Geography�of�South�AsiaClimate�Zones

of�India

Average�Rainfall

Elevation�Map�of�South�Asia

Population�Density of�India

Geography�of�South�Asia

Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%

note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2001 census)

note: According to the Library of Congress Report in 2004, the Indian census lists 114 languages (22 of which are spoken by one million or more persons) that are further categorized into 216 dialects or "mother tongues" spoken by 10,000 or more speakers. An estimated 850 languages are in daily use, and the Indian Government claims there are more than 1,600 dialects.

Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

INDIA

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

BHUTA

N

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

BANGLA

DES

H

NEP

AL

PAKIST

AN

Languages�of�South�Asia

SRI�L

ANKA

Languages�of�South�Asia

Religions�of�South�Asia

Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1%

Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%

INDIA

PAKIST

AN

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% note: only official Hindu state in the world

NEP

AL

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10%

SRI�L

ANKA

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

BHUTA

N

Muslim 89%, Hindu 10%, other 1%

BANGLA

DES

H

Often, strict social norms are enforced through restrictions on marriage or other interaction between castes. In many countries strong social barriers remain in place against marriage between lower and higher castes.

In India the punishment can be quite severe, ranging from alienation to violence. On August 6, 2001, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, an upper-caste Brahmin boy and a lower-caste Jat[an ethnic group in India] girl were dragged to the roof of a house and publicly hanged by members of their own families as hundreds of spectators looked on. The public lynching was punishment for refusing to end an inter-caste relationship. Inter-caste marriages can also lead to large-scale attacks on lower-caste communities. In May 2000 in Uttar Pradesh, a police officer enraged by his daughter's marriage to a Dalit [a type of “outcast”]was joined by other relatives in shooting and killing four members of his son-in-law's family.

Dalits who marry high-caste persons in Nepal in some cases reportedly have been imprisoned by local authorities because of false cases filed against them by members of the upper-caste families. Dalits are often forbidden from performing marriage or funeral ceremonies in public areas or, in some areas, from speaking to members of upper castes. In both the Tamil and Sinhala communities of Sri Lanka, intermarriage between upper-caste and lower-caste persons is still socially discouraged. Marriage ads in Sri Lankan newspapers placed by Tamils and Sinhalese both routinely specify the caste background of the match that the family is seeking.HumanRightsWatch.org, 1/30/09

one million Dalits in India are "manual scavengers" (a majority of them women) who clear feces from public and private toilets and dispose of dead animals; some unofficial estimates are much higher. Handling of human waste is a caste-based job, considered too "polluting and filthy" for anyone but Dalits. Manual scavengers exist under different caste names throughout the country. Members of these communities are always placed at the very bottom of the caste hierarchy, and even the hierarchy of Dalit sub-castes. Using little more than a broom, a tin plate, and a basket, they are made to clear feces from public and private toilets and carry waste to dumping grounds and disposal sites.HumanRightsWatch.org

Castes�and�marriage�on�the�Indian�Subcontinent

The Caste System

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudras

Dalits

The�Caste�System

Most Dalits[a type of “outcast” or “untouchable”] in India continue to live in extreme poverty, without land or opportunities for better employment or education. With the exception of a minority who have benefitted from India's policy of quotas in education and government jobs, Dalits are restricted to tasks as removers of human waste and dead animals, leather workers, street sweepers, and shoe makers. Dalit children make up the majority of children sold into slavery to pay off debts to upper-caste creditors.

The�Life�of�an�“Outcast”�in�India

QUESTIONS�ON�GEOGRAPHY:

QUESTIONS�ON�LANGUAGE:

1. Using your prior knowledge, predict why English is an important language in South Asia.

2. According to the Library of Congress Report, an estimated ______ languages are spoken in India, andthe Indian Government claims that there are more than _____ dialects.

> Predict how language diversity would impact political unity.

> Predict one other challenge language diversity would present in India today.

1. Using the charts, compare the sizes of India and the USA. India is roughly _____ the size of the USA.

2. The annual rainfall in Seattle, WA is a strong 102 cm/year. What is the average rainfall in Mumbai, India?

2a. Does this positively or negatively impact Mumbai's economy? Why?

2b. In which months does Mumbai get the majority of its rainfall? Why?

3. The average rainfall in Phoenix, AZ is a low 19 cm/year. What is the average rainfall in the Rajasthan province of India?

3a. Does this positively or negatively impact Rajasthan's economy? Why?

4. What part of India has the best climate? Why?

PrimaryLanguage?

Do they also speak English?

Yes�������No Yes�������No Yes�������No Yes�������No Yes�������No Yes�������No

India Pakistan Nepal Bangladesh Bhutan Sri Lanka

1. Predict two challenges that might arise due to the region's religious make-up.

2. Look at the map and predict ONE specific region that would be most vulnerable to violent religious conflict. Where is the region? Why most vulnerable? What countries would be involved?

3. Which country’s political unity would be most fragile? Why?

QUESTIONS�ON�RELIGION:

1. Draw a political cartoon about thedaily life of a Dalit at right. Include:

- What kind of jobs do theyoften perform?

- Where do they live?

2. What might happen if a high-caste boy and a low-caste girl wanted to get married? Why?

3. How might these divisions affect a nationalist [independence] movement in the region? Why

QUESTIONS�ON�THE�CASTE�SYSTEM:

India Pakistan Nepal Bangladesh Bhutan Sri Lanka

Majority Religion

% ofPopulation