ABSTRACT
Up to 1947, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh formed a single country that was known as India. The history of these three countries is, therefore, inseparable up to 1947. In 1947, India was partitioned into two countries, namely, India (with its present boundaries) and Pakistan. In 1971, Pakistan was further split into two countries, namely, Pakistan (with its present-day limits) and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka, however, was a separate country all along its history except for a short period when a part of this island was under the rulers of South India. It became an independent country in 1948. This chapter discusses the antiquity and history of rice in India (including Pakistan and Bangladesh) and Sri Lanka up to 1947 only.
