13 One Region,

But Diverse

SIGNIFICANT IDEAS

Despite being seen as a region, each country in the South Asian region has a
lot of cultural diversity.

Every nation is unique in its own right, from its political structures to its food,
dress, and certain cultural aspects like its languages.

What is diversity?
Glossary
Diversity is defined by the dictionary as ‘the wide variety of something’.
South Asia is a huge area with eight different sovereign countries that are all different
in size and geography. You learned about the similarities in physiography in the region
in the first chapter. Refer to the physical map of South Asia in the previous lesson.
High mountains, long coastlines, and large river systems make up this huge area.
The subcontinent extends from the Great Mountain Chain known as the Himalayas
in the north and the Hindukush in the north-west to the water bodies of the Bay of
Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean in the south. In the Indian Ocean, there are
small island nations such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Indus and its plains, as
well as the Hindu Kush mountains and Afghanistan, make up the western flank. The
vast Brahmaputra plains and the Sundarbans, the world’s largest and fastest growing
delta, lie to the east.
The climate of South Asia varies greatly from one part to another, and nearly six of
the world’s twelve main climatic types are experienced here. But except for the high
mountains, the whole area has a tropical monsoon climate. This region’s culture,
which includes its language, food, clothing, ethnicity, and religion, fits the definition
of a ‘cultural melting pot’ and shows what its culture is like.
There are hundreds of languages and dialects spoken by the populace. These factors,
along with the people’s interactions with the western world, particularly the colonial
powers and old British Empire, the far east, Southeast Asians, and others over
thousands of years, have left an indelible mark on South Asia. Some of the world’s

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 oldest religions originated in South Asia. It is a region that is multicultural and multi-
layered. The diversity is all too visible.
Diversity has a wide application and refers to more than just accepting and/or tolerating
difference.
Diversity is a set of conscious practices that involve:
§ Recognizing and valuing the interconnection of people, cultures, and the
environment
§ Fostering mutual respect for those with varied characteristics and life
experiences from our own
§ Acknowledging that diversity encompasses not only ways of being but also
methods of knowing.
To work together and eliminate all forms of discrimination, we must form cross-cutting
coalitions. Understanding how to react to traits and circumstances that are different
from our own and outside of the groups to which we belong but still exist in other
people and groups is thus a necessary component of diversity. Some of these are age,
ethnicity, class, gender, physical characteristics, race, sexual orientation, as well as
gender expression, educational background, geographic area, income, marital status,
parenting status, and work experiences. No one culture is inherently better than
another, and categories of difference are not always fixed but can also be changeable.

Diversity in South Asia

Do It Yourself
Research the term ‘monoculturalism’.
Name two countries that display monoculturalism and the factors that lead to it.

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 Governance
The political systems of the region’s numerous nations differ greatly. Sri Lanka and
India have successfully run democratic systems despite several issues and restrictions.
Bangladesh and Pakistan have frequently had periods of ‘controlled democracies,’
where the head of state is democratically elected but then governs by eluding the
fundamental principles of a democracy. Although much of their recent histories
have been spent in monarchies, both Nepal and Bhutan have, under the direction of
the king, directed their course towards a multi-party democracy. Afghanistan has a
lengthy history of internal conflict and foreign conquest.
The different types of administration can be linked to the different kinds of organized
power structures that grew up in the area as people from different cultures mixed.
Let’s explore the past of these hierarchies of power.

History
The ancient history of regions of present day South Asia has been characterised by
integration, rationality, and spirituality, although it has remained diverse. These
regional cultures have shown that people of different races, religions, and languages
can live together peacefully. The area is a beautiful amalgamation of different people,
beliefs, ideologies, and behaviour.
Despite the fact that it is now a single region, there is a great deal of diversity in the
ancestral traditions of various ethnic groups. Over the past 5,000 years, from the time
of the first known Indian civilization to the present, their culture has changed.
The remnants of the Indus Valley civilization (one of the oldest in the world), such as
the public baths, advanced drainage systems, and an organised grid pattern of roads
and streets, illustrate the lengthy history of regional South Asian culture, its inclination
towards hygienic living, and a distaste for anything dirty. The ancient ‘Pashupati
statues’ are evidence that South Asia’s current religious customs have a long tradition.
To understand the history and civilizations of ancient South Asia, you need to know
how Hinduism and Buddhism changed over time. These faiths evolved into the
fundamental foundation of social, political, and economic organisations, beyond mere
spirituality. These religions affected every part of life and remained an important part
of how the area grew and changed. Religion was more than just a set of beliefs and
activities; it was a way of life.
The advent and spread of a new religion, Islam from 8th century onwards in parts of
South Asia, had an impact on the polity of the region. The establishment of the rule of the
Delhi Sultanate, from 13th century, for over three hundred years, spanned across modern
day regions of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of Nepal. This was the period when
Islamic and indigenous traditions integrated in architecture, music and languages.
Subsequently, from 16th century, when the Mughals were in power, ‘the area known
as South Asia today emerged as a distinct ‘region’. The Mughal Empire’s political
dominance in this region and its global trade networks, made it one of the wealthy
economies of these times. The framework of Mughal policies of state was later partially
followed by the British colonisers.

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 Impact of Colonial Rule in South Asia
A large colonial legacy exists throughout South Asia. According to studies, the British
ruled over 94% of the area that is today considered to be South Asia. As a result of the
region’s contradictory colonial history, there is both a sense of unity and a great deal
of diversity, which can occasionally cause cracks and fissures. A prime example of
these rifts afflicting the area is the 1947 division of India and Pakistan.
The South Asian countries were referred to as ‘South Asia’ as a whole because of
their shared cultural identity. They shared a common past, including a colonial legacy.
British colonialism had a significant influence on the development of South Asia. Prior
to the colonial experience, the countries in the region had no concept of sovereignty,
borders, nation states, or political organisation. For the western world, these ideas
put a stop to wars, but in South Asia, they obstructed regional unity. The excesses of
colonial rule gave birth to ‘Nationalism’

Cartography
One legacy that gave rise to the notion of rigid borders and the gradual formation and
realisation of various nation states is the practice of depicting a region visually on a
map or chart during colonial times. It is called ‘Colonial cartography’. Europeans used
cartography and related surveys, maps, and pictures to show that they were not only
geographically superior but also culturally superior. The British only used Mercator’s
projection to show their home country, as it exaggerated the size of the island country
and projected their superiority.
South Asia became more modern and advanced because of colonialism, but many
of the cultural and lifestyle changes that came with it were new to the area. The
British drew clear lines between and within states, which led to territorial and border
disputes in South Asia. In an endeavour to get the most out of its colonies, the colonial
government ignored the native linguistic, religious, and sociocultural diversity of the
area. This sparked very different traditions, which occasionally resulted in antagonism
between South Asian nations.
Colonial cartography only created spaces for the representation of the subcontinent
and attempted to fit people into specific locations in line with their repressive system
of governance. Some colonial maps also put too much emphasis on certain parts of
the subcontinent because of the colonists’ own goals. For instance, a particular map
created by a French cartographer in the 17th century was quite specific regarding the
subcontinent’s coastline since, at the time, the French were traders who wished to
increase their marine trade in the subcontinent and wanted a precise representation
of the coastline, inlets, and harbours.

Hotlink
Click the link below to read about the restoration of a survey tower in
Kolkata built during the Great Trigonometrical Struggle of colonial times.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kolkatas-
great-trigonometrical-survey-link-of-trigonometry-and-towers/
article21616151.ece

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 The people of the subcontinent and the land were linked in many ways during the
British era. This legacy is still evident in some ways, particularly in the construction
of contemporary modes of transportation (roads, airports, railroads, and postal
networks), new institutions (government bureaucracy, universities, civil service, and
military), and particularly in the development of the English-language as a medium of
communication among the people of different countries in the region. This contributed
to English becoming the dominant language used in higher education, business, and
government. By researching and writing about the subcontinent in English, South
Asians developed a sense of their shared history and civilization.

Transition from Frontiers to Political Borders

The British organised the territory into several political units for administrative
convenience, disregarding the sociocultural makeup of each political unit. As a result,
sociocultural groups either merged or split, and western concepts of sovereignty
were enforced. These were relatively arbitrary boundaries that nurtured a feeling of
oneness in the region. But because the natives’ opinions were not taken into account
when these lines were drawn, it was hard to change from natural boundaries to strict
political borders, which is a legacy of colonialism.
The problems eventually led to the breakup of India, the ongoing conflict in Kashmir,
the creation of Bangladesh, border disputes with China, and other problems. Colonial
history is still the cause of territorial conflicts and disputes that haven’t been solved,
which has made the area more divided than united.

Nation-State Formation
Culture
South Asia, with its diverse ethnic groups, A shared way of life History
A common past;
could not create nation-states based on a (food, dress,
behaviour, ideals) common experiences
shared identity and heritage (a Western
idea). Most of its political systems have Language
experimented with various assimilation Religion
Nation
Different dialects of one
A religion shared by all language; one dialect
techniques. Some people have solved or most of the people State
becomes
the problem by using federalism and “national language”
arbitration, while others have used
violent methods to control the situation, Nationality Territory
Belief in common ethinic A certain territory that
such as ethnic cleansing and genocide. ancestry that may belongs to the ethnic
Yet, the majority of these processes have or may not be true group; its “Land”

simply made South Asia’s issues worse.

Examples include violence against the
‘Chakmas’ and ‘Hajongs’ who are tribal
Bonds that create a Nation
people in Bangladesh.
The mistaken belief that no two nations can share a single culture is a result of the
Western idea that nation-states should have a unique culture. Even though South
Asian states share a lot of similarities, the cultural basis of an Indian civilization
continues to be the most important one. The majority of South Asian countries ignore
this commonality in favour of asserting their uniqueness and autonomy.

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 Nations of South Asia: Origin
South Asia has always been a melting pot of various cultures and communities.
Aside from the changing borders of the kingdoms, there was no real line dividing
the different countries in the area. Most of South Asia’s countries are still
isolated from one another. The British introduced the concept of nationalism.
In India, Mahatma Gandhi is known as the Father of the Nation. Mohammed Ali
Jinnah of Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh, and D.S.
Senanayake of Sri Lanka were the founding members of their respective nations.
The British were the ones who originally combined Western, Northern, Eastern, and
Southern India into one administrative region. The East India Company grew to
control India by making unfair deals with monarchs and taking over provinces. So,
Nepal and Bhutan stayed independent kingdoms that did all of their business with
Britain. Sri Lanka and India, which were colonies of Britain at the time, also included
Bangladesh and Pakistan, respectively.
It was evident towards the end of World War II that colonialism had reached its
peak in the modern world. This implied that South Asian nations would all become
independent. However, what were the borders? The Indian National Movement
considered two nations—one for Hindus and one for Muslims—in India.
The failure of religion to unite a people, however, was obvious in 1971. In India, the
division of states is based primarily on language for this reason. Individuals who
speak the same language are able to have meaningful conversations with one another
because they have a common history and culture. Both West Pakistan, which speaks
Urdu, and East Pakistan, which speaks Bangla, have the same issue. When Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman was elected President of East Pakistan in 1971, he put an end to
the rule of Urdu and West Pakistani leaders who had been in power since 1948. This
made West Pakistan very angry, so Zulfikar Ali Bhutto declared a state of emergency
in Pakistan. The Bangladesh War and the founding of Bangladesh marked the
culmination of this.

Bureaucratic Culture
South Asia has a bureaucratic structure that is too strong, but the political structure
is weak and not as strong. The bureaucratic system has rigidity, centralization, elitism
(granting special treatment and advantages to a particular class of people), a secrecy
structure, and little political participation. Military rule was the end result in certain
nations. There was a ‘bureaucratic-military regime’ since parliamentary institutions
did not regulate bureaucracy.
The case of Pakistan, where General Ayub Khan established control in 1958 by ousting
the parliamentary government through a military coup, is a good example. The
Pakistani government failed to build democracy, which allowed the military to take
power. The military has consciously blocked any amicable resolution to the India–
Pakistan conflict.

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 So, the effects of colonialism have made it hard for South Asian countries to work
together. This lack of trust was worsened by a strong military presence, massive
defence spending, unstable political conditions, and a robust bureaucracy.
The British left behind a power vacuum in the area as they withdrew. The only two
countries with established, stable monarchies were Bhutan and Nepal. India and Sri
Lanka were democratic republics, while Pakistan made the decision to become an
Islamic republic. India is the only nation in the area that has managed to keep a stable
democratic polity, though. Why is that?

Do It Yourself
You can create an infographic that focuses on women in government in the
region, such as the number of women in parliament, their representation in
different branches of government, and the policies and initiatives that have been
implemented to promote gender equality in politics.

India has a long history of British colonial rule, which laid the foundation for a
democratic system of governance. The British introduced concepts such as the rule of
law, representative democracy, and an independent judiciary, which have continued
to shape India's political system.

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 With the exception of India, which is a Parliamentary democracy, the majority of
political systems in South Asia are Presidential systems. The office of the President in
a presidential system is powerful since decisions can be made and carried out without
the express approval of the legislature, which is made up of the representatives of the
people. This has allowed countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to sporadically adopt
autocratic regimes. On the other hand, the people of India have power since they elect
the members of Parliament and the State Governments.

South Asia: Cultural Diversity

Language, Religion and Food
South Asia has over 1.75 billion people, a landmass larger than the European Union,
many languages and dialects, and millennia of recorded history. Based on the altered
cultures that emerged from the division of beliefs, faith, and tradition among ethnic
groups, this region had evolved from a more connected entity to becoming more
and more diversified. The culture of the region is deeply ingrained in its languages,
ethnic groups, and religious traditions. There are numerous popular religions, ethnic
groupings, and hundreds of different languages. They contribute to the patchwork
of regional cultural variations and distinctions that Western influences, particularly
those from the former British Empire, have an impact on.
In actuality, there are more than 120 languages spoken only in India. This is also
the rationale behind the Indian government’s decision to keep using English for
official correspondence: it creates a sense of coherence and prevents any language
from feeling marginalised. Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,
Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi,
Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri are among the 22 languages
listed in the Indian Constitution’s Eighth Schedule.
Language-wise, the area has tremendous diversity. Dravidian and Indo-Aryan
languages make up the two primary categories. There are Indo-Aryans in Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Dravidians are more prevalent in a few
specific regions, primarily southern India and some of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Moreover, there are several smaller language families. The most widely spoken
languages in South Asia are Dari and Pashto in Afghanistan; Punjabi, Pashto, and
Sindhi in Pakistan; Bengali in Bangladesh; Hindi in India; and Bengali in Bangladesh.
Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Marathi, which are all languages that came from
Sanskrit and are spoken in the north, would be part of the two main language families
in South Asia. While borrowing parts of its vocabulary and script from Persian and
Arabic, Urdu has close ties to Hindi, and many people consider the two languages to
be one continuous tongue. There is a smaller but widely spread urban elite that speaks
English. Dravidian languages of south India, such as Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and
Kannada. Because there were so many languages in the area, there was a question
about how people from different groups could talk to each other. particularly in nations
like India. In actuality, the Bangladeshi people felt alone in Urdu-speaking Pakistan,
which was the cause of the Bangladesh war.

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 SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGE FAMILIES Indo-Aryan Languages
UZ
TUR BE TAZ Iranian Languages
KME KI IK ISTA
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Dravidian Languages
Austro-Asiatic Languages
Tibeto-Burman Languages
Turkic Languages
AFGHANISTAN
Unclassified/Languages Isolates
Present Internation Boundary

CHINA
PAKISTAN (TIBET)
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South Asian Language families

The 24 official languages of the EU are Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish,

Elsewhere!

Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish,

Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak,
Slovenian, Spanish, and Swedish.

We must first consider religion, ethnic groups, and faiths in order to truly comprehend
South Asian civilization. Islam is a significant religion in South Asia, which is home
to almost 600 million Muslims. South Asia is still the origin of four major religious
traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Smaller groups of Zoroastrians,
Jews, and Christians have also helped make the subcontinent religiously diverse.

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 Even though the British pushed English as a language of colonial oppression after
Macaulay’s famous minutes on Indian education in 1835, South Asians have learned
how to use English and become experts at it over time. Salman Rushdie, Arundhati
Roy, and Vikram Seth are just a few of the prominent authors from South Asia who
have produced novels in English. Mohammed Hanif is from Pakistan, Taslima Nasreen
is from Bangladesh, Samrat Upadhyay is from Nepal, and Kunzang Choden is from
Bhutan.

Key Fact
The South Asian words karma, mantra, and avatar may all be found in the English
lexicon by searching for them on Google. This merely serves as an example of how South
Asian concepts and terms have influenced languages all over the world.
Let us compare this to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which both chose an official language
that made the minority groups in those countries feel uncomfortable. Sri Lanka uses
Sinhala as its official language, while Pakistan has selected Urdu. Because of their
majoritarian policies, both nations had to deal with strife and dissension.
Islam, Christianity, and a small Jewish community, as well as a Zoroastrian community,
all have significant traditions in the area. The Dharmic religions, primarily Hinduism,
Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism, are also deeply anchored there. The kaleidoscope of
flavours that is today referred to as “Indian cuisine” is a product of all these different
religions.
Hindus, for example, don’t eat beef, but they do eat a lot of dairy products like yoghurt
and paneer. Muslims in northern India and the areas bordering Pakistan eat a lot of
goat curries and tandoori meat. Because of kashrut rules, Jews don’t mix dairy and
meat, so they make dishes with eggs and meat.
The Indian subcontinent frequently experienced periods of dominant government
throughout its history, including the Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, Mughal Empire,
British Raj, and modern-day India. Indian cuisine as we know it now has benefited from
the influence of all the past empires, especially the British. Moreover, neighbouring
countries have had an impact.
As an example, Chinese immigrants brought a wide variety of Indian Chinese recipes
with them that they then modified to suit Indian tastes.
It’s common for South Asian diaspora cultures to have foods that were created or
regionally adapted and are hence unique to the subcontinent. The United Kingdom’s
chicken tikka masala, Singapore and Malaysia’s roti paratha/roti, and South Africa’s
bunny chow are a few well-known examples of this type of food.

Apply Now
Find out another food that has been popular in the United States using examples, much
like how South Asian cuisine has become well-known and spread throughout the world.
South Asians typically eat their food with their hands, while at fancier restaurants, a
fork and spoon may be used. The right hand is used to eat food.

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 Some Popular Dishes from South Asia
https://static.india.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/10-food-south-asia.jpg

   Chapati-India       Huni Roti-Maldives    Mitho Lolo-Pakistan

Source: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0415/0460/4309/products/FNFFK64_600x600.
jpg?v=1651648113
Source: https://www.196flavors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Huni-Roshi-Maldives.jpg
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE3vVT98NQEEHUdoK-
cRng6oVjry2XgyHAIg&usqp=CAU

Bakarkhani-Bangladesh     Sel Roti-Nepal     Pol Roti-Sri Lanka

Source: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1wDnfTWaahw/maxresdefault.jpg
Source: https://images.livemint.com/img/2021/10/12/1140x641/selroti_dashain_
recipe_1634031894293_1634031904711.jpg
Source: https://www.theflavorbender.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Pol-Roti-SM-6714-500x375.jpg

11 One Region, But Diverse

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 Elsewhere! In Mexican and Central American cooking, tortillas are a common ingredient.
There are many ways to use these thin flatbreads, which are usually made from
cornmeal or flour and don’t rise.

Tea Culture
South Asians begin their day with a cup of tea
and then have it in the evening as a ‘pick me
up’. When guests visit, the question isn’t “Will
you have tea?” but “How much sugar?” Tea is
consumed as a favourite beverage throughout
South Asia. It is linked to awakening after
slumber and getting over lethargy. Over time, South Asia’s favourite beverage - Tea
Source: https://www.chaipe.in/wp-content/
uploads/2021/08/8_Elachi-tea.png

it has evolved in taste, aroma, and

colour. It is literally said to warm not
just cups but also hearts.
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, and parts of Nepal, the
most common tea is masala chai,
which is sweetened black tea mixed
with a blend of spices and milk. In
Pakistan, both black and green teas
are popular and are known locally as
Sri Lankan and Indian tea leaves are of best
‘sabz chai’ and ‘kahwa,’ respectively.
quality
The traditional drink of Kashmir is
Source: https://thelogicalindian.com/h- noon chai, a pink tea made from
upload/2022/01/10/210137-untitled-design.jpg
green tea leaves, milk, salt, and
baking soda, which gives it its characteristic colour.
In Bhutan, the Himalayan region of Nepal, the Indian states of Sikkim, Arunachal
Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Ladakh, where there is
Tibetan culture, butter tea is the drink of choice. Pu-erh tea leaves, yak or cow’s butter,
and salt are blended together to create butter tea, which has a stew-like consistency.
In Bangladesh, tea culture centres around tea stalls that are social gathering centers,
especially in rural areas. Variants like milk tea, black tea, malai chai, lemon tea,
and the seven coloured tea from Srimangal are popular.

Key Fact
China has the world’s oldest wild and planted tea trees, tea leaf fossils dating back
35,400,000 years, and a wealth of tea-related literature and art. Furthermore, tea
may have been the first Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) used by ancient Chinese
people.

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 Migration and its Socio-Cultural Impact
The diversity of South Asia has greatly benefited from migration in a variety of ways. Any
sort of relocation provides a number of added advantages. Migrants boost economies
through entrepreneurship and hard labour. They broaden culture by introducing
new concepts, traditions, foods, and art. Contrary to popular belief, immigrants do
not always steal jobs from native-born people; in fact, they may boost regional and
national economies. As people share their cultures, take part in global trade, and
make friends with people from other places, the world becomes more connected. They
enhance the work of native employees and raise their productivity. This connection,
in turn, encourages progress on issues like eradicating poverty, hunger, and gender
inequity at a regional as well as global level. One important component of this dynamic
is migration. The globe is becoming more open, and progress is spreading as people
cross boundaries and participate in new nations.
Migration happens for many different reasons, like looking for a better life, finding
work, or getting back together with loved ones. On the other hand, refugees and people
looking for asylum leave their home countries to get away from situations that could
kill them. People move to a new country to settle because they want a better life.
Migrants go to other nations for a number of reasons, including opportunity seeking,
reunions with family and friends, and the pursuit of improved living standards. On
the other hand, refugees and those looking for asylum leave their home nations to flee
risky circumstances. People move to settle in a new country in search of a better life
in every circumstance.
The main causes of migration between nations like India and Nepal have been open
borders and kinship connections. People have moved from Bangladesh and Nepal
to India for a variety of reasons, including the chance to get a job and earn more
money. Social inequality and discrimination are also factors. This is especially clear
when people of lower caste move from Nepal to India. All of these disasters that have
happened because of migration have only added to the huge variety in South Asia.
South Asia has always been a safe place for people, especially those who were
running from trouble. Here, the Parsi community serves as a useful illustration. Many
Parsis fled from Persia to India more than a thousand years ago, settling mostly in
Sindh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. They were Zoroastrians who experienced Islamic
persecution when Islam invaded Persia.
The Tibetans were another group that left China because they were mistreated there.
The Dalai Lama was well received in India and is still a resident there. In India,
traditional Tibetan remedies and foods are becoming increasingly popular.
The Parsi community’s tale is a wonderful example of how South Asia is home to a
variety of migrant communities.

The Myth of Parsi Migration

It is believed that the Parsis were forced to flee Central Asia because their lives were
in danger. When they arrived on the Gujarat coast and disembarked, the ruler of the

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 area sent a group of representatives with a pot of milk filled to the brim. This nearly
overflowing pot of milk was the ruler’s message to the Parsis, stating that their land
was already overcrowded and that they would be unable to accommodate any more
people. When the Parsi leaders saw this, they dissolved a spoonful of sugar in the
milk. They returned a message to the ruler, saying that, just as sugar dissolves in milk
to make it sweeter, the Parsis would always be grateful for shelter, blend in with the
local population, and do their best to contribute to society. The Gujarati ruler was
impressed by their logic and welcomed them into his kingdom.
Over the years, the Parsis have kept their word and have consistently contributed
to the betterment of Indian society through leaders such as the Tatas, Field Marshal
Sam Manekshaw, Homi Bhabha, Soli Sorabjee, Adar Poonawala, and Boman Irani,
among many others. Other well-known Parsi families in India with large business
empires include Godrej, Cowasjee, and Wadia. As a result, despite their smaller size,
the Indian Parsi community has made significant contributions in a variety of fields.
Affluent, enterprising, and highly intelligent, Parsis have done remarkably well in the
fields of science and industry. Another significant contribution of the community has
been to the field of cinema.
Hotlink
Click the link to learn about the Parsi Migration Myth.
https://brill.co https://brill.com/view/title/15559m/view/title/15559

People also fled their home countries because they were persecuted for their
race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. With the exception of the 1947 partition,
when nearly 14 million people crossed the border, there have never been any
instances of refugees entering India from their home country. Recent incidents
involving the Rohingya community have raised serious security concerns. During
the Bangladesh War, approximately 10 million East Pakistanis fled to India as a
result of genocide. The majority of them settled in the neighboring states of West
Bengal and Assam.

Glossary
Rohingya Muslims are a Muslim minority group who call the Rakhine state (in southwest
Myanmar), once known as Arakan, home. They are thought to practice a Sunni variant of
Islam. In 2017, they allegedly fled their homes due to a military crackdown in Myanmar.

Rohingya Muslims
The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority group residing in the Rakhine state (in
south-western Myanmar), formerly known as Arakan, and are considered to be a
variation of the Sunni religion. They fled their homes in 2017 to escape an alleged
crackdown by the Myanmarese military. According to the United Nations, Rohingya
Muslims are the most persecuted minority in the world. The Citizenship Law in
Myanmar denies the Rohingya Muslims citizenship, despite the fact that they have

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 lived there for generations. They are considered “stateless entities,” regarded as mere
refugees from Bangladesh who face strong hostility in the country.
To escape discrimination and violence in Myanmar, minority Rohingya Muslims
have for decades fled the Buddhist-majority country to neighbouring Bangladesh
and other countries, including India. There are technical differences between
refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons. By definition, all fall under
the category of forced migration (and, of course, all of them are people!). Forced
migration refers to the movements that refugees, migrants, and internally displaced
people make. These can be either within their country or between countries after
being displaced from their homeland. As of 2020, 1 person is uprooted every 2
seconds (often with nothing but the clothes on their backs). Currently, the global
total of forcibly displaced people is over 68.5 million. There are a number of
different factors that lead hundreds of millions of people around the world to leave
their homes. All of these factors, however, lead to one common goal: to have a
better, safer life.
Among refugees, migrants, and internally displaced people, there are technical
distinctions. By definition, they are all considered forced migrations—and they are all
humans, of course! “Forced migration” is the movement of refugees, migrants, and
people who have been moved within their own country. After being uprooted from
their home country, these can either be domestic or international.
The reasons for people’s migration could be due to war and conflict or economic
challenges that drive people to relocate to areas with better opportunities to support
their families. Other reasons are religious persecution, drought conditions, floods, and
earthquakes. According to a 2017 Cornell University report, climate change-related
disasters such as drought and flooding may force up to 1.4 billion people to migrate by
2060. They predict that by 2100, the number will have risen to 2 billion.

Conclusion
With the powerful Himalayas on one side and deep-sea areas like the Bay of Bengal,
Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea on the other, South Asia is shielded from all sides.
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the
Maldives are all parts of South Asia. Even though their political histories since then
have been very different, colonial control has had an effect on all of these countries.
The region has great variations and diversity in its culture and ethnicity, and yet the
region stands out as a large area with a common historical past in the form of British
colonial rule, political stability, economic growth, and opportunities. In the years
following their independence, these countries went through different political systems,
restructured them, and developed new ones. The region shares commonalities in
a religious-cultural heritage dating back to ancient and medieval times, as well as
certain political, economic, administrative, cultural, and educational institutions that
bind the countries of the region today. The world becomes more interconnected as
people share cultures, engage in global commerce, and develop bonds with people
from different backgrounds.

15 One Region, But Diverse

Chapter 3.indd 15 5/9/2023 9:36:13 AM

 References Links
1. Diversity

https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/Book%3A_The_Role_of_
Equity_and_Diversity_in_Early_Childhood_Education_
(Esquivel_Elam_Paris_and_Tafoya)/01%3A_Looking_at_Diversity_Equity_and_Inclusion/1.01%3A_
Diversity#:~:text=Diversity%20is%20a%20set%20of,are%20different%20from%20our%20own.

2. South Asia - History and Culture

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sasa/hd_sasa.htm
https://unacademy.com/content/upsc/study-material/medieval-india/delhi-sultanate/

3. Impact of Colonial Rule in South Asia

https://world101.cfr.org/rotw/south-asia/modern-history#colonialism-leaves-indelible-mark-on-south-
asia

4. Migration in South Asia

https://www.migrationdataportal.org/regional-data-overview/southern-asia#:~:text=Migration%20
%E2%80%93%20both%20within%20and%20from,(UN%20DESA%2C%202020).

5. Parsi Migration Myth

https://brill.com/view/title/15559

6. Rohingyas

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rohingya

7. Reasons for Migration

https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/migration#:~:text=Some%20people%20move%20in%20
search,disasters%2C%20or%20other%20environmental%20factors.

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