Changes

Nehru ruled India for nearly two decades, and his daughter Indira Gandhi became prime minister upon his death.  Her rule saw an increase in agricultural production known as the “green revolution,” but she attempted to limit population growth with strict birth control.  She also suspended parts of the democratic process.  The people responded by defeating her in 1977, and she left office.  In 1980 she regained power, but violence was breaking out with Sikhs who wanted an independent state.  She ordered an attack on a Sikh temple, and two of her bodyguards retaliated by assassinating her in June 1984.  The news reached America in the middle of the night, but President Reagan’s advisors chose not awaken him to tell him.  Critics ridiculed allowing President Reagan to sleep through this news, and one liberal wrote a book about his Administration entitled, “While Reagan Slept.”

Nehru ruled India for nearly two decades, and his daughter Indira Gandhi became prime minister upon his death.  Her rule saw an increase in agricultural production known as the “green revolution,” but she attempted to limit population growth with strict birth control.  She also suspended parts of the democratic process.  The people responded by defeating her in 1977, and she left office.  In 1980 she regained power, but violence was breaking out with Sikhs who wanted an independent state.  She ordered an attack on a Sikh temple, and two of her bodyguards retaliated by assassinating her in June 1984.  The news reached America in the middle of the night, but President Reagan’s advisors chose not awaken him to tell him.  Critics ridiculed allowing President Reagan to sleep through this news, and one liberal wrote a book about his Administration entitled, “While Reagan Slept.”

Rajiv Gandhi succeeded his mother.  He lost power in 1989 based on accusations of corruption.  A group of Tamil terrorists from Sri Lanka killed him with a bomb in 1991.  Sri Lanka is the pear-shaped island off of the southern coast of India, which obtained its independence in the 1970s.  Sri Lanka has a Buddhist majority, and the Tamils are in a Hindu minority and have been fighting for their own independence.  Rajiv Gandhi had sent troops into Sri Lanka under a 1983 agreement to disarm the rebellious Hindus, which was unsuccessful.

Rajiv Gandhi succeeded his mother.  He lost power in 1989 based on accusations of corruption.  A group of Tamil terrorists from Sri Lanka killed him with a bomb in 1991.  Sri Lanka is the pear-shaped island off of the southern coast of India, which obtained its independence in 1948.  Sri Lanka has a Buddhist majority, and the Tamils are in a Hindu minority and have been fighting for their own independence.  Rajiv Gandhi had sent troops into Sri Lanka under a 1983 agreement to disarm the rebellious Hindus, which was unsuccessful.

In the early 1970s, the eastern section of Pakistan ceased to exist.  Though they shared the same religion of Islam, the eastern and western parts of Pakistan had different ethnicities and languages and were separated by over a thousand miles.  In 1971, Indian-backed forces overthrew the government of East Pakistan and established the new country of Bangladesh.   

In the early 1970s, the eastern section of Pakistan ceased to exist.  Though they shared the same religion of Islam, the eastern and western parts of Pakistan had different ethnicities and languages and were separated by over a thousand miles.  In 1971, Indian-backed forces overthrew the government of East Pakistan and established the new country of Bangladesh.