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==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Indian subcontinent.JPG|thumb|left|While South Asia had never been a coherent [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] region, it has a distinct geographical identity]]
[[File:Indian subcontinent.JPG|thumb|While South Asia had never been a coherent [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] region, it has a distinct geographical identity]]
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[[Image:Himalaya-formation.gif|thumb|upright|right|The Indian subcontinent, and the [[Himalayas]] on the northeast, is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate with the [[Eurasian Plate]] through [[plate tectonics|tectonic activity]] between 20 and 50 million years ago.]]


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===Boundary===
While South Asia had never been a coherent [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] region, it has a distinct geographical identity.<ref>Saul Bernard Cohen, ''Geopolitics of the world system'', pages 304, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003, ISBN 0-8476-9907-2</ref> The boundaries of South Asia vary based on how the region is defined. South Asia's northern, eastern, and western boundaries vary based on definitions used, while the [[Indian Ocean]] is the southern periphery. Most of this region rests on the [[Indian Plate]] and is isolated from the rest of Asia by mountain barriers.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/Asia#Columbia_Encyclopedia_d_ans "Asia" > Geology and Geography]. ''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'', 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2003: "Asia can be divided into six regions, each possessing distinctive physical, cultural, economic, and political characteristics... South Asia (Afghanistan and the nations of the Indian subcontinent) is isolated from the rest of Asia by great mountain barriers."</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/38479/Asia "Asia" > Geologic history - Tectonic framework]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2009: "The paleotectonic evolution of Asia terminated some 50 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Eurasia. Asia’s subsequent neotectonic development has largely disrupted the continent’s preexisting fabric. The first-order neotectonic units of Asia are Stable Asia, the Arabian and Indian cratons, the Alpide plate boundary zone (along which the Arabian and Indian platforms have collided with the Eurasian continental plate), and the island arcs and marginal basins."</ref>
While South Asia had never been a coherent [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] region, it has a distinct geographical identity.<ref>Saul Bernard Cohen, ''Geopolitics of the world system'', pages 304, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003, ISBN 0-8476-9907-2</ref> The boundaries of South Asia vary based on how the region is defined. South Asia's northern, eastern, and western boundaries vary based on definitions used, while the [[Indian Ocean]] is the southern periphery. Most of this region rests on the [[Indian Plate]] and is isolated from the rest of Asia by mountain barriers.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/Asia#Columbia_Encyclopedia_d_ans "Asia" > Geology and Geography]. ''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'', 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2003: "Asia can be divided into six regions, each possessing distinctive physical, cultural, economic, and political characteristics... South Asia (Afghanistan and the nations of the Indian subcontinent) is isolated from the rest of Asia by great mountain barriers."</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/38479/Asia "Asia" > Geologic history - Tectonic framework]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2009: "The paleotectonic evolution of Asia terminated some 50 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Eurasia. Asia’s subsequent neotectonic development has largely disrupted the continent’s preexisting fabric. The first-order neotectonic units of Asia are Stable Asia, the Arabian and Indian cratons, the Alpide plate boundary zone (along which the Arabian and Indian platforms have collided with the Eurasian continental plate), and the island arcs and marginal basins."</ref>


Much of the region consists of a [[peninsula]] in south-central Asia, rather resembling a diamond which is delineated by the Himalayas on the north, the [[Hindu Kush]] in the west, and the [[Chin Hills|Arakanese]] in the east,<ref>Chapman, Graham P. & Baker, Kathleen M., eds. ''The changing geography of Asia''. (ISBN 0-203-03862-2) New York: Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002; p. 10: "This greater India is well defined in terms of topography; it is the Indian sub-continent, hemmed in by the Himalayas on the north, the Hindu Khush in the west and the Arakanese in the east."</ref> and which extends southward into the Indian Ocean with the [[Arabian Sea]] to the southwest and the [[Bay of Bengal]] to the southeast.<ref name=McLeod>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Y8Y3MH3dj6MC&pg=PA1&dq=indian+subcontinent+asia+continent&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a |title=The history of India - By John McLeod |publisher=Books.google.com |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref><ref name=Oxford>"Indian subcontinent". ''[[Oxford Dictionary of English|New Oxford Dictionary of English]]'' (ISBN 0-19-860441-6) New York: Oxford University Press, 2001; p. 929: "the part of Asia south of the Himalayas which forms a peninsula extending into the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Historically forming the whole territory of greater India, the region is now divided between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh."</ref> The tip of the Indian Peninsula had the highest quality pearls.<ref>Xinru, Liu, ''"The Silk Road in World History"'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), 40.</ref>
Much of the region consists of a [[peninsula]] in south-central Asia, rather resembling a diamond which is delineated by the Himalayas on the north, the [[Hindu Kush]] in the west, and the [[Chin Hills|Arakanese]] in the east,<ref>Chapman, Graham P. & Baker, Kathleen M., eds. ''The changing geography of Asia''. (ISBN 0-203-03862-2) New York: Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002; p. 10: "This greater India is well defined in terms of topography; it is the Indian sub-continent, hemmed in by the Himalayas on the north, the Hindu Khush in the west and the Arakanese in the east."</ref> and which extends southward into the Indian Ocean with the [[Arabian Sea]] to the southwest and the [[Bay of Bengal]] to the southeast.<ref name=Oxford>"Indian subcontinent". ''[[Oxford Dictionary of English|New Oxford Dictionary of English]]'' (ISBN 0-19-860441-6) New York: Oxford University Press, 2001; p. 929: "the part of Asia south of the Himalayas which forms a peninsula extending into the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Historically forming the whole territory of greater India, the region is now divided between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh."</ref><ref name=McLeod>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Y8Y3MH3dj6MC&pg=PA1&dq=indian+subcontinent+asia+continent&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a |title=The history of India - By John McLeod |publisher=Books.google.com |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> The tip of the Indian Peninsula had the highest quality pearls.<ref>Xinru, Liu, ''"The Silk Road in World History"'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), 40.</ref>


Per the UN's definition the wider subregion's northern frontier is the [[Himalayas]] and southerly [[post-Soviet states]] of [[Central Asia]] ([[Tajikistan]], [[Uzbekistan]], and [[Turkmenistan]], bordering northern [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iran]]), its western boundary is the westerly border of Iran (with [[Azerbaijan]], [[Armenia]], [[Turkey]], and [[Iraq]]), and its eastern boundary is the westerly border of [[Burma]] (with India and Bangladesh).
⚫
Most of this region is a [[subcontinent]] resting on the [[Indian Plate]] (the northerly portion of the [[Indo-Australian Plate]]) separated from the rest of the [[Eurasian Plate]]. It was once a small [[continent]] before colliding with the [[Eurasian Plate]] about 50-55 million years ago and giving birth to the [[Himalayan range]] and the [[Tibetan plateau]]. It is the [[peninsula]]r region south of the [[Himalaya]]s and [[Kunlun Mountains|Kunlun]] mountain ranges and east of the [[Indus River]] and the [[Iranian Plateau]], extending southward into the Indian Ocean between the [[Arabian Sea]] (to the southwest) and the [[Bay of Bengal]] (to the southeast).


===Indian plate===
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The region is home to a variety of geographical features, such as [[glacier]]s, [[rainforest]]s, [[valley]]s, [[desert]]s, and [[grassland]]s that are typical of much larger continents. It is surrounded by three water bodies — the [[Bay of Bengal]], the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Arabian Sea]]. The climate of this vast region varies considerably from area to area from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The variety is influenced by not only the altitude, but also by factors such as proximity to the sea coast and the seasonal impact of the [[monsoon]]s.<ref>Weiss, Anita M. & Mughal, Muhammad Aurang Zeb. (2012). [http://dro.dur.ac.uk/10909/2/10909P.pdf Pakistan]. In Kotzé, Louis & Morse, Stephen (eds), ''Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability'', Vol. 9. Great Barrington, Mass.: Berkshire, pp. 236-240.</ref> Southern parts are mostly hot in summers and receive rain during monsoon period(s). The northern belt of [[Indo-Gangetic plain]]s also is hot in summer, but cooler in winter. The mountainous north is colder and receives snowfall at higher altitudes of Himalyan ranges.
⚫
[[Image:Himalaya-formation.gif|thumb|upright|right|The Indian subcontinent, and the [[Himalayas]] on the northeast, is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate with the [[Eurasian Plate]] through [[plate tectonics|tectonic activity]] between 20 and 50 million years ago.]]
{{main|Indian plate}}


⚫
Most of this region is a [[subcontinent]] resting on the [[Indian Plate]] (the northerly portion of the [[Indo-Australian Plate]]) separated from the rest of the [[Eurasian Plate]]. The Indian Plate includes most of South Asia, forming a land mass which extends from the [[Himalayas]] into a portion of the basin under the [[Indian Ocean]], including parts of [[Southwest China|South China]] and Eastern [[Indonesia]], as well as [[Kuen Lun]] and [[Karakoram]] ranges,<ref>Sinvhal, ''Understanding Earthquake Disasters'', page 52, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2010, ISBN 978-0-07-014456-9</ref><ref>Harsh K. Gupta, ''Disaster management'', page 85, Universities Press, 2003, ISBN 978-81-7371-456-6</ref><ref>James R. Heirtzler, ''Indian ocean geology and biostratigraphy'', page American Geophysical Union, 1977, ISBN 978-0-87590-208-1</ref> and extending up to but not including [[Ladakh]], [[Kohistan District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa|Kohistan]], the [[Hindu Kush]] range and [[Balochistan]].<ref>M. Asif Khan, ''Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis and the Western Himalaya'', page 375, Geological Society of London, 2000, ISBN 978-1-86239-061-4</ref><ref>Srikrishna Prapnnachari, ''Concepts in Frame Design'', page 152, Srikrishna Prapnnachari, ISBN 978-99929-52-21-4</ref><ref>A. M. Celâl Şengör, ''Tectonic evolution of the Tethyan Region'', Springer, 1989, ISBN 978-0-7923-0067-0</ref> It may be noted that [[Geophysics|geophysically]] the [[Yarlung Tsangpo River]] river in Tibet is situated at the outside of the border of the Subcontinental structure, while the [[Pamir Mountains]] in [[Tajikistan]] are situated inside that border.<ref>Valentin Semenovich Burtman & Peter Hale Molnar, ''Geological and Geophysical Evidence for Deep Subduction of Continental Crust Beneath the Pamir'', pages 10, Geological Society of America, 1993, ISBN 0-8137-2281-0</ref>
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{{See also|Geography of India|Geography of Pakistan|Geography of Bangladesh|Geography of Bhutan|Geography of Sri Lanka|Geography of Nepal|Geography of the Maldives}}


⚫
It was once a small [[continent]] before colliding with the [[Eurasian Plate]] about 50-55 million years ago and giving birth to the [[Himalayan range]] and the [[Tibetan plateau]]. It is the [[peninsula]]r region south of the [[Himalaya]]s and [[Kuen Lun]] mountain ranges and east of the [[Indus River]] and the [[Iranian Plateau]], extending southward into the Indian Ocean between the [[Arabian Sea]] (to the southwest) and the [[Bay of Bengal]] (to the southeast).
⚫
===Geology===

⚫
The Indian Plate includes most of South Asia, forming a land mass which extends from the [[Himalayas]] into a portion of the basin under the [[Indian Ocean]], including parts of [[Southwest China|South China]] and Eastern [[Indonesia]], as well as [[Kuen Lun]] and [[Karakoram]] ranges,<ref>Sinvhal, ''Understanding Earthquake Disasters'', page 52, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2010, ISBN 978-0-07-014456-9</ref><ref>Harsh K. Gupta, ''Disaster management'', page 85, Universities Press, 2003, ISBN 978-81-7371-456-6</ref><ref>James R. Heirtzler, ''Indian ocean geology and biostratigraphy'', page American Geophysical Union, 1977, ISBN 978-0-87590-208-1</ref> and extending up to but not including [[Ladakh]], [[Kohistan District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa|Kohistan]], the [[Hindu Kush]] range and [[Balochistan]].<ref>M. Asif Khan, ''Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis and the Western Himalaya'', page 375, Geological Society of London, 2000, ISBN 978-1-86239-061-4</ref><ref>Srikrishna Prapnnachari, ''Concepts in Frame Design'', page 152, Srikrishna Prapnnachari, ISBN 978-99929-52-21-4</ref><ref>A. M. Celâl Şengör, ''Tectonic evolution of the Tethyan Region'', Springer, 1989, ISBN 978-0-7923-0067-0</ref> It may be noted that [[Geophysics|geophysically]] the [[Yarlung Tsangpo River]] river in Tibet is situated at the outside of the border of the Subcontinental structure, while the [[Pamir Mountains]] in [[Tajikistan]] are situated inside that border.<ref>Valentin Semenovich Burtman & Peter Hale Molnar, ''Geological and Geophysical Evidence for Deep Subduction of Continental Crust Beneath the Pamir'', pages 10, Geological Society of America, 1993, ISBN 0-8137-2281-0</ref>
===Features===
[[File:Natural vegetation South Asia.png|thumb|250px|left|Natural vegetation zones of South Asia, loosely based on a [[Grolier]] map<ref>[http://go-passport.grolier.com/map?id=mtlr012&pid=go Asian Vegetation Zones], Grolier Online, Scholastic Inc.</ref>]]

⚫
The region is home to a variety of geographical features, such as [[glacier]]s, [[rainforest]]s, [[valley]]s, [[desert]]s, and [[grassland]]s that are typical of much larger continents. It is surrounded by three water bodies — the [[Bay of Bengal]], the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Arabian Sea]]. The climate of this vast region varies considerably from area to area from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The variety is influenced by not only the altitude, but also by factors such as proximity to the sea coast and the seasonal impact of the [[monsoon]]s.<ref>Weiss, Anita M. & Mughal, Muhammad Aurang Zeb. (2012). [http://dro.dur.ac.uk/10909/2/10909P.pdf Pakistan]. In Kotzé, Louis & Morse, Stephen (eds), ''Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability'', Vol. 9. Great Barrington, Mass.: Berkshire, pp. 236-240.</ref> Southern parts are mostly hot in summers and receive rain during monsoon period(s). The northern belt of [[Indo-Gangetic plain]]s also is hot in summer, but cooler in winter. The mountainous north is colder and receives snowfall at higher altitudes of Himalyan ranges.


===Climate===
===Climate===


As the [[Himalayas]] block the north-Asian bitter cold winds, the temperatures are considerably moderate in the plains down below. For most part, the climate of the region is called the [[Monsoon]] climate, which keeps the region humid during summer and dry during winter, and favours the cultivation of [[jute]], [[tea]], [[rice]], and various vegetables in this region.
As the [[Himalayas]] block the north-Asian bitter cold winds, the temperatures are considerably moderate in the plains down below. For most part, the climate of the region is called the [[Monsoon]] climate, which keeps the region humid during summer and dry during winter, and favours the cultivation of [[jute]], [[tea]], [[rice]], and various vegetables in this region.

South Asia is largely divided into four broad climate zones:<ref name=olive1>John E. Olive, ''The Encyclopedia of World Climatology'', page 115-117, Springer, 2005, ISBN 9781402032646</ref>
*The northern Indian edge and northern Pakistani uplands have a dry subtropical [[continental climate]]
*The far south of India and southwest Sri Lanka have a [[equatorial climate]]
*Most of the peninsula have a tropical climate with variations:
**Hot [[Subtropics|subtropical]] climate in northwest India
**Cool winter hot [[tropical climate]] in Bangladesh
**Tropical [[semi-arid climate]] in the center
*The Himalayas have an [[Alpine climate]]

Maximum relative humidity of over 80% has been recorded in [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]] and Sri Lanka, while the area adjustment to Pakistan and western India records lower than 20%-30%.<ref name=olive1/> Climate of South Asia is largely characterized by [[monsoon]]s. South Asia depends critically on monsoon rainfall.<ref>Peter D. Tyson, ''Global-Regional Linkages in the Earth System'', page 83, Springer, 2002, ISBN 9783540424031</ref> Two monsoon systems exist in the region:<ref>Peter D. Tyson, ''Global-Regional Linkages in the Earth System'', page 76, Springer, 2002, ISBN 9783540424031</ref>
*The summer monsoon: Wind blows from southwest to most of parts of the region. It accounts for 70%-90% of the annual precipitation.
*The winter monsoon: Wind blows from northeast. Dominant in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The warmest period of the year precedes the monsoon season (March to mid June). In the summer the low pressures are centered over the [[Indus-Gangetic Plain]] and high wind from the Indian Ocean blows towards the center. The monsoons are second coolest season of the year because of high humidity and cloud covering. But, at the beginning of June the jetstreams vanish above the [[Tibetan Plateau]], low pressure over the [[Indus Valley]] deepens and the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] (ITCZ) moves in. The change is violent. Moderately vigorous monsoon depressions form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall from June to September.<ref name=olive1/>

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{{further|Geography of India|Geography of Pakistan|Geography of Bangladesh|Geography of Bhutan|Geography of Sri Lanka|Geography of Nepal|Geography of the Maldives}}


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 04:17, 25 May 2014

South Asia
Location of South Asia
Countries and Territories[1] Afghanistan
 Bangladesh
 Bhutan
 India
 Maldives
   Nepal
 Pakistan
 Sri Lanka
GDP (Nominal)$1.855 trillion (2009)
GDP per capita (Nominal)$1,079 (2009)
LanguagesAssamese, Bengali, Dhivehi, Dzongkha, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Pashto, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and many others
Time zonesUTC+05:00, UTC+5:30, UTC+5:45, UTC+06:00
Capital citiesAfghanistan Kabul
BangladeshDhaka
NepalKathmandu
PakistanIslamabad
MaldivesMalé
IndiaNew Delhi
BhutanThimphu
Sri Lanka Colombo
Other major cities

South Asia or Southern Asia is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities, adjoining countries to the west and east. Topographically, it is dominated by the Indian Plate, which rises above sea level as northern parts of India south of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush. South Asia is bounded on the south by the Indian Ocean and on land (clockwise, from west) by West Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The core countries of South Asia include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, however, Afghanistan, the British Indian Ocean Territory, Myanmar, and the Tibet Autonomous Region are often included as well. South Asia is home to well over one fifth of the world's population, making it both the most populous and the most densely populated geographical region in the world.[2] The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is an economic cooperation organisation in the region which was established in 1985.[3]

Definitions

See also: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, South Asian Free Trade Area, and South Asia § Additional deviating definitions
Various definitions of South Asia, including the most deviating definition by the UN, which was solely created for "statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories."[4]

Although there's a distinct core of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire in defining the South Asia, there is much variation as to which (if any) other countries are included.[5] The current territories of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, form the core, but Nepal and Myanmar are often added.[6] The Aden Colony, British Somaliland and Singapore, though administered at various times under British Empire have not been proposed as any part of South Asia.[7] The British Raj also encompassed the 562 protected princely states that were not directly ruled by the Raj,[8] some of which joined the Union of India while some joined the Dominion of Pakistan, either way becoming integral to South Asia.[9][10]

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a contiguous block of countries, started in 1985 with seven countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — but was extended to include Afghanistan as an eighth member in 2006.[11][12] The World Bank grouping includes only the original seven members of SAARC, and leaves Afghanistan out.[13] This bloc of countries include three independent countries that were not under the British rule - Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan. The South Asia Free Trade Agreement endorsed by SAARC has been signed by the seven original members of the organisation, though it has a special provision for the Maldives.[14]

The British Indian Ocean Territory is connected to the region by a publication of Jane's for security considerations.[15]

A lack of coherent definition for South Asia has resulted in not only a lack of academic studies, but also in a lack interest for such studies.[16] The confusion exists also because of a lack of clear boundary - geographically, geopolitical, socio-culturally, economically or historically - between South Asia and other parts of Asia, especially the Middle East and Southeast Asia.[17] Identification with a South Asian identity was also found to be significantly low among respondents in a two-year survey across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.[18]

Definition by South Asian Studies programs

See also: Indology

When the Centre for South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge was established, in 1964, it was primarily responsible for promoting within the university the study of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Himalayan Kingdoms (Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim[19]), and Burma (now officially Myanmar). However, it has since extended its activities to include Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.[20]

The Centres for South Asian Studies at both the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia include Tibet along with seven members of SAARC in their research programs, but exclude the Maldives.[21][22] The South Asian Studies Program of Rutgers University and the University of California, Berkeley Centre for South Asia Studies do the same without excluding the Maldives,[23][24] while the South Asian Studies Program of Brandeis University defines the region as comprising "India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and in certain contexts Afghanistan, Burma, Maldives and Tibet".[25] The similar program of Columbia University also includes Tibet, but excludes Afghanistan and the Maldives.[26]

Indian Subcontinent

Main article: Indian subcontinent

The region was labelled variously as India (in its pre-modern sense), Greater India, Indian Subcontinent and South Asia.[27][28] "Indian Subcontinent" is a term adopted and used by the British Empire.[29] The terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are used interchangeably.[30] According to historians Sugata Bose and Ayesha Jalal, Indian Subcontinent has come to be known as South Asia "in more recent and neutral parlance."[31] Indologist Ronald B. Inden argues that the usage of the term "South Asia" is getting more widespread since it clearly distinguishes the region from East Asia.[32] Some academics hold that the term "South Asia" is in more common use in Europe and North America, rather than the terms "Subcontinent" or the "Indian Subcontinent".[33][34]

The definition of the geographical extent of the Indian subcontinent or South Asia varies. Geopolitically, it had formed the whole territory of Greater India,[35][36] and now it generally comprises the countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.[37] Prior to 1947, the three nations were historically combined and constituted British India. It almost always also includes Nepal, Bhutan, and the island country of Sri Lanka and may also include Afghanistan and the island country of Maldives.[38] According to anthropologist John R. Lukacs, "The Indian Subcontinent occupies the major landmass of South Asia."[39] while according to political science professor Tatu Vanhanen, "The seven countries of South Asia constitute geographically a compact region around the Indian Subcontinent".[40]

When the term Indian subcontinent is used to mean South Asia, the island countries of Sri Lanka and the Maldives may sometimes not be included,[41] while Tibet and Nepal may either be included[42] or excluded[43] intermittently, depending on the context. The region may also include the disputed territory of Aksai Chin, which was part of the British Indian princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, but is now administered as part of the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang.[44] According to a number of Indian scholars South Asia includes the Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal), as well as the island countries of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Mauritius.[45]

Geography

While South Asia had never been a coherent geopolitical region, it has a distinct geographical identity

Boundary

While South Asia had never been a coherent geopolitical region, it has a distinct geographical identity.[46] The boundaries of South Asia vary based on how the region is defined. South Asia's northern, eastern, and western boundaries vary based on definitions used, while the Indian Ocean is the southern periphery. Most of this region rests on the Indian Plate and is isolated from the rest of Asia by mountain barriers.[47][48]

Much of the region consists of a peninsula in south-central Asia, rather resembling a diamond which is delineated by the Himalayas on the north, the Hindu Kush in the west, and the Arakanese in the east,[49] and which extends southward into the Indian Ocean with the Arabian Sea to the southwest and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast.[37][50] The tip of the Indian Peninsula had the highest quality pearls.[51]

Per the UN's definition the wider subregion's northern frontier is the Himalayas and southerly post-Soviet states of Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, bordering northern Afghanistan and Iran), its western boundary is the westerly border of Iran (with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq), and its eastern boundary is the westerly border of Burma (with India and Bangladesh).

Indian plate

The Indian subcontinent, and the Himalayas on the northeast, is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate through tectonic activity between 20 and 50 million years ago.
Main article: Indian plate

Most of this region is a subcontinent resting on the Indian Plate (the northerly portion of the Indo-Australian Plate) separated from the rest of the Eurasian Plate. The Indian Plate includes most of South Asia, forming a land mass which extends from the Himalayas into a portion of the basin under the Indian Ocean, including parts of South China and Eastern Indonesia, as well as Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges,[52][53][54] and extending up to but not including Ladakh, Kohistan, the Hindu Kush range and Balochistan.[55][56][57] It may be noted that geophysically the Yarlung Tsangpo River river in Tibet is situated at the outside of the border of the Subcontinental structure, while the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan are situated inside that border.[58]

It was once a small continent before colliding with the Eurasian Plate about 50-55 million years ago and giving birth to the Himalayan range and the Tibetan plateau. It is the peninsular region south of the Himalayas and Kuen Lun mountain ranges and east of the Indus River and the Iranian Plateau, extending southward into the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea (to the southwest) and the Bay of Bengal (to the southeast).

Features

Natural vegetation zones of South Asia, loosely based on a Grolier map[59]

The region is home to a variety of geographical features, such as glaciers, rainforests, valleys, deserts, and grasslands that are typical of much larger continents. It is surrounded by three water bodies — the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The climate of this vast region varies considerably from area to area from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The variety is influenced by not only the altitude, but also by factors such as proximity to the sea coast and the seasonal impact of the monsoons.[60] Southern parts are mostly hot in summers and receive rain during monsoon period(s). The northern belt of Indo-Gangetic plains also is hot in summer, but cooler in winter. The mountainous north is colder and receives snowfall at higher altitudes of Himalyan ranges.

Climate

As the Himalayas block the north-Asian bitter cold winds, the temperatures are considerably moderate in the plains down below. For most part, the climate of the region is called the Monsoon climate, which keeps the region humid during summer and dry during winter, and favours the cultivation of jute, tea, rice, and various vegetables in this region.

South Asia is largely divided into four broad climate zones:[61]

Maximum relative humidity of over 80% has been recorded in Khasi and Jaintia Hills and Sri Lanka, while the area adjustment to Pakistan and western India records lower than 20%-30%.[61] Climate of South Asia is largely characterized by monsoons. South Asia depends critically on monsoon rainfall.[62] Two monsoon systems exist in the region:[63]

  • The summer monsoon: Wind blows from southwest to most of parts of the region. It accounts for 70%-90% of the annual precipitation.
  • The winter monsoon: Wind blows from northeast. Dominant in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The warmest period of the year precedes the monsoon season (March to mid June). In the summer the low pressures are centered over the Indus-Gangetic Plain and high wind from the Indian Ocean blows towards the center. The monsoons are second coolest season of the year because of high humidity and cloud covering. But, at the beginning of June the jetstreams vanish above the Tibetan Plateau, low pressure over the Indus Valley deepens and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moves in. The change is violent. Moderately vigorous monsoon depressions form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall from June to September.[61]

Further information: Geography of India, Geography of Pakistan, Geography of Bangladesh, Geography of Bhutan, Geography of Sri Lanka, Geography of Nepal, and Geography of the Maldives

History

Further information: History of South Asia
See also: History of India

The history of core South Asia begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens, as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago.[64] The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of South Asia from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, was the first major civilization in South Asia.[65] A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE.[66]

This Bronze Age civilisation collapsed before the end of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Iron Age Vedic Civilisation, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plain and which witnessed the rise of major polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born in the 6th or 5th century BCE and propagated their Shramanic philosophies.

Most of South Asia was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. Various parts of India ruled by numerous Middle kingdoms for the next 1,500 years, among which the Gupta Empire stands out. Southern India saw the rule of the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pallavas, and Pandyas. This period, witnessing a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, is known as the classical or "Golden Age of India". During this period, aspects of Indian civilisation, administration, culture, and religion (Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much of Asia, while kingdoms in southern India had maritime business links with the Roman Empire from around 77 CE.

Muslim rule in core South Asia began in 8th century CE when the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab in modern day Pakistan,[67] setting the stage for several successive invasions from Central Asia between the 10th and 15th centuries CE, leading to the formation of Muslim empires in South Asia such as the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Mughal rule came from Central Asia to cover most of the northern parts of South Asia. Mughal rulers introduced Central Asian art and architecture to India. In addition to the Mughals and various Rajput kingdoms, several independent Hindu states, such as the Vijayanagara Empire, the Maratha Empire, Eastern Ganga Empire and the Ahom Kingdom, flourished contemporaneously in southern, western, eastern and northeastern India respectively. The Mughal Empire suffered a gradual decline in the early 18th century, leaving a power vacuum that was exploited by local rulers such as the Sikhs and Marathas and later used by the British East India Company to gain ascendancy over most of South Asia.[citation needed][68]

Beginning in the mid-18th century and over the next century, large areas of India were annexed by the British East India Company. Dissatisfaction with Company rule led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, after which the British provinces of India were directly administered by the British Crown and witnessed a period of both rapid development of infrastructure and economic decline. During the first half of the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and later joined by the Muslim League. India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, after the British provinces were partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan and the princely states all acceded to one of the new states.

Territory and region data

2009 referenced population figures except where noted.

Core countries

With the core seven countries, the area covers about 4.48 million km² (1.7 million mi²), which is 10% of the Asian continent or 2.4% of the world's land surface area.[69][70][71] They account for about 34% of Asia's population (or over 16.5% of the world's population) and are home to a vast array of peoples.[69][70][71]

Country Area
(km²) 		Population
(2009–2012) 		Density
(per km²) 		Nominal GDP
(2009 / 2012) 		Nominal GDP
per capita
(2011) 		Capital Currency Government Official languages Coat of arms
 Bangladesh 147,570 152,518,015[72] 899 $353.72 billion $1,344 Dhaka Taka Unitary parliamentary democracy Bangla Coat of arms of Bangladesh
 Bhutan 38,394 697,000[72] 18 $1.488 billion $2,121 Thimphu Ngultrum
Indian rupee 		Constitutional monarchy Dzongkha Emblem of Bhutan
 India 3,287,240 1,210,193,422[73] 382[73] $1.247 trillion[74] $1,592 New Delhi Indian rupee Parliamentary democracy federal republic Hindi Emblem of India
 Maldives 298 396,334[72] 1,330 $1.944 billion $5,973 Malé Rufiyaa Republic Dhivehi Coat of arms of Maldives
   Nepal 147,181 26,620,080[72] 200 $19.921 billion $743 Kathmandu Nepalese rupee Democratic republic Nepali Coat of arms of Nepal
 Pakistan 796,095 180,440,000[72] 225 $230.525 billion $1,410 Islamabad Pakistani rupee Parliamentary democracy Federal republic Urdu Coat of arms of Pakistan
 Sri Lanka 65,610 20,277,597[72] 319 $64.914 billion $3,139 Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Sri Lankan rupee Democratic socialist republic
Coat of arms of Sri Lanka

Countries and territories from extended definitions

country or region Area
(km²) 		Population
(2009) 		density
(per km²) 		GDP(nominal)
(2009) 		GDP per capita
(2011) 		Capital Currency Government Official languages Coat of Arms
 Afghanistan 652,230 29,150,000[75] 52 $34.55 billion $621 Kabul Afghani Islamic republic
Emblem of Afghanistan
 British Indian Ocean Territory 60 3,500 59 — — Diego Garcia US Dollar British Overseas Territory English File:Coat of arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory (Shield).svg
 Burma 676,578 48,137,141 71 $53.140 billion $854 Naypyidaw Myanma kyat Constitutional republic Burmese
 China - Tibet Autonomous Region 1,228,400 2,740,000 2 $9.6 billion $2,558 Lhasa Chinese yuan Autonomous region of China Tibetan, Mandarin Chinese

Demographics

Total population of South Asia is about 1.70 billion.[76]

Ethnic groups

Main article: South Asian ethnic groups
Ethno-linguistic families of South Asia.

South Asia, which consists of the nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, is ethnically diverse, with more than 2,000 ethnic entities with populations ranging from hundreds of millions to small tribal groups. South Asia has been invaded and settled by many ethnic groups over the centuries - including various Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, Austroasiatic and Iranian groups - and amalgamation of Dravidian, Indo-Aryan and native societies has produced composite cultures with many common traditions and beliefs. But, the traditions of different ethnic groups in South Asia have diverged throughout earlier times, sometimes giving rise to strong local traditions such as the distinct South Indian culture.

Other ethnic groups, successively streaming in later mainly from Central Asia e.g. Sakas, Kushans, Huns etc. influenced pre-existing South Asian cultures. Among the last of these new arrivals were the Arabs followed by the Turks, the Pashtuns and the Moghuls. However, Arab influence remained relatively limited in comparison to that of the Turks, Pashtuns and Moghuls, who brought in much cultural influence and contributed to the birth of Urdu, a syncretic language of combined Indo-Persian heritage,[77][78] which is widely spoken today. Ethnic Englishmen and other Britons are now practically absent after their two centuries long colonial presence, although they have left an imprint of western culture in the elite society.

Languages

See also: Languages of South Asia

The largest spoken language in this region is Hindi, its speakers numbering almost 422 million,[79] the second largest spoken language is Bengali, with about 210 million speakers.[80] Urdu is also a major language spoken in the subcontinent, especially in Pakistan, and is similar linguistically to Hindi; Hindi and Urdu together make up Hindustānī. Other languages of this region fall into a few major linguistic groups: the Dravidian languages:Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannadam and the Indo-Aryan languages, a sub-branch of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages.

The other great sub-branch of Indo-Iranian, the Iranian languages, also have significant minority representation in South Asia, with Pashto and Balochi being widely spoken along the northwestern fringes of the region, in modern-day Pakistan. Many Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups, who are speakers of their language-group, are found in northeast India, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Dzongkha a member of this linguistic group, is the national language of Bhutan. There are as many as 24 Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Bhutan. Other small groups, speaking Austroasiatic languages, are also present in South Asia. English is another language which dominates South Asia, especially as a medium of advanced education and government administration.

Most of South Asia writes using various abugidas of Brāhmī origin while languages such as Urdu, Pashto, and Sindhi use derivatives of the Perso-Arabic script. Not all languages in South Asia follow this strict dichotomy though. For example, Kashmiri is written in both the Perso-Arabic script and in the Devanagari script. The same can be said for Punjabi, which is written in both Shahmukhi and Gurmukhī. Dhivehi is written in a script called Tāna that shows characteristics of both the Arabic alphabet and of an abugida.

Religions

Further information: Religion in Bangladesh, Religion in Bhutan, Religion in India, Religion in Nepal, Religion in Pakistan, and Religion in Sri Lanka

Indian religions are the religions that originated in South Asia; namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.[81][82] Although Indian religions are connected through the history of South Asia, they constitute a wide range of religious communities, and are not confined to the Indian subcontinent.[81]

Arabs traders brought the Abrahamic religion of Islam to South Asia, first in the present day Kerala, Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands. Later Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of the Punjab region saw conquest by the Arab caliphates along with an influx of Muslims from further west, which resulted in spread of Islam in parts of Western region of South Asia. Subsequently, Muslim Mughal conquerors and further emigration and immigration furthered it throughout the Indo-Gangetic plains, further east towards Bengal, and deep south up to the Deccan.[83]

Afghanistan[84] Islam (99%), Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity (1%)
Bangladesh[85] Islam (89.5%), Hinduism (9.5%), Buddhism (0.7%), Christianity (0.32%)
British Indian Ocean Territory[86] Christianity (45.55%), Hinduism (38.55%), Islam (9.25%), Others (6.65%)
Bhutan[87] Buddhism (75%), Hinduism (25%)
Burma[88] Theravada Buddhism (89%), Islam (4%), Christianity (Baptist and Roman Catholic) (4%), Animism (1%), Others (including Hinduism) (2%)
India[87][89] Hinduism (80.5%), Islam (13.5%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism (0.8%), Jainism (0.4%), Others (0.6%)
Maldives[90] Sunni Islam (100%) (One must be a Sunni Muslim to be a citizen on the Maldives[91][92])
Nepal[93] Hinduism (81.3%), Buddhism (9.0%), Islam (4.4%), Kirat (3.1%), Christianity (1.4%), Others (0.8%)
Pakistan[94] Islam (96.28%), Hinduism (1.85%), Christianity (1.59%), Ahmaddiyya (0.22%)
Sri Lanka[95] Theravada Buddhism (70.19%), Hinduism (12.61%), ), Islam (9.71%), Christianity ( 7.45%).

Economy

Further information: Economy of Bangladesh, Economy of India, Economy of Nepal, Economy of Pakistan, and Economy of Sri Lanka

South Asia is the poorest region in the world after Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the UN's Multidimensional Poverty Index, just over a quarter of the world's MPI poor people live in Africa, while a half live in South Asia. The study also found there are more poor people in eight Indian states than in the 26 poorest African countries.[96] According to the index, 55 per cent of people in South Asia are MPI-poor and in sub-Saharan Africa, 64.5 per cent of people are MPI-poor.[96] And according to the poverty data of World Bank, more than 40% of the population in the region lived on less than the International Poverty Line of $1.25 per day in 2005, compared to 50% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa.[97]

Sri Lanka has the highest GDP per capita in the region, while Afghanistan has the lowest. India is the largest economy in the region (US$ 1.97 trillion) and makes up almost 82% of the South Asian economy; it is the world's 10th largest in nominal terms and 3rd largest by purchasing power adjusted exchange rates. Pakistan has the next largest economy and the 5th highest GDP per capita in the region,[98] followed by Bangladesh and then by Sri Lanka which has the 2nd highest per capita and is the 4th largest economy in the region. According to a World Bank report in 2007, South Asia is the least integrated region in the world; trade between South Asian states is only 2% of the region's combined GDP, compared to 20% in East Asia. The Economist has blamed this on Indian neglect of its neighbors.[99]

List of South Asian Countries by HDI Index

Rank Country HDI
New 2013 estimates for 2012
High human development
1  Sri Lanka 0.715
Medium human development
2  Maldives 0.661
3  India 0.554
4  Bhutan 0.538
Low human development
5  Bangladesh 0.515
6  Pakistan 0.515
7    Nepal 0.463
8  Afghanistan 0.374

Additional deviating definitions

The UN deviates in its statements regarding wich nations are part of the region, as it bases it's reasons on very different factors. For example, according to the United Nations geographical region classification,[100] Southern Asia comprises the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. However, the United Nations personally notes that the "assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories."[4] By some definitions, Burma and Tibet are also included in the region (see below).

United Nations geoscheme for Asia based on statistic convenience rather than implying any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories:
  North Asia
  Central Asia
  Western Asia
  South Asia
  East Asia
  Southeast Asia

Per the UN's definition, purely based on statistical convenience without any assumption of political or other affiliation of the countries, the wider subregion's northern frontier is the Himalayas and southerly post-Soviet states of Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, bordering northern Afghanistan and Iran), its western boundary is the westerly border of Iran (with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq), and its eastern boundary is the westerly border of Burma (with India and Bangladesh).

The United Nations Population Information Network (POPIN) includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as part of South Asia, while Maldives, in view of its characteristics, was admitted as a member country of the Pacific POPIN subregional network in principle.[101] The Hirschman–Herfindahl index of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific for the region includes only the original seven signatories of SAARC.[102]

Regional groups of countries

Name of country/region, with flag Area
(km²) 		Population* Population density
(per km²) 		Capital or Secretariat Currency Countries included Official languages Coat of Arms
UN subregion of South Asia 6,778,083 1,702,000,000 270.77 — — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka — —

Governance

India[103] and Pakistan[104][105] are the dominant political powers in the region. India is by far the largest country in the area covering around three-fourths the land area of the subcontinent.[citation needed] It also has the largest population of around three times the combined population of the 6 other countries in the subcontinent.[106] India is also the most populous democracy in the world[107]

Diplomacy among the countries of South Asia has been mainly driven by populist politics, with the centre-stage taken by India-Pakistan conflict ever since their independence in 1947, and then the creation of Bangladesh under tense circumstances in 1971. During the height of Cold war, the elite political leaders of Pakistan aligned with the US, while India played crucial role in forming the Non-Aligned Movement and while maintaining goodwill relations with the USSR.

The political situation in Sri Lanka has been dominated by an increasingly assertive Sinhalese nationalism, and the emergence of a Tamil separatist movement under LTTE, which was suppressed recently. Burma's politics is dominated by a military Junta, which has sidelined the democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Health and nutrition

There are 421 million MPI-poor people in eight Indian states alone - Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal - while there are 410 million in the 26 poorest African countries combined.[108] Roughly 42% of Indian children under age 5 suffer from malnutrition.[109]

According to the World Bank, 70% of the South Asian population and about 75% of South Asia's poor live in rural areas and most rely on agriculture for their livelihood.[110] According to the Global Hunger Index, South Asia has one of the highest child malnutrition rates in the world.[111] In a latest report published by UNICEF in 2008 on global hunger shows that the actual number of child deaths was around 2.1 million.[112] As of 2008 India is ranked 66th on the global hunger index.[citation needed]

The 2006 report stated that "the low status of women in South Asian countries and their lack of nutritional knowledge are important determinants of high prevalence of underweight children in the region". Corruption and the lack of initiative on the part of the government has been one of the major problems associated with nutrition in India. Illiteracy in villages has been found to be one of the major issues that need more government attention. The report mentioned that, although there has been a reduction in malnutrition due to the Green Revolution in South Asia, there is concern that South Asia has "inadequate feeding and caring practices for young children".[113]

See also

Notes and references

Notes

References

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