Transcript Slide 1

Jewel in the Crown - India
Today, what is India?
(source 2007 CIA World Factbook)
Socially
• About 1.1 billion people…second
most populous country in the
world
• 80% Hindu
• 15 official languages
• 22% live below poverty line
• GDP per capita (PPP) is $3,700
• 40% of people below the age of 15
• Literacy Rate is nearly 60%
(…significant difference between
sexes)
• Total Fertility Rate - 2.73
• Life Expectancy – 59 years
Percentage
Population Growth
(1991 – 2001)
Dark areas > 30%
Light areas < 10%
Canada’s
Population Growth
Rate is 0.9% …due
mostly to
immigration
2001 Literacy Rate
in India
Dark areas > 80%
Light areas < 55%
Canada’s Literacy
Rate is 99%
Jewel in the Crown - India
What is India?
Physical Geography
• India is the 7th largest country in
the world…about 1/3 of USA.
• It is geographically diverse. In
the north, there are the
Himalayan Mountains. In the
northwest, the Thar Desert.
Central and Southern India is the
Deccan Plateau surrounded by
the Western Ghat and Eastern
Ghat mountain ranges. Plains
occur along the coastline.
• Climatically, it ranges from
tropical monsoon in the south to
temperate in the north.
Jewel in the Crown - India
What is India?
Human Geography
• Political divisions – 28 states, six
union territories and the capital region
of New Delhi. States have there own
elected governments, while territories
are managed by an appointed
administrator.
• There are also disputed states such
as the Kashmir and Arunachal
Pradesh
• There are significant concentrations
of people in the north and the south
• India has world’s fourth-largest
reserves of coal in the world
Population Density of
India
(2001 - persons per km2)
Dark areas > 1000 / km2
Light areas < 100 / km2
Kingston’s Population
Density is
77 persons / km2
Jewel in the Crown - India
What is India?
Economically - Poverty
• 40% of the world's poor live in India,
and 22% of India’s population lives
below the poverty line.
• More than one third of the poor live on
less than a dollar a day, and 80% live
on less than two dollars a day.
• In absolute numbers, between 350-400
million people live below the poverty
line – 75% live in rural areas.
Jewel in the Crown - India
• Percent of population
living below the
poverty line by state in
India (1999-2000)
• States with lighter
colours have a greater
percentage of people
living below the
poverty line.
• Note: Poverty Line is
the minimum level of
income needed to
achieve an “adequate”
standard of living.
Jewel in the Crown - India
• It is incorrect to suggest all of India’s
efforts to reduce poverty and improve
the standard of living have failed.
• India's economy has grown at an
average annual rate of 6.8 percent since
1994.
• India's recent economic growth is in the
service industry. NOTE: 60% of jobs are
agricultural-based.
• The middle class (…virtually non-
existent in 1947 when India became an
independent nation) is a large part of
the India economy. The middle class
grows by 40 million people annually.
The issues is DISTRIBUTION OF
WEALTH…it has been uneven.
Jewel in the Crown – India
Poverty Rates in India since 1977
Year
Poverty Rate (%)
77-78
51.3
83
45.7
87-88
39.1
93-94
37.3
2000
26.1
04-05
22.2
Jewel in the Crown - India
• The main causes of poverty are (1)
illiteracy, (2) population growth rate
exceeding the economic growth rate for
the better part of the past 50 years, (3)
protectionist economic policies pursued
since 1947 to 1991 preventing foreign
investment, (4) reliance on farming
(…adds only 22% to India’s GDP), (5)
antiquated farming methods, (6) ruralurban divide and (7) high unemployment.
• In the present economic model, poverty
levels should be reduced in the next 50
years. The following factors should
contribute to the reductions: (1) trickledown effect, (2) larger middle class, (3)
improved education and training, (4)
empowerment of women, (5)
empowerment of power (e.g., reserved
seats in government, government jobs).
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…A very fast tour
• First urban settlements were
established around 2,500
BCE. These settings were
more sophisticated (e.g.,
central planning, trade) than
Mesopotamia and Egypt in
the same period.
• Settlements occurred across
much of India.
• This civilization disappeared
around 1,500 BCE with a
prolonged dry period and the
expansion of the Thar Desert.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• A four-tier caste system
was introduced during the
Epic Age (between 1,000
and 600 BCE).
• Religion was dominated
by sacrifices and rituals.
Over time, religion
became Hinduism…and
that became a way of life.
• Buddhism evolved out of
Hinduism, and then,
disappeared.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• Next, India experienced a
period of Invasions. Invaders
included Greeks, Persians,
Christians, Muslims.
• Buddhism re-emerged
• Many Hindu gods also
emerged such as Vishnu the
Preserver. During times of evil,
Vishnu appears in our reality to
save humans.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• About 320 AD, the Gupta Era arose.
This is India’s First Classic Age or
Golden Age. There is a great
accumulation of knowledge, skill and
wealth.
• The Gupta’s succeeded in uniting…by
force and coercion…much of the India
plateau.
• The Gupta reign lasted 200 years. After
the breakup, there was a lengthy period
of political uncertainty. Many small
kingdoms arose, but the system lacked
a strong central focus.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• Around 1,000 AD, the Turks
invaded and conquered much
of northwest India.
• The last Turk invader of this
period, Muhammed of Ghur,
left a former slave in charge.
The slave asserted his
independence and the
independence of India. This is
the Slave Dynasty. Delhi was
made the capital.
• During this period, Ghingis
Khan and the Monguls
invaded. India united to
defended itself.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• The Second Classic Age began
around 1525 AD. It is called the
Mughal Period. Literature,
technology, culture, music,
mathematics, astronomy and
medicine flourished.
• This period also introduced the
philosophy of Sulh-i-kul – peace
to all.
• The leaders were generally
Afghans, Turks or Iranians, but
they were Indians first.
Jewel in the Crown - India
History…The tour continues
• This period also introduced
a system of Indian justice
where all Indians were
considered equals in law.
• About 1600 AD, the East
Indian Company became
established…and British
colonialism began.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Colonialism – A British Colony
Goods, Resources and Profits
•
In the 17th Century, trade…and political
relationships (i.e., rule)…were controlled
by English merchants of the East India
Company.
•
Control was often gained by bloody
conflict, annexation, outlawing customs
(e.g., Sati – widow burning), political
manipulation, taxation and armed
threats.
•
For a period of about 200 years, the East
India Company controlled much of India.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Colonialism…2
Rebellion of 1857-1858 (Indian Mutiny)
•
Indian aristocracy feared loss of caste
system and their power base.
•
Other Indians feared forced-Christianity.
•
British hiring practices were discriminatory.
Disposed Indian nobility…and their
unemployed armies…wanted revenge.
•
The wealth of India was being transferred to
England, while the common Indian was
heavily taxed.
•
Indian peasants were forced from their land.
•
The Indian sepoys (trained soldiers from the
East India Company army) became
disenchanted by British authority.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Colonialism…3
•
The most documented event was
the Siege of Cawnpore.
•
Indians surrounded a British
settlement. The British negotiated
a settlement, but as they moved to
retreat, they were attacked.
•
All the British occupants…men,
women and children…were shot,
hanged or hacked to death.
Cawnpore became the rallying cry
for British army.
•
By 1858, India was ruled directly
by the British crown.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Colonialism – A British Colony
Why colonize India?
•
Industrial Revolution - Raw materials
were needed to fuel the machines of
industrialization. As well, the
colonies represented potential
markets for the finished products
•
Nationalism – Increased status as a
world power
•
“White Man’s Burden” – Duty of
whites as supreme beings to enhance
and improve the lives of the inferior
beings.
•
Religion – Spread the faith of the
superior religion.
•
Revenge – Cawnpore…
Jewel in the Crown - India
British Rule
•
The British partitioned India into
two provinces, and sought to
develop a class of educated elites
to manage affairs.
•
The battle for rights and
nonacceptance of foreign
occupation continued.
•
In 1919, the Rowlatt Act was
introduced. It gave the British
authorities emergency powers to
put down unrest and imprison
suspected terrorists.
•
In the Punjab, two Indian leaders
were arrested.
Jewel in the Crown - India
British Rule…2
•
The Amristar Massacre occurred 13 April 1919.
•
For three days, crowds of several thousand
Indians…men, women and boys…protested the
imprisonment of their leaders. The protests were
sometimes violent.
•
A large group gathered in a walled-area with only
five exits. Most of the exits were locked.
•
Without warning or provocation, British troops
under the command of Brigadier-General
Reginald Dyer opened fire. In 10 minutes, 1600
rounds of ammunition were fired. Between 380
and 1000 people were killed.
•
Dyer reported he had “…confronted a
revolutionary army…” and he had “…launched a
moral lesson to the Punjab.” He later confessed
that he did not take any steps to tend to the
wounded after the firing stating, "It was not my
job. Hospitals were open and they could have
gone there."
Jewel in the Crown - India
British Rule…3
•
The massacre galvanized the desire for freedom
from British rule, created a fiercely independent
Punjab district and paved the way for Mahatma
Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement…a
nationwide, non-violent, civil disobedience
movement.
•
In 1920, Gandhi organized a nation-wide strike
and boycott of government services. Gandhi
wanted protestors to seek to be arrested, but if
attacked by police, to take the blows and not
strike back.
•
Although the idea was rejected by some political
leaders, most Indians participated.
•
Gandhi, Nehru, Prasad and other leaders were
arrested. The army took over delivery of essential
services. Violence flared, secular fighting
occurred and hundreds of people were killed.
•
Gandhi called off the strike and personally
apologized for the violence.
Jewel in the Crown - India
British Rule…4
•
To stop the fighting, Gandhi starts a fast. It last
21 days. Indians put down their weapons.
•
For his efforts, Gandhi is jailed for two years.
•
In 1927, the British began a review of
constitutional reform for India, but the committee
did not include any Indian leaders. The Indian
National Congress rejected the “Simon
Commission” and, in many regions, the
committee was met with people waving black
flags.
•
In 1930, Gandhi marched 400 kilometres to the
coast to protest unfair taxation of salt.
•
The Committee recommended a form of
provincial representative government ONCE the
unrest between Hindu and Muslim ceased. In
1935, the Government of India Act established the
provincial governments. In the first elections, the
National Congress won most seats.
Jewel in the Crown - India
British Rule…5
•
In 1939, the British Viceroy declared India’s
entrance into WWII without consulting the
provincial governments.
•
In protest, the Indian National Congress
withdraws from the government.
•
In 1940, the Muslim League adopts the Lahore
Resolution. It calls for division of India into two
separate states: Muslim and Hindu. It is also
called the Pakistan Resolution or the Two Nation
Theory.
•
In 1942, Quit India began. Gandhi urged Indians
to act as an independent people and not follow
British orders. Fearing a Japanese invasion, the
British jailed Gandhi. Leaderless, the campaign,
once again, turned violent.
•
In 1946, Indian sailors in Bombay mutinied. The
Royal Navy Mutiny quickly spread to other ports
and other parts of the armed forces.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Independence
On 3 June 1947, Governor-General of
India Viscount Lord Louis
Mountbatten announced the
partitioning of the British Indian
Empire into a secular India and a
Muslim Pakistan.
•
At midnight, on 15 August 1947,
India became an independent
nation.
•
Violent clashed between Hindus,
Muslims and Sikhs over partition.
•
In 1948, Gandhi is assassinated by
a fellow Hindu
•
In 1952, India held its first general
elections, with a voter turnout
exceeding 62% It became the
world’s largest democracy.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Post-Independence
•
In 1947, India’s population was 400 million
people...and the literacy rate was about
10%.
•
India was not one country, but regions of
uniqueness. For example, India has the
largest number of political parties of any
democracy.
•
At independence, India had 19
universities. Today, there are 219
universities and affiliated colleges. Still,
less than 3% of the population (24 million)
have an academic education.
•
India has nuclear and satellite technology.
•
Less than 50% of houses have electricity
and only 23% have sanitation.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Post-Independence…2
•
India is the second largest English
speaking country in the world.
•
About 5% of the population (40 million)
have an annual income greater than $30 K
…a figure close to the USA.
•
The India middle class numbers over 180
million.
•
There are over 69 million cellular phone
users.
•
The manufacturing sector is growing
rapidly.
•
India is a Tier 2 Watch due to limited
actions against child labour, forced labour
and sexual exploitation.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Green Revolution
• The Indian government was forced
to reform its agricultural policy in
the late 1960s when an imbalance in
food imports was exacerbated by
two years of drought in 1965 and
1966.
• The World Bank, Rockefeller
Foundation, and U.S. Agency for
International Development provided
high-yield rice and wheat "miracle
seeds."
• These seeds, combined with the
Indian government's assistance for
modern farm machinery, price
incentives and a more efficient food
distribution system, resulted in what
came to be known as the Green
Revolution.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Green Revolution ...2
• The new seeds and fertilizers worked. India's
food production doubled between 1965 and
1984.
• Increased production eliminated the country's
dependence on food grain imports.
• Farmer use of chemical fertilizers jumped from
1.1 million tons to more than 12.5 million tons
in the first decade of the Green Revolution. As
well, irrigated land grew from 74 million acres
in 1965-66 to 111 million acres in 1988-89.
• …and then…the Green Revolution slowed in
the 1990s. Chemical fertilizers rendered soil
infertile, crop yields dropped to almost zero,
and farmers who had once grew as many as 30
different crops in their fields but were now
dependent upon one could not pay their debts.
Three years of drought beginning in 2001
further fueled the crisis.
Jewel in the Crown - India
Bhopal Disaster
• On 3 December 1984, Union Carbide
allowed the accidental release of 40 tonnes
of methyl isocyanate gas…an extremely
toxic substance.
• The threshold limit is 0.02 ppm. Note: The
threshold limit for lead is 5 ppm.
• The plant was located in a poor residential
area of Bhopal.
• Methyl icocyanate is heavier than air. It
travels along the ground. The chemical was
used in pesticide production. It is a cheap
alternative to more expensive reactants.
• The plant was losing money. Cost cutting
measures were introduced (e.g., instrument
readings were cut by 50%).
Jewel in the Crown - India
Bhopal Disaster…2
• No safety or emergency plans were developed.
• Over 500,000 people were exposed.
• Union Carbide claimed only 3,800 people died
due to the leak. As well, 40 people were
permanently injured and 2,800 have partial
disabilities.
• The International Campaign for Justice in
Bhopal suggests 20,000 people have died and
over 490,000 have suffered disabilities (22,000
permanent injuries).
• It is suspected that hydrogen cyanide was also
released in the accident.
• In 2004, the site is still contaminated.
Jewel in the Crown - India
• The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of
life expectancy, literacy, education, and standard of living for
countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring wellbeing, especially child welfare. It is used to determine and
indicate whether a country is a developed, developing, or
underdeveloped country and also to measure the impact of
economic policies on quality of life. The index provides a measure
between 0 – 1.
• On the HDI scale, India’s 2004 ranking is 0.611. That is a medium
score. It is higher than nearby Bangladesh but less than China.