What traumatic event does Zitkala-Sa describe at the school?

The forcible cutting of her long hair

Why was the cutting of her hair so humiliating to Zitkala-Sa?

Among her people, shingled hair was worn by cowards and mourners

Why has Pakistan failed to build a stable democracy?

Because of the social dominance of the military, clergy and landowning aristocracy, conflict with India strengthening pro-military groups, and weak international support for democracy.

How did Bangladesh emerge as an independent country?

The Bengali population of East Pakistan, led by Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman, resented West Pakistani domination; after army repression and Indian support in the 1971 war, Bangladesh became independent.

List the challenges to democracy in Nepal.

The king's reluctance to share power, the triangular conflict among monarchists, democrats and Maoists, and the difficult transition to a democratic republic.

Name the principal parties to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

The Sinhala-dominated government and the Tamil militant organisation LTTE, which demanded a separate 'Tamil Eelam'.

What is SAARC and what are its limitations?

SAARC is a 1985 regional body for cooperation; its success has been limited by persistent political differences and mutual suspicion among members.

What is SAFTA and why do some neighbours fear it?

SAFTA is a free-trade agreement to lower tariffs; smaller neighbours fear India may use it to dominate their markets and influence their politics.

Mention areas of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh.

Cooperation on trade, disaster management and the Look East policy; disagreements over river-water sharing, illegal immigration and a long-pending boundary dispute.

Why do India's smaller neighbours often suspect it?

Given India's size, central location and power, they fear it wants to be a regionally dominant power and interferes in their internal affairs.

How do external powers influence South Asian politics?

China's strategic partnership with Pakistan and the US working as a moderator in India-Pakistan relations both shape the region's security and economics.

Contemporary South Asia

Class 12 Political Science · Contemporary World Politics · Chapter 3

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Summary

South Asia usually means Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — a region of great diversity bound by the Himalayas and the surrounding seas, where rivalry and cooperation coexist. The countries follow varied political paths. India and Sri Lanka have remained democracies since independence; Pakistan and Bangladesh have alternated between civilian and military rule; Nepal moved from monarchy to a democratic republic (2008); Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy (2008); and the Maldives became a multi-party republic. The chapter examines Pakistan's struggle to build stable democracy, Bangladesh's emergence in 1971 and its return to democracy, the monarchy-democracy-Maoist conflict in Nepal, and the ethnic conflict between the Sinhala majority and the LTTE in Sri Lanka. India-Pakistan conflicts centre on Kashmir, the Siachen glacier, arms races, nuclear tests, and river-water and Sir Creek disputes, though the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) has endured. India also has differences and cooperation with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. SAARC (1985) and the SAFTA agreement promote regional cooperation, while the US and China remain influential outside powers.

Key terms

SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, formed in 1985 to promote multilateral cooperation in the region.

SAFTA

The South Asian Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2004, aiming to create a free-trade zone by lowering tariffs.

Kashmiriyat

The distinctive regional identity and aspiration of the people of the Kashmir valley.

LTTE

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which fought for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka until 2009.

Indus Waters Treaty

The 1960 India-Pakistan agreement, mediated by the World Bank, on sharing the rivers of the Indus basin.

Line of Control

The military boundary dividing Indian Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Extra questions & answers

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SAARC, the regional body for South Asian cooperation, began in:

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