Development in South Asia

With the rise of globalisation, countries are more interconnected than ever. Economic growth and increased prosperity have highlighted the need for development, a term used to describe the process of economic change and growth in a country. This means that countries need to make their economies more competitive, sustainable and resilient.

The process of urbanisation has accompanied the development of South Asia. The urban population in the north has grown at a much faster rate than in the south. Thus, the majority of people in India today live in urban areas. Other nations in South Asia are experiencing urbanisation and industrialisation at a different pace, and the latter is most important to their economic status.

Brief Geography of South Asia

South Asia has many distinct regions, including the subcontinent, the Deccan Plateau, the peninsula, and Sri Lanka’s island. The subcontinent is the largest region of South Asia, stretching from Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal in the east. It is one of the most populated regions of the world, containing the largest and most urbanised part of southern Asia, including the states of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. South Asia comprises 15% of the world’s forest area. A major portion has been cleared for agriculture and is being deforested at an alarming rate.

Impact on Education

As the world’s population grows, countries lagging behind in education are struggling to find a balance between quality education in schools and improving the efficiency of existing institutions. This is a problem that South Asian countries have faced since the advent of the British Raj.

The British had a significant impact on the education system in South Asia. In the late 19th century, British rulers introduced a system of education for the children of the elite class, which was based on the system used in England. This system was designed to create a small group of administrators to run the country on behalf of British rulers. However, the British also introduced education for the children of the lower classes.

In the last few years, in an attempt to develop the country, the government of India has focused on education. This has benefited India’s economy and the rest of the world.

Impact on the Economy

The British have had a profound impact on the economies of many countries in the South Asian region. Their colonial rule brought several institutions, policies, and practices that have had a lasting and profound impact on the economies and societies of the countries in the region. One such policy, which was initiated by the British and is still in use today, is the salt monopoly. Under this policy, a company or organisation has the sole right to mine, manufacture and sell salt in a given area.

Today, India’s economy is the world’s fastest-growing, due to its vibrant service sectors. The Indian economy grew at a compound annual growth rate of over 8% between FY2008 and FY2016. The service sectors currently account for about 53% of India’s GDP, critical to its industrialisation, and are responsible for manufacturing about 60% of the goods and services that India exports.

Impact of a Large Population

Over the past few decades, South Asia has experienced rapid expansion in population, consumption and economic growth. It has also experienced a significant increase in poverty. Rapid urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, increasing demand for goods and services and the demand for access to natural resources have resulted in a greater reliance on external inputs. These inputs are causing unsustainable rates of depletion of resources and environmental concerns.

Impact on Industries in South Asia

South Asian countries have had a long history with the British since they were closely involved with the development of these countries. But after independence, the countries have for the most part developed on their own. The main industries in these countries have been agriculture and manufacturing.

Impact on Historical Artefacts in South Asia

India and Bangladesh are rich in historical artefacts but lack modern museums. In the 1980s, a group of Indian architects and archaeologists from the Institute of Indian Heritage Research (IIHR) in New Delhi, founded the Indian Institute of Heritage Research (IIHR), the first of its kind in the country. The IIHR is the only institute in India that uses state-of-the-art technologies to reconstruct ancient ruins, preserve cultural heritage, and disseminate knowledge.

Loss of Control on South Asia by the British

South Asian nations like India and Pakistan underwent significant changes in the 1800s. These included the introduction of new technologies and the loss of control by the British leading to a change in the economy and culture. The introduction of steam power led to the modernisation of industries, railroads, telegraphs and electrical wires facilitating faster communication throughout the country and with the rest of the world.