1. South Asia After Empire
India gained its independence from Great Britain, but the region entered an era of conflict and challenges

2. India - Review
Which country controlled India in the early part of the 20th century?
Who was the leader of the Indian independence movement?
Which groups were important in the Indian independence movement?
What do you think might happen if India gets independence?

3. Britain demands that Indians fight in WWII
Indians say “NO!”
No democracy at home…won’t fight for Britain
“Quit India!” campaign to get British to leave

4. Increasing Indian nationalism
Riots, protests lead to British decision to leave India
Britain no longer has the money (after WWII) to spend on India

5. India is a free country! 1947…the British leave India
“It is a fateful moment for us in India, for all Asia and for the world. A new star rises, the star of freedom in the East, a new hope comes into being, a vision long cherished materializes.” Nehru

6. India: partitioned into India and Pakistan
255 Hindus and 92 million Muslims live here
Muslims migrate to Pakistan…Hindus migrate to India
Violent fighting
Gandhi heartbroken

7. Violent fighting
Over 1 million killed in fighting

8. Gandhi Assassinated
Hindu nationalist blames Gandhi for partition and for protecting Muslims
shot and killed

9. War Over Kashmir
Major conflict erupts between India and Pakistan: who controls border area of Kashmir?
India given control of Muslim dominated area…Pakistan fights this
War in and in 1965

10. India/Pakistan Conflict
Both sides have nuclear weapons
Cross-border attacks
Recipe for nuclear disaster

11. India After Independence
World’s largest democracy
During Cold War refused to side with US or with USSR….a non-aligned nation
Nehru Prime Minister from

12. Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister
Nehru’s daughter…serves four terms
Sikhs want independence…
She drives them from Amritsar
Later assassinated by own Sikh body guards

13. Indian economy grows!
In 1990s India changes economic philosophy from socialism to capitalism
Indian people beginning to lift themselves from poverty

14. Civil War in Pakistan
East Pakistan and West Pakistan separated by India
West Pakistan controls government
Civil War in 1971
East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh

15. Bangladesh -Geographic Nightmare
Below sea-level
Ripe for floods and earthquakes
May be poorest country on earth

16. Instability in Pakistan
Constant turnover in Pakistan’s government
Haven for al Qaeda and the Taliban
Osama Bin Laden found here
US friend or foe???