ABSTRACT
Virtually the whole of South Asia was under British colonial rule for between 100 and 200 years, some areas having a greater degree of autonomy than others within British India. Burma, now Myanmar, adjoining India, was also a British colony, but culturally it differs greatly from the rest of South Asia and it has been included in Chapter 15 on Southeast Asia, to which it is more culturally similar. In 1947 India became independent from the UK, splitting initially into India itself, predominantly Hindu in religion, Pakistan, with West and East territories on either side of India, predominantly Muslim, and Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, a separate island, with a strong Buddhist tradition. In addition, South Asia as understood here includes the Kingdom of Nepal and also Bhutan to the north of India. Subsequently, in 1971 West and East Pakistan separated when the independence of Bangladesh in the east was recognised by (West) Pakistan. Tables 15.2, 15.3 and 15.4 in Chapter 15 include data for the main countries of South Asia.
