Assignment: Societal Divisions

Assignment: Societal Divisions

NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT:Assignment: Societal Divisions

Societal divisions tend to be reinforcing rather than crosscutting. Thus, Indian Muslims practice their own distinct religion and live in their own insular areas, have a distinct ethnic heritage, and speak their own language. Much the same can be said of Sikhs, Jains, and other groups. In extreme cases, these divisions can lead to calls for separatism or communal violence. Militant Sikhs have called for an independent state in northwestern India (where they are concentrated).

Hindu-Muslim hatred has led to periodic massacres. In the state of Gujarat in March 2002, Hindus slaughtered as many as 2,000 Muslims. In August 2003, two bombs blamed on Muslim militants killed 52 people in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). On November 26–29, 2008, ten coordinated shooting and bombing attacks occurred in Mumbai, killing at least 173 people and injuring more than 300. The split between Hindus and Muslims continues to destabilize India—and therefore South Asia as a region—more than six decades after independence.

India was long the indigent giant of Asia, a society with a rich history and a civilization symbolized by the splendor of the Taj Mahal but unable to cope with the challenges of the modern world. Just as Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore were often called “dragons” or “tigers” not long ago, India was likened to an elephant—huge and magnificent, but encumbered by the weight of its massive body. Anyone familiar with the contemporary Asian scene, however, is more likely to think of India as a cheetah than an elephant. Neither image quite fits; paradoxically, each is half true.

Despite gains and an impressive growth spurt in recent years, India remains a poor country even by comparison with China (the only country with more people). One reason: India’s population is growing much faster than China’s. Until recently, demography has overwhelmed development in India.

Although a recent five-year growth spurt saw India’s economy grow by nearly 9% a year, China’s GDP was still 3.5 times larger than India’s in 2008-2009.