UIL 2023-2024
Bay of Bengal
Northeastern section of the Indian Ocean. Between South Asia and the Indochinese Peninsula. Ending point of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.
Bangalore (Bengaluru)
The capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. India's third most populous city.
Adi Granth
The first and earliest compilation of Sikh scriptures. Made by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Officialized in 1604.
Battle of Plassey
The major turning point in modern Indian history leading to British rule over India. This battle was fought between the East India Company and the French. Alamgir-II was the Mughal ruler when the Battle of Plassey took place.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
World's first female prime minister - Sri Lanka's PM. Influenced by and embraced socialism within economics. Actively advocated for the Buddhist religion the Sinhalese language and culture. Enforced the adoption of the Sinhalese language. Ultimately alienated the large Tamil population, which was the minority demographic in Sri Lanka at the time. Restricted free enterprise, nationalized industries, carried out land reforms, and revised a new constitution. Economic stagnation present within the country under her rule.
Arunachal Pradesh
India's most remote state and the first Indian soil to greet the rising sun. Located in Northeast India. McMahon line- Named after Sir Henry McMahon, this is the effective boundary between China and India (negotiated between China and Britain at Shimla conference) After India's independence in 1947, China made claims to the state and said that the McMahon Line was never accepted Sino-Indian war China crossed into Arunachal Pradesh, eventually left and gave India the territory in 1963
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Indian territory consisting of 571 islands, of which 37 are inhabited by tribal societies within the Bay of Bengal.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
Mahatma Gandhi's first application of non-violent civil disobedience. One of the most historically important rebellions in the Indian independence movement.
Annapurna
Main mountain situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province, Nepal. 10th Highest in the World.
Assam
Northeastern Indian state, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Asia's first oil drill. Major exports: Assam tea and Assam silk.
Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu)
A 48km (30mi) land bridge that once connected Sri Lanka to South India.
Cellular Jail (Kālā Pānī)
A British colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Used by the British Raj for exiling criminals and unfavored political prisoners.
Charkha
A domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton processing; a cotton gin or spinning wheel.
Adwaita
A male Aldabra giant tortoise that once resided within the Alipore Zoological Gardens of Kolkata, India. Adwaita was believed to be amongst the longest-living animals until his death in 2006.
(Bangladesh) Awami League
Advocated for rights of the population in Pakistan against the strong feudal politics led by Muslim League. Power came from east Pakistan's oppressed Bengali population, so the party became associated with East Bengal.
Bhagavad Gita
An 18 chapter and 700 verse Hindu scripture. Considered one of the main scriptures within Hinduism.
Ahimsa
Ancient Indian principle of nonviolence applying to actions towards all living beings. Virtue in South Asian religions: Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
Black July
Anti-Tamil rioting started in Colombo but spreads to other parts of the country. Sinhalese mobs attacked, burned, looted, and killed Tamil civilians. Resulted in 3,000 deaths and 150,000 people became homeless
Bhola Cyclone (1970)
Bangladesh's tropical cyclone with a peak wind speed of 185 km/h (115 mph). Deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded (500,000 dead & $680.1 M in damages).
Bhutto, Benazir
Born in pakistan to a prominent political family Founded underground organizations to resist Pakistan's dictatorship Called for the resignation of Zia Ul Haq who had detained and killed her father Elected co-chairman of the PPP (Pakistan's People Party) During the 1988 election she became prime minister First woman to serve as prime minister in an islamic country Initiated an anti-corruption campaign to bring electricity to the countryside, establish schools, and modernize Pakistan. Her and her husband found guilty of money laundering Given six-month suspended jail terms, fined $50,000 each and were ordered to pay $11 million to the Pakistani government. Killed when a gunman fired his gun at her car before setting off a bomb One of the country's most popular democratic leaders when she died
Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali
Born into rajput family that had accepted Islam Educated at Bombay, University of Berkley, and studied law at Oxford Appointed commerce minister and held other cabinet positions under Mohammad Khan Founded Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Began working for independence from Western powers, and closer ties with China He refused to work with the separatist party, creating a nullification of the election. ^This caused rioting which led to a civil war Once India beat pakistan in the war, Bhutto took control, nationalized several key industries, and undertook the taxation of the landed families, Created a new constitution making the president essentially useless, and began Islamification Bhutto was imprisoned on charges of assassinating a political opponent, and was hung
B.R Ambedkar
Born into the Hindu untouchable/dalit caste. Perceived that the Hindu caste system created inequality. Wanted to disintegrate the Hindu caste system in Indian society, so dalits can receive improved treatment. Tolerated by independent India's first PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, which he exclusively served under. Influenced the Neo-Buddhist movement, where former dalits converted to Navayana Buddhism.
Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh) Massacre (1919)
British troops fired on a large crowd of unarmed Indian protesters in an open space known as the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab.
Bose, Subhas Chandra
Came from a well-educated and affluent family in India Received his education at cambridge, but failed the Indian Service Exam the first time Joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the Indian Independence Movement Formed the Forward Bloc- organization aimed at unifying anti-british forces in India Formed the Indian National Army with the help of the japanese ^ Failed and fled to Germany where he formed the Free India Centre and the Indian legion, a group of indians that fought alongside the Germans Ended up leaving Germany to go to japan where he declared war against Britain He died in a mysterious (maybe faked) plane crash Remembered as a national hero in india for his legacy of supporting anti british rule
British Raj
Direct British rule over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947. Founded by the East India Company before being transferred to the Royal family.
Bharata
Early Vedic tribe that existed from 1500 BC to 1001 BC. Formed the Kuru Kingdom, the first proclaimed state in Indian history.
Caste (Hinduism)
Existed in some form in India for at least 3,000 years. Social hierarchy passed down through families, dictating their professions, social lives, relationships, and marriages.
Bollywood (Hindi Cinema)
Film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The largest global film industry with an annual revenue of $1.28B.
Brahmaputra River
Flows from the northern Himalayas down into the Bay of Bengal. The third largest river in the world (largest in India). Extremely biodiverse habitat.
Bengal Famine of 1943
Occurred during World War II when the Japanese conquered Myanmar (Burma), trade with British Raj was cut off, including essential rice imports. Caused an approximate 3 million deaths in India under British Raj.
Buddhism
Originated 2,500 years ago in Northern India (Nepal). Life is suffering, so meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good morals are ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana. Branches: Theravada (Traditional) and Mahayana (Zen/Chan).
Bharatiya Janata Party
Pro-Hindu political party supported among members of the higher castes. Attempted to attract support from lower castes by appointing them to prominent positions. Wanted to centralize the India's authority through Hinduism.
Balochistan
Province located in Southwest Pakistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan. The largest but least populated province in Pakistan. Inhabited by the Baloch people.
Adivasis
Reference to heterogeneous tribal groups across South Asia that were once the land's original inhabitants.
Solomon Bandaranaike
Sri Lankan statesman born in Ceylon Educated at Oxford but returned to Ceylon to serve as a member of State Council and House of representatives; minister of health and local government Left The ruling United National party and formed Sri Lanka Freedom Party and nationalist-socialist coalition Elected prime minister in landslide victory- 4th prime minister of ceylon Administration was plagued by warring factions- Established Sinhalese as official language and supported buddhism Shot and killed by buddhist monk Talduwe Somarama
Bihar
State located in eastern India. India's third most populous state. The principal seat of imperial India and the main focus of Indian culture and civilization.