The Indian Sub-Continent Since 1947

Pakistan & India

Independence• The sub-continent was “partitioned” prior to

independence to avoid a civil war between the Hindus & the Muslims

• The areas with a Hindu majority became India with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the first Prime Minister beginning August 15, 1947

• The 2 areas with Muslim majorities became Pakistan with Muhammad Ali Jinnah as Prime Minister August 15, 1947

India

• India is the world’s largest democracy, 2nd most populous country in the world

• After independence the nation had many problems to deal with

1. Angry Hindus felt that too much had been given up to Pakistan, led to the assassination of the Mahatma

2. Border disagreements with Pakistan- last to this day in Kashmir & the Siachen Glacier-both nations have nuclear weapons now

India Cont’d

3. Developing a strong economy- The Green Revolution of the 1960s helped India develop stronger crops & feed the population with fewer farmers

4. Terrorism- Several groups have operated within India, Sikhs (religious minority) & the Tamil Tigers in Southern India fought until recently, Al Qaida & the Taliban have launched attacks in the last 5 years

1st Prime Minister• Jawaharlal Nehru served

as Prime Minister from 1948-1964

• His leadership stressed democracy, unity, & economic modernization

• The 1950 Constitution outlawed the untouchables within the Caste System

Indian Leadership

• Indira Gandhi-Nehru’s daughter- served four terms as Prime Minister between 1966-1984

• She was assassinated by her Sikh body guards in retaliation for an attack on the Golden Temple at Amritsar

Indian Leadership Cont’d

• Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister after his mother’s assassination in 1984

• Lost power in 1989 after accusations of corruption

• Killed by a car bomb while campaigning in 1991

Pakistan• Muhammad Ali Jinnah

serves as first Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1947-1948

Pakistan Cont’d• West Pakistan had

the capitol, Islamabad & all government offices

• East Pakistan had a majority of the population but was virtually ignored by the central government

• The only link between the 2 regions was religion

Civil War

• 1970 a giant cyclone & tsunami hit East Pakistan killing 266,000 people

• Tons of international aid went to West Pakistan but it was not sent to East Pakistan very quickly

• March 26, 1971 East Pakistan declares itself the independent nation of Bangladesh

• India sided with Bangladesh & within 2 weeks of the arrival of Indian troops Pakistan surrendered

• 1,000,000 people died in the civil war

Pakistan Leadership

• He was deposed & then executed by Gen. Zia in 1977

• Zia dies in a plane crash in 1988

• The death of Jinnah within a year of independence left Pakistan without strong leadership

• There have been multiple military coups the first in 1958

• Ali Bhutto took power after the civil war

Pakistan in

Disarray

• Benazir Bhutto-Ali Bhutto’s daughter-took power after Gen. Zia’s death

• She was removed from office in 1996 after corruption charges

• Killed by a car bomb in December 2008 while campaigning after returning to Pakistan• General Parvez

Musharraf takes power in a military coup in 1999

• He resigned in August 2008 during impeachment movements by the 2 leading parties

Pakistan Today

• Benazir Bhutto’s party won the general elections in February 2009

• Her husband Asif Ali Zardari serves as Prime Minister today

• Pakistan is a hot bed of terrorist activity, especially Waziristan along the Afghan border

Bangladesh

• Achieved independence in 1971• It is one of the most densely populated nations and

has suffered from military coups, natural disasters, & a high poverty rate since independence

• The first Prime Minister-Sheik Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by military leaders in 1975

• Democracy was restored in 1991• GDP has doubled since 1975 so life is slowly

improving

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka gained independence in February 1948

• 75% of the population are Buddhist Sinhalese

• 25% are Hindu Tamils

• Tamil Tigers just surrendered in 2009 ending the civil war

• The Sri Lankan government is trying to figure out how to reintegrate the rebel fighters into society

Nepal• The one of the newest democratic

republics in the world• June 1, 2001 Crown Prince Dipendra

killed most of the royal family in a drunken rage

• The King’s brother Gyanendra became king

• He abolished the parliament in 2005• Parliament was re-established in

2006• The monarchy was abolished in May

2008

Afghanistan

• Dominated by Britain & Russia during the 19th century

• Became an independent nation with a monarchy in 1919 after the British left

• 1964 attempted to develop a democratic government but groups could not agree on reforms

Afghanistan cont’d

• 1973 Military coup overthrows the king• 1978 Communists overthrow the military• Afghanis felt communism conflicted with Islam• 1979 USSR invades Afghanistan to support

communists• U.S. supports the mujahedeen fighting against

the USSR & communists• 1989 USSR pulls out of Afghanistan

Civil War• 1989-1998 Several groups fight for control of

Afghanistan• 1998 Conservative Islamic extremists the

Taliban control 90% of the country• Northern Alliance is the only rival left to fight

them• Society changed overnight- women no longer

allowed to work or go to school, women must wear burkas in public, music, dancing, TV, & movies are outlawed

Links to Terrorism• Taliban allowed al-Qaeda to set up training

camps• September 9, 2001 leader of the Northern

Alliance assassinated• September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks NYC &

Washington, D.C.• October 2001 U.S. forces attack & invade

Afghanistan • Taliban government falls apart by Dec. 2001• U.S. forces are in the process of leaving

Afghanistan