3. The partition of India
• When India gains its independence from the British in
1948, India winds up getting partitioned into two
countries, according to religion: Hindu India and
Muslim Pakistan.
• Pakistan was at
first divided into
West and East
Pakistan.
• This was a
problem. East
Pakistan gains its
independence
from West
Pakistan in 1971
and becomes
Bangladesh.
4. • There are political problems here and there with both.
• Pakistan has suffered several military coups. The
current president, Pervez Musharaf, got to be president
by overthrowing the previous guy in a bloodless coup in
1999, after which he suspended the constitution and
declared martial law.
• Corruption and Islamic extremism can also be
problems.
5. Economies
• They’re both primarily based on agriculture, but have
large populations with small per capita incomes.
• The per capita income is only $2,200 in Pakistan and
$2,000 in Bangladesh.
• Many farmers work small plots and engage in
subsistence farming: growing just enough food for
themselves, but not much, if any, to sell.
• Industry is small, but growing.
• Microcredit has helped.
• Very small loans, perhaps just $20, to people who
otherwise would have trouble getting loans.
• The purpose is to help build businesses.
6. Culture
• They’re Muslim societies, but Pakistan tends to be
stricter in applying Muslim law.
• It’s also a center for Madrassas: Islamic schools that
are often rural and extremist.
• Language and ethnicities
• Pakistan has several ethnicities and speaks Urdu.
• Bangladesh is mainly ethnic Bengalis and speak a
derivation of Sanskrit.
• They’re family-centered with small dwelling.
• Poetry is sometimes popular as well as a form of music
called qawwali.
8. • Nepal and Bhutan are fairly isolated due to the
Himalayan Mountains.
• Both countries are kingdoms called constitutional
monarchies.
• This means they have kings, but the kings’ power is
limited by constitutions. Nepal even has a
parliament.
Nepal's King Gyanedra is the King Khesar of Bhutan
world's last Hindu monarch
9. • Economies
• Due to the terrain, the economies are limited and
are heavily based on farming, including terraced
farming.
• There’s also foresting and mountain tourism is a
burgeoning sector.
10.
11.
12. • Both countries have several ethnic groups
• Nepal also has the Sherpa people, who are a
Buddhist Tibetan people who have gained renown as
mountain guides.
13. Religion
• Most of Nepal is Hindu, but there are strong Buddhist
influences because it used to be Buddhist until Indian
rulers brought in Hinduism.
• Bhutan’s official religion and language is Buddhism.
• The Bhutan Buddhists also make mandalas, highly
ornate geometric designs to aid in meditation.
14.
15.
16.
17. • Political problems
• Nepal has had some problems in recent years.
• While Nepal is a monarchy, there’s a significant
number of Maoist Communist rebels in the country
who seek to overthrow the government and institute
communism.
• It didn’t help that in 2001, the crown prince went on
a killing spree, murdering his parents, brother, and
sister because he was apparently unhappy at being
denied his choice of bride.
• He was shot in the chest during the incident, laid
comatose for three days (during which he was
officially king), and then died.
18. • The new king has had problems with the Maoists
and, from 2005 to 2006, he dissolved parliament
and ruled with absolute power.
• When parliament was reinstituted in 2006, it
promptly went about stripping the monarchy of
most its power.
20. Ch. 25, sections 2-3 questions (pgs. 573-583)
1. What/when was the partition of India?
2. What area are Pakistan and India still
fighting over?
3. What is microcredit?
4. What is the primary religion in Pakistan?
5. What is a constitutional monarchy?
6. What are sherpas?
7. Why does Buddhism have roots in Nepal?
