Malcolm Rivera
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia, located below the Himalayas and surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. It is comprised of at least three countries: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. However, the term Indian subcontinent is often used interchangeably with South Asia to refer to a wider region that also includes Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan, while geographically part of South Asia, is not typically considered part of the Indian subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent is one of the most densely populated areas globally, with approximately 1.7 to 1.8 billion people, and is known for its diverse cultures, religions, and languages.
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What You'll Learn
- India, a subcontinent, is one of the oldest and most populous countries in the world
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once part of India but gained independence in 1947 and 1971, respectively
- Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are considered part of the Indian subcontinent due to cultural, religious, and political ties
- The Maldives, an island country, is sometimes excluded from the subcontinent for lacking geographic contiguity with the mainland
- The terms Indian subcontinent and South Asia are often used interchangeably, but the former is more of a geophysical term
India, a subcontinent, is one of the oldest and most populous countries in the world
Historically, the region was referred to simply as "India" in many sources, and even today, historians use this term when discussing the history of the Indian subcontinent before the era of the British Raj. The British Raj, which began in 1858, marked the beginning of "India" being used to refer to a distinct political entity that would later become a nation-state. The term "Indian subcontinent" thus provides a distinction between the geographic region once broadly called India and the modern country of India.
The Indian subcontinent is among the most densely populated areas globally, with approximately 1.7-co: 9>1.8 billion people. India itself became the world's most populous country in 2023, according to United Nations estimates. The subcontinent enjoys a rich history as one of the earliest and most extensive centres of civilisation, with the Indus Valley Civilisation, or the Indus civilisation, arising around the 3rd millennium BCE. This civilisation, which was highly urbanised, laid the foundation for a distinctive tradition primarily associated with Hinduism.
The geography of the Indian subcontinent contributes to its unique monsoon climate. The seasonal change in wind direction, influenced by the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Himalayas, results in distinct atmospheric conditions and seasonal variations. The subcontinent's political and cultural ties, shared history, and geographic proximity contribute to a sense of unity within the region, despite the diverse religious and ethnic identities present across the countries.
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Pakistan and Bangladesh were once part of India but gained independence in 1947 and 1971, respectively
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia that projects into the Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west. It is currently divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, though the terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are often used interchangeably to refer to a wider region that also includes Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once part of British India, which was a part of the British Empire from 1858 until its independence and partition in 1947. The partition divided British India into two countries: a majority-Hindu India and a majority-Muslim Pakistan. The Lahore Resolution of 1946 had initially envisaged separate Muslim-majority and Hindu-majority states in British India's eastern and northwestern zones. The partition occurred following long and complicated negotiations between the British government and elite Indian figures, each with their own political interests.
In 1971, East and West Pakistan fought in the Bangladesh Liberation War, also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence. This conflict was sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which had a different culture and language from West Pakistan. On 25 March 1971, the Pakistani military junta based in West Pakistan, under the orders of Yahya Khan, launched Operation Searchlight against East Pakistanis, initiating the Bangladesh genocide. In response, members of the Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla resistance movement formed by Bengalis, launched a mass guerrilla war against the Pakistani military, liberating numerous towns and cities. On 26 March 1971, Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared East Pakistan's independence as the state of Bangladesh, and 26 March is considered the country's official Independence Day. The civil war led to a substantial number of refugees, estimated at the time to be about 10 million, fleeing into India's eastern provinces. The majority of member states in the United Nations recognized Bangladesh as a sovereign nation in 1972, and Pakistan left the Commonwealth the same year, not re-entering until 1989.
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Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are considered part of the Indian subcontinent due to cultural, religious, and political ties
The Indian subcontinent is made up of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. These countries are united not only by geographical proximity but also by commonalities in healthcare resources, illness patterns, and disease management. This is largely due to their shared history, climate, population density, and similar cultures.
Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are considered part of the Indian subcontinent due to their cultural, religious, and political ties with the region. Bhutan and Nepal are landlocked countries in South Asia, situated in the Himalayas, and share borders with India. Sri Lanka, an island country in the Indian Ocean, has close cultural and historical links with India.
Bhutan has strong cultural and religious ties with the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism, which is prevalent in Bhutan, spread to the country from the Indian subcontinent during the lifetime of the Buddha. Bhutan has a standing army of about 16,000 personnel, trained by the Indian Army, and relies on India for air assistance. Bhutan and India have a long-standing agreement that allows their citizens to travel to each other's countries without a passport or visa, only requiring a national identity card. Additionally, Bhutan's parliament decriminalized homosexuality in 2020, reflecting a progressive shift influenced by broader cultural trends in the subcontinent.
Nepal, similarly, has deep cultural and religious roots connected to the Indian subcontinent. The name "Nepal" is first recorded in texts from the Vedic period of the Indian subcontinent. The earliest inhabitants of modern Nepal are believed to be people from the Indus Valley Civilization, which developed in what is now part of modern-day Pakistan and India. Nepal's pro-democracy movement in the late 1940s was influenced by the successful Indian Independence Movement, and it received support from India to establish a parliamentary democracy.
Sri Lanka, an island country off the southern coast of India, is also considered part of the Indian subcontinent. While geographically separate, Sri Lanka has strong cultural and religious ties with the subcontinent. The country has a diverse cultural heritage, with influences from Buddhism and Hinduism, which are prevalent religions in the subcontinent. Additionally, the spread of British colonial rule in Sri Lanka was facilitated by its proximity to the Indian subcontinent, further solidifying its connection to the region.
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The Maldives, an island country, is sometimes excluded from the subcontinent for lacking geographic contiguity with the mainland
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia, located below the Himalayas and surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. It is made up of at least three countries: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. However, the term "Indian subcontinent" is often used interchangeably with "South Asia" to include other countries in the region, such as Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The Maldives, an island country located in the Arabian Sea, is sometimes considered separate from the Indian subcontinent due to its lack of geographic contiguity with the mainland. In other words, since the Maldives is an island country, it is not physically connected to the other countries that form the Indian subcontinent. This distinction is important in the context of geography, as the Indian subcontinent is defined by its unique geographic position, continental outline, and geological structure.
However, it is important to note that the term "subcontinent" can also refer to a subdivision of a continent with a distinct geographical, political, or cultural identity. From a cultural and political perspective, the Maldives has strong ties to the other countries in the region. For example, the Maldives was a former British possession, along with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and several other countries in South Asia. Additionally, the Maldives shares religious ties with countries like India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, as most of the population practices Hinduism.
So, while the Maldives may be excluded from the Indian subcontinent in a purely geographic sense, it is often included when considering the cultural and political commonalities that unite the region. The use of the term "subcontinent" can vary depending on the context and the specific discipline being discussed, such as cultural geography, geology, or geopolitics. Ultimately, the inclusion or exclusion of the Maldives in the Indian subcontinent can be subjective and depend on the specific definition and scope being applied to the term.
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The terms Indian subcontinent and South Asia are often used interchangeably, but the former is more of a geophysical term
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia that lies below the Himalayas and extends into the Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It is divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are often used interchangeably to refer to a broader region that also includes Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. However, the "Indian subcontinent" is primarily a geophysical term, while "South Asia" carries more geopolitical implications.
The distinction between the two terms is not merely semantic; it carries historical, cultural, and political weight. The use of the term "Indian subcontinent" dates back to the early 20th century when most of the region was under the British Empire or allied with them. The British introduced the term, which was convenient for referring to the region encompassing British India and the princely states. Over time, the term became closely associated with the region's colonial heritage.
Since the Partition of India and the subsequent independence of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the term "Indian subcontinent" has become less favoured in these countries due to the perceived dominance of India in the phrase. Citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh often find the term offensive and prefer "South Asia," which offers a more inclusive and politically neutral alternative. The shift towards "South Asia" allows these countries to forge a new identity, distinct from their colonial past and the post-partition dynamics.
"South Asia" is a geopolitical term that reflects the region's contemporary political demarcations and is more widely used in Europe and North America. It includes Afghanistan, which is not typically considered part of the Indian subcontinent, even in extended usage. The term "South Asia" also emphasises the diversity of the region, encompassing a multitude of ethnicities, religions, and languages that cannot be confined to a single country or identity.
While the terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" have their distinct nuances, both continue to be used interchangeably in certain contexts, particularly in cricket, where the participating countries are often collectively referred to as the "subcontinent." Additionally, in the field of geology, the term "Indian subcontinent" remains prevalent due to its association with the Indian tectonic plate.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian subcontinent consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is sometimes included in the region, but this is not always the case.
India is a subcontinent due to its distinct landmass and geological boundaries. It is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas to the north and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the south.
The Indian subcontinent is among the most densely populated areas on Earth, with a population of around 1.7-1.8 billion people.
