18.1 The Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom

How was the policy of colonislism affected after WWII?

After the world struggle against dictatorship, many leaders argued that no country should control another nation. Others questioned the high cost and commitment of holding colonies. Meanwhile, the people of colonized regions continued to press even harder for their freedom. All of this led to independence for one of the largest and most populous colonies in the world: British-held India.

What was the third significant religious group in india?

The sikhs

How was india partitioned?

The northwest and eastern regions of India, where most Muslims lived, would become the new nation of Pakistan. The rest was India.

Who was bangaladesh's first prime minister?

Sheikh Mujubir Rahman

How was Ghandi killed?

"What is there to cel- ebrate?" Gandhi mourned. "I see nothing but rivers of blood." Gandhi personally went to the Indian capital of Delhi to plead for fair treatment of Muslim refugees. While there, he himself became a victim of the nation's violence. A Hindu extremist who thought Gandhi too protective of Muslims shot and killed him on January 30, 1948.

What problems did bangaladesh face after independence?

-ruined exonomy -fractured communication system -natural disasters -issues in the government, -poverty

Pakistan began as a divided nation. Its east and west regions were separated by

1,000 miles of Indian territory

What problems did Indira Gandhi face?

Although she ruled capably, Gandhi faced many challenges, including the growing threat from Sikh extremists who themselves wanted an independent state.

Explain the battle over kashmir.

As if partition itself didn't result in enough bloodshed between India's Muslims and Hindus, the two groups quickly squared off over the small region of Kashmir. Kashmir lay at the northern point of India next to Pakistan. Although its ruler was Hindu, Kashmir had a majority Muslim population. Shortly after independence, India and Pakistan began battling each other for control of the region. The fighting continued until the United Nations arranged a cease-fire in 1949. The cease-fire left a third of Kashmir under Pakistani control and the rest under Indian control. The two countries continue to fight over the region today.

This nation was formerly know as east pakistan

Bangaladesh

This politician was twice elected prime minister of Pakistan but was removed from office in 1996

Benazir Bhutto

How did the indian striggle against the british intensify?

Britain committed India's armed forces to World War II without first consulting the colony's elected representatives. The move left Indian nationalists stunned and humiliated. Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi launched a nonviolent campaign of noncooperation with the British. Officials imprisoned numerous nationalists for this action. In 1942, the British tried to gain the support of the nationalists by promising governmental changes after the war. But the offer did not include Indian independence.

Who are the Sinhalese?

Buddhists in Sirilanka

What was sirilamka's former name and who colonized it?

Ceylon; Britain

What were the results of the relocation of many people?

During the summer of 1947, 10 million people were on the move in the Indian subcontinent. As people scrambled to relocate, violence among the different religious groups erupted. Muslims killed Sikhs who were moving into India. Hindus and Sikhs killed Muslims who were headed into Pakistan. An estimate of 1 million died.

Banagaldesh was peacful after its independence.

False

Pakistan became peacful after independence.

False, the history of Pakistan since independence has been no less turbulent than that of India.

Who is Jawaharlal Nehru?

First prime minister of independent India.

What caused the civil war in Pakistan?

From the beginning, the two regions of Pakistan experienced strained relations. While East Pakistan had the larger population, it was often ignored by West Pakistan, home to the central government. In 1970, a giant cyclone and tidal wave struck East Pakistan and killed an estimated 266,000 residents. While inter- national aid poured into Pakistan, the government in West Pakistan did not quickly transfer that aid to East Pakistan. Demonstrations broke out in East Pakistan, and protesters called for an end to all ties with West Pakistan. On March 26, 1971, East Pakistan declared itself an independent nation called Bangladesh. A civil war followed between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Eventually, Indian forces stepped in and sided with Bangladesh. About two weeks after the arrival of Indian troops, Pakistan forces surrendered. More than 1 million people died in the war. Pakistan lost about one-seventh of its area and about one-half of its population to Bangladesh.

How and why did Sheikh Mujubir Rahman die?

He appeared more interested in strengthening his own power than in rebuilding his nation. He soon took over all authority and declared Bangladesh a one-party state. In August 1975, military leaders assassinated him.

How did Nehru lead india?

He emphasized democracy, unity, and economic modernization. Nehru used his leadership to move India forward. He led other newly independent nations of the world in forming an alliance of countries that were neutral in the Cold War conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union. On the home front, Nehru called for a reorganization of the states by language. He also pushed for industrialization and sponsored social reforms. He tried to elevate the status of the lower castes, or those at the bottom of society, and expand the rights of women.

Who became prime minister after Indira Gandhi?

Her son Rajiv Gandhi

Who are the Tamils?

Hindu people of southern India and northern Sri Lanka.

Who was elected as prime minister after Nehru?

His daughter, Indira Ganhdi

What's the deal with India and nuclear weapons?

In 1974, India exploded a "peaceful" nuclear device. For the next 24 years, the nation quietly worked on building up its nuclear capability. In 1998, Indian officials conducted five underground nuclear tests. Meanwhile, the Pakistanis had been building their own nuclear program. Shortly after India conducted its nuclear tests, Pakistan demonstrated that it, too, had nuclear weapons. The presence of these weapons in the hands of such bitter enemies and neighbors has become a matter of great international concern, especially in light of their continuing struggle over Kashmir.

How did Indira Gandhi die?

In June 1984, Indian army troops overran the Golden Temple. They killed about 500 Sikhs and destroyed sacred property. In retaliation, Sikh bodyguards assigned to Indira Gandhi gunned her down. This violent act set off another murderous frenzy, causing the deaths of thousands of Sikhs.

What issues immerged after partition?

In that short period, more than 500 independent native princes had to decide which nation they would join. The administration of the courts, the military, the railways, and the police—the whole of the civil service—had to be divided down to the last paper clip. Most difficult of all, millions of Indian citizens—Hindus, Muslims, and yet another significant religious group, the Sikhs—had to decide where to go.

What are the two main religious groups that india has long been hime to?

Muslims ans hindus

The civil war between the Tamils and other Buddhist dominated country began in 1980s

Sirilanka

Who is Rajiv Gandhi, what did he do, and how did he die?

In the wake of the murder of Indira Gandhi, her son, Rajiv Gandhi, took over as prime minister. His party, however, lost its power in 1989 because of accusations of widespread corruption. In 1991, while campaigning again for prime minister near the town of Madras, Rajiv was killed by a bomb. Members of a group opposed to his policies claimed responsibility.

This mostly Hindu country is the world's largest democracy

India

This prime minister of India was assassinated by Sikh extremists in retaliation for ordering the attack on the Golden Temple

Indira Gandhi

The congress party leader who became india's first prime minister since independence

Jawaharlal Nehru

A cease-fire established by the UN left a third of this territory under pakistani control and the rest under indain control

Kashmir

After gaining their independence, India and Pakistan fought a war over

Kashmir

What did the muslim league think of the congress party?

Members of the league felt that the mainly Hindu Congress Party looked out primarily for Hindu interests. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, insisted that all Muslims resign from the Congress Party. The Muslim League stated that it would never accept Indian independence if it meant rule by the Hindu-dominated Congress Party. Jinnah stated, "The only thing the Muslim has in common with the Hindu is his slavery to the British."

Known as the Mahatma, or "Great Soul" of the Indian independence movement, this Congress Party leader was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist

Mohandas Gandhi

What were the people in the congress party like?

Most members of the Congress Party were Hindus, but the party at times had many Muslim members.

The muslim league leader died shortly after the independence of pakistan

Muhamad Ali Jinnah

Who led pakistan after the war?

Muhamad Ali Jinnah died shortly afyer the war leading the country to face instability and lots of military coups. The first one was when Ali Buhotto took control after the civil war. After that a military coup happened where General Zia removed Bohotto, who was later executed for crimes he committed while in office. After that Buhotto's daughter, Benazir Buhotto was elected twice as prime minister, but was then removed after months of disorder. After her Nawaz Sherif was elected prime minister, the army then made another mikitary coup and put the country under military rule.

Who was the first governer-general of pakistan?

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Which of the following might have relocated after the partition of India?

Muslim in India

What happened when the issue of who would take power was tackled?

Muslims resisted attempts to include them in an Indian government dominated by Hindus. Rioting between the two groups broke out in several Indian cities. In August 1946, four days of clashes in Calcutta left more than 5,000 people dead and more than 15,000 hurt.

Who is Indria Gandhi?

Nehru's daughter who was elected prime minister after his death.

There were strong leaders left after Nehru passed.

No, his death left the Congress Party with no leader strong enough to hold together the many political factions that had emerged with India's independence.

What happened in Pakistan after independence?

Pakistan actually began as two separate and divided states, East Pakistan and West Pakistan. East Pakistan lay to the east of India, West Pakistan to the north- west. These regions were separated by more than 1,000 miles of Indian territory. In culture, language, history, geography, economics, and ethnic background, the two regions were very different. Only the Islamic religion united them.

Which of the following two countries each had a civil war after independence?

Pakistan and Angola

What problems did pakistan face after the civil war?

Pakistan, however, could ill afford to dwell on its lost territory, for there were many problems at home. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first governor-general of Pakistan, died shortly after independence. This left the nation without strong leadership. As a result, Pakistan went through a series of military coups, the first in 1958. Ali Bhutto took control of the country following the civil war. A military coup in 1977 led by General Zia removed Bhutto, who was later executed for crimes allegedly committed while in office. After Zia's death, Bhutto's daughter, Benazir Bhutto, was twice elected prime minister. After months of disorder, she was removed from office in 1996. Nawaz Sharif became prime minister after the 1997 elections. In 1999, army leaders ousted Sharif in yet another coup and imposed military rule over Pakistan. The nation continues to struggle with challenges from Muslim militants and ongoing disputes with India, especially over the territory of Kashmir.

This former prime minister of India was assassinated by a Tamil terrorist in 1991 while campaigning for reelection

Rajiv Gandhi

What was India's national political party?

The Congress Party

What did the Sikh extremists do at the time of Indira Gandhi?

The Golden Temple at Amritsar stood as the religious center for the Sikhs. From there, Sikh nationalists ventured out to attack symbols of Indian authority. In June 1984, Indian army troops overran the Golden Temple. They killed about 500 Sikhs and destroyed sacred property. In retaliation, Sikh bodyguards assigned to Indira Gandhi gunned her down. This violent act set off another murderous frenzy, causing the deaths of thousands of Sikhs.

What stopped the fighting in kashmir?

The United Nations arranged a cease-fire in 1949. The cease-fire left a third of Kashmir under Pakistani control and the rest under Indian control.

Which of the following was caused by religious conflict?

The civil war in sirilanka

How did the Pakistani civil war end?

The indian troops eventually sided with Bangaladesh, about two weeks later Pakistan surendered. Pakistan lost one seventh of its land and about one half of its population.

Who is muhamed jinnah?

The leader of the Muslim League, he insisted that all muslims resign from the congress party.

What was in competition with the Congress Party?

The muslim league

What influenced the independence movements of colonial countries?

The spread of democratic ideas; during WWII, the occasional defeat of Europeans by Japanese; expense and maintaining and governing distant colonies All of the above

What is the cause of turmoil in sirilanka?

The tamils fight an armed struggle to get a seperate Tamil nation. In effort to end the ciolence Rajiv Gandhi and the Sirilankan president made an agreement that called for indian troops to enter sirilanks and help disarm the Tamils, but it was a faliure and the civil war between the tamils and sirilankans continues till today.

What problems did bangaladesh face after independence? (Looong answer)

The war with Pakistan had ruined the economy of Bangladesh and fractured its communications system. Rebuilding the shattered country seemed like an overwhelming task. Sheik Mujibur Rahman became the nation's first prime minister. He appeared more interested in strengthening his own power than in rebuilding his nation. He soon took over all authority and declared Bangladesh a one-party state. In August 1975, military leaders assassinated him. Over the years Bangladesh has attempted with great difficulty to create a more democratic form of government. Charges of election fraud and government corruption are common. In recent years, however, the government has become more stable. The latest elections were held in October of 2001, and Begum Khaleda Zia took over as the nation's prime minister. In the years following its independence, Bangladesh also has had to cope with crippling natural disasters. Bangladesh is a low-lying nation that is subject to many cyclones and tidal waves. Massive storms regularly flood the land, ruin crops and homes, and take lives. A particularly powerful cyclone hit in 1991 and killed approximately 139,000 people. Such catastrophes, along with a rapidly growing population, have put much stress on the country's economy. Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world. The per capita income there is about $360 per year.

AfterWorldWarII,dramatic political changes began to take place across the world.

True

British officials soon became convinced that partition, an idea first proposed by India's Muslims, would be the only way to ensure a safe and secure region.

True

The indians have been resisting british rule from the begging.

True

What major ethnic grouos existed in Sirilanka?

Two main ethnic groups dominate the nation. Three-quarters of the population are Sinhalese, and one fifth Tamils.

What set the stage for Britain to hand over power to the indians?

When World War II ended, Britain found itself faced with enormous war debts. As a result, British leaders began to rethink the expense of maintaining and governing distant colonies. With India continuing to push for independence, the stage was set for the British to hand over power.

What problem emerged with handing over power to the indians?

Who should recieve the power, muslims or hindus?

Did Nehru agree with Ghandi?

Yes, he had been one of Gandhi's most devoted followers.

Which of the following has caused much of the violence in Sri Lanka?

a militant minority trying to achieve independence

What is the muslim league?

an organization founded in 1906 in India to protect Muslim interests.

What did Nehru emphasize?

democracy, unity, economic modernization

As they intensified their struggle against the British, Indians also struggled with .......

each other

The dividing of India into two nations was referred to as

partition

What is a partition?

the term given to the division of India into separate Hindu and Muslim nations.

With the granting of its independence on August 15, 1947, India became .........

the world's largest democracy.