1949 - Independence

“We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: justice…liberty…equality…do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.”

Indian Independence Act:Indian Independence Act:- India free- India free- Divided into India and Pakistan- Divided into India and Pakistan

Activity

• Each group will get one reading on 4 modern India subjects

• As a group you have 10 minutes to read and then put on poster paper the five most important points and draw a picture to encapsulate the topic

• One person will report out to the class1. Kashmir/Pakistan 2. Women3. Sikh Separatism 4. Bollywood

Pakistan

• West Pakistan and East Pakistan• West controlled country’s gov’t.-favored

west; East=poor• 1971-Civil War

– India supported East Pakistan– Independent Bangladesh

• Poor, ethnic and religious conflict • General Pervez Musharraf -1999

– Worked with U.S. to fight al Qaeda & Taliban

Dividing Forces• Cultural Diversity

– Hindu-Muslim conflict

Kashmir

Hindu and Muslim differences dating to 1947. Previously an independent state.

After independence, warfare led to Kashmir’s division between India and Pakistan

Pakistan controls the mountainous northern and western third; India controls the west and maintains 500,000 troops in the regions; China also control a portion of Kashmir

Many Kashmiris support independence from both India and Pakistan.

There have been numerous bombings and many people have died in the fighting. Both Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons and are a threat.

The headwaters of the Indus River flow through Kashmir – one of the reasons the region is so disputed.

Women

Overall status is lower than that of men in South Asia, but there are some women in high positions of power

Educational levels between men and women are unequal; female literacy rates are much lower then those for men

Marriages

Arranged marriages are common

Parents negotiate marriage

Ads in newspapers / magazines

Henna

Decoration of brides hands Decoration of brides hands

and feetand feet

Bride Price Dowry

Indian gov’t bans dowries, but this practice is still taken very seriously

Bride burning / Dowry killing – a rare practice, but it occurs (1,786 deaths in 1987)

Female infanticide

Sati (also, suttee) – an Indian widow would immolate herself on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre.

Outlawed and thus very rare today

Sikh Separatism• Sikhism – blend of Islam and Hinduism

– About 2% of population– Often feel “left out” of government attention

Sikh Separatism

• Amritsar Golden Temple (1984)

Sikh extremists occupy Golden Temple and refuse to leave

Independence Movement

Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister of India) orders in troops.

Many Sikh’s were killed.

Indira Gandhi assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards-leads to a wave of anti-Sikh violence

•http://www.sikhgenocide.org/#

BollywoodIndia film industry, centered in Mumbai (Bombay)

Major themes of films:

•Romance, but less explicit

•Achieving the impossible

•Victory in contests of strength

Characteristics of Bollywood movies

•Elaborate song and dance

•Varied costumes and locations

•Far-fetched plots; unusual coincidences

http://www.videodust.com/videos/2008/10/06/My-10-Bollywood-Songs-of-Shahrukh-Khan.html

Outsourcing

WhyWhy: : cut costs, cheap labor, high qualitycut costs, cheap labor, high qualityWhatWhat: : high tech jobs:> computers, software high tech jobs:> computers, software design, call centersdesign, call centersHowHow: : computers, internet, education, Englishcomputers, internet, education, EnglishUS ProUS Pro: : cheap goods, competition, keep some jobscheap goods, competition, keep some jobsUS ConUS Con: : loss of jobs or lower wagesloss of jobs or lower wagesIndian ProIndian Pro: : more jobs, middle class, less povertymore jobs, middle class, less povertyIndian ConIndian Con::Brain drain, loss of culture, tough jobsBrain drain, loss of culture, tough jobs

Poverty

Dividing Forces• Population

Child Hunger: India• http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/13/world/asia/20090313-malnutrition-audioss/index.html

Dividing Forces• Caste System

– Constitution declares untouchability illegal BUT it still exists