How have colonization and imperialism contributed to the political, economic, and cultural formation of South Asia?

1. How have colonization and imperialism contributed to the political, economic, and cultural formation of South Asia?

2. Britain controlled India from 1757 to 1947 East India Company Traded cotton, silk, indigo dye, tea, and opium Granted Royal Charter in 1600 Heavy taxation and other policies left millions of civilians impoverished

3. Britain dissolved the East India Company and transferred power to the Crown after the Indian rebellion of 1857 1857 – British establish direct rule over India British Raj – known as the time of British direct rule over India

4. The British raj extended over almost all of present day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

5. Indians appointed to office were wealthy and often chosen for their loyalty to Britain There is still a division between the wealthy and poor today British practiced divide and rule pitting Hindus and Muslims against one another Problems between the Hindu and Muslims still exist today

6. Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi Spent most of his life fighting for the independence of India Led the salt march to protest against the British Man behind the idea of independence through non-violence

7. He called “Father of the Nation” by the people for his contribution to India’s freedom He proved to the world that changes can be made without resorting to violence – non-violence The citizens of India are seen as peaceful people today

8. 1920 – Gandhi called for a Non-cooperation Movement against the British rule in India which led to him to being sentenced to 6 years in prison (only spent 2) 1930 – Dandi March (Salt March): Triggered the Civil Disobedience Movement

9. India gained independence in 1947, but had to be partitioned into two parts which caused a huge amount of bloodshed and destruction between the Hindus and Muslims Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 His beliefs are still present in India today

11. Benefits of British Occupation of India: • Introduced British legal • and justice system • Railways and roads • Organized a civil service • Organized a • modern military • Brought Western • dress code • Helped integrate • all ethnicities into • 1 nation

12. Brought democracy to • India – India now has the • largest democracy in the • world • Ended 700 years of • Muslim rule in India • Set up a tax system • Built one of the world’s • best water irrigation • systems • Extended the education • system to include • colleges and universities

13. Negative Effects of British Imperialism • Destroyed India’s agricultural economy • Resulted in 32 famines • Killed the industry and commerce for their own benefit • Took anything of value out of India • Played “divide and rule” between the Hindus and Muslims • Could be held responsible for the 3 major wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir

14. Negative Effects continued: • Many of the people today are extremely poor or wealthy • over 220 million people living below the poverty line (about 50% of the population) • People living below the poverty line in India is the highest in the world • Industries were dominated by the British

15. How do cultural beliefs influence social customs, public policies, and decision-making?

16. Hinduism • 80% of the people in India • practice Hinduism • Bangladesh and Pakistan are • primarily Muslim countries Hindus follow the Caste System

17. Caste System

18. Hinduism • The Hindus believe there are 4 basic castes or social classes • Each caste has its own rules and obligation for living • The untouchables are considered to be outside the caste system • they are the outcasts of Hindu society • It is difficult for the untouchable to obtain work • They are very poor • One is born into a particular caste

19. Hinduism believes in reincarnation Each person experiences a series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths With a good karma, a person can be born into a higher caste while a bad karma will cause you to be born into a lower caste or even an animal

20. Hindus believe a person should not even think or speak badly towards others, due to karma As a result, Indians are considered to be friendly, peaceful, and non-violent

21. As a result of trying to live a “good” life, the crime rate in India is lower compared to many other countries, such as the US India resolves most of its political conflict peacefully

22. Hindus believe all life is sacred and you should not harm any creature – and particularly the cow (holy animals) Hindus don’t eat beef Cows roam around India and are fed by the people

23. Marriage and family are at the center of Indian life There is a custom of having arranged marriages where the partners are chosen by the family There is a custom of having arranged marriages where the partners are chosen by the family – this practice is changing Divorce is rare due to shame

24. Marriage in India is one of the greatest events in Indian Society In Indian Society an arranged marriage is seen as an act of love People who live below the poverty line in India spend 5 times more than America in marriage

25. India has the world’s largest democracy and more key political powerbrokers who are women than any other country in the world India is rated as the 4th worst country in the world for women

26. The Muslim influence on India caused a deterioration in the status of women They were deprived of their rights of equality with men • Problems facing women: • Malnutrition – in many • parts of India women are • the ones who eat last

27. Problems Facing Women in India • UNICAF in 1996 reported there were higher levels of malnutrition in South Asia women than other parts of the world • The maternal mortality rate is near the highest in the world due to having babies at an early age • Lack of education for women as the culture views their job is to fulfill domestic duties • The main reason for not sending girls to school is the poor economic conditions

28. Violence against women is common • Every hour a woman is raped in India and every 93 minutes a woman is burnt to death due to dowry problem • There are laws to protect women and punishment is severe, but the conviction rate of crime against women is very low in India

29. Bright Spots for Women in India: • India has the world’s • largest number of • professional qualified • women • India has the • largest population • of working • women in the • world

30. India has more female • doctors, surgeons, • scientists, and • professors than the • United States • Women are becoming • active in politics • which is helping to • change the • perception of them in • India

31. Mother Theresa • Helped changed the perception in India of caring for the poor • She worked to care for • everyone, including those • who were deserted by • their families • She opened homes for all people irrespective • of caste or religion

32. Untouchables Untouchability was abolished by law in 1955 and amended in 1976 Untouchable cannot be fully eliminated unless the caste system is destroyed

33. There are currently 160 million untouchables in India Problems for untouchables are most severe in rural villages which are home to 90% of the Untouchable population

34. 1 out of 6 Indians lives and suffers at the bottom of the Hindu caste system Untouchables are seen as polluting people and has been embedded in the culture for 1,500 years

35. Types of prejudice and discrimination against the Untouchables: • Shunned • Insulted • Raped • Banned from • temples • Burned • Lynched • Murdered • Made to use • separate utensils • in public places

36. Cremation Hindus believe that by burning the body, the soul does not feel the physical association with the body anymore, which it could have, had the body been buried

37. Often times the dead will be taken to Varanasi on the Ganges River to be cremated or to sprinkle the ashes

38. Ganges River

39. Ganges River in India is known as “Mother Ganges” The river brings life to its people Hindus believe by bathing in the water they will wash away their sins They believe the water has healing powers

40. Progress has been slow to clean up the river Cleaning the river will require a change in the way people view the river According to many, the Ganges is too holy to be harmed by pollution They believe “Mother Ganges” will clean it

41. Cleaning up the river has been difficult due to people believing it is too holy to be harmed by pollution

42. What impact have natural forces and environmental issues had on this region?

43. Environmental Issues: • Pollution – water and • air • Deforestation • Population explosion India is the 2nd most populated country (over 1 billion) in the world and growing – more people means increased pressure on natural resources

44. India is witnessing a rising demand for forest-based products which is causing deforestation and encroachment into forest protected areas leading to loss of natural resources 65% of the land in India is damaged in some way

45. Nearly 30% of India’s agricultural output is lost every year due to soil degradation, poor land management, and counter productive irrigation Due to the rise in population, more grasslands and forests are being utilized for human occupation

46. India loses thousands of dollars each year due to traffic congestion India has the fastest growing car market in the world The network of roads, transportation system, and infrastructure have not kept pace

47. India has one of the worst qualities of air in the world due to mainly the number of old cars using dirty diesel engines About 2.2 million people die each year due to air pollution The asthma rate for children in some of the larger cities is now at 50% and rising fast due to air pollution

48. Acid rain caused by industries and power stations is damaging the waterways, forests, cities, crops, and just about anywhere it lands The holy cow that is integral to the Indian way of life are being killed by garbage (plastic)

49. Lack of access to fresh water is India’s largest environmental issue Years of extraction of groundwater has caused the national water table to dramatically drop Ganges River One of the most polluted rivers in the world It is India’s “holy river”

50. The toxins, chemicals, and other dangerous bacteria found in the river is almost 3,000 times over the suggested limit The river affects over 420 million people which is higher than any river in the world