apart.

2. Then a terrible cyclone hit East Pakistan in 1970 killing over 250,000 citizens. West Pakistan (where the central govt. existed) was slow to help.

3. As a result, in 1971 East Pakistan declared its independence (calling itself Bangladesh) which resulted in a civil war with West Pakistan.

4. With the help Indian forces, Bangladesh was able to win and maintain its independence.

East Pakistan

West Pakistan

V. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka StruggleA. Bangladesh Faces Many Problems

1. The Sheik Mujibur Rahman became the first prime minister but he was faced with many hurdles.

2. The country was broke from war, lacked a sufficient communication system, and unfortunately the new leader was only interested in acquiring power and was eventually assassinated.

3. Currently the govt. has improved as they strive to form a functioning democratic govt.

4. Unfortunately natural disasters like cyclones and tidal waves have destroyed mass amounts of property, businesses, and lives. Costing millions of dollars to rebuild.

Cyclone

Tidal wave destruction

B. Civil Strife Grips Sri Lanka1. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, an island that gained

its independence from Britain in 1948.2. The population is 75% Sinhalese (they are Buddhists) and

a 25% Tamils (Hindus formerly from India).3. As a result the Tamils population wants to partition the

island into two independent parts.4. The majority Sinhalese will not grant this and thus tension

exists on the island off the coast of India.