Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about India and Neighbouring Countries from Class 7 Social_Science. In this lesson, we will learn about India's relations with its neighbouring countries as a part of its foreign policy. Our learning objectives are to know India's diplomatic relations with its neighbours, appreciate peaceful understanding, know economic, educational and cultural relations, understand border problems, wars, terrorist activities, communal problems and water disputes, and develop an attitude of loving neighbouring countries. The economic affairs of South Asia are India-centred. India plays an important role in South Asian affairs due to its large size, geographical conditions, economic and military powers. Our seven neighbouring countries are China, Nepal and Bhutan to the North, Myanmar and Bangladesh to the East, Pakistan to the North-West, and Sri Lanka to the South. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us observe the map of India and its neighbouring nations. The map clearly shows India situated centrally, with the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south. To the north, we see the Himalayan borders shared with China, Nepal, and Bhutan. To the east, the borders touch Myanmar and Bangladesh. To the north-west lies Pakistan. To the south, across the sea, lies the island nation of Sri Lanka. The map also marks the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep as part of India. India has a rich record of peace, friendly relations and co-operation with its neighbours. Though India has differences over several matters with its neighbours, it wants solutions through peaceful discussions. Let us now know the relations of India with its neighbours. [CHECKPOINT]
First, let us discuss India and Pakistan. Pakistan was a part of India and separated from it as a nation in 1947 during India's independence. Since conflict was the root cause for the separation, there has been no reconciliation between them. Several problems remain unsolved. These include the Kashmir problem, military attacks, terrorism, water disputes, protection of minorities, and development of trade and commerce. Ever since independence, the Kashmir problem has remained a major obstacle in improving India-Pakistan relations. Till now, India and Pakistan have fought four wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. In 1948, Pakistani forces tried to occupy Kashmir and took control of a few areas. It is known as Pak-Occupied Kashmir. India has declared that Kashmir is the integral part of India from the very beginning. After the 1962 Indo-China war, Pakistan maintained close military relations with China. Pakistan ceded 2,700 square kilometres of India's Jammu and Kashmir land area to China. [CHECKPOINT]
In the 1965 war, Indian forces captured more than 80,000 Pakistani soldiers, but released them and handed them over to Pakistan. It was decided that the Kashmir issue should be resolved only through dialogue between India and Pakistan. There was a severe armed conflict between Pakistani forces and India-backed East Pakistani, or Bangladesh, forces. This war is known as the third war between India and Pakistan. In 1971, an India and Pakistan war took place and a summit was held in 1972 at Shimla. During that time, Smt. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. In the summit, it was agreed to solve all problems between the two countries, including the Kashmir issue, only through peaceful and mutual talks. This is known as the Shimla Agreement. In 1999, the then Prime Minister of India, Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, started the Lahore Bus Yatra, a bus service between Amritsar and Pakistan's Lahore, to improve relations. He further tried to establish peace through the Agra summit, but the talks failed. As a result, Pak-backed terrorists attacked the Indian Parliament building on 13 December 2001. This event further diluted mutual relations. Both countries have been engaged in an arms race to strengthen military capabilities. Despite all this, India wants to extend a friendly hand to Pakistan. Activity for you: Discuss India and Pakistan engagement in an arms race. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us move to India and China. China is an important neighbour sharing a long border with India. India tried to secure a permanent seat for China in the United Nations Organization and expected friendly relations since inception. The matters related to Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh are major causes for the Indo-China conflict. India was disappointed when Chinese forces undertook military operations in Tibet in 1950. When China tried to suppress Tibet's sovereignty, India reiterated its commitment to respect human rights and supported the Tibetans. China condemned India's policy and accused it of interfering in internal matters. In 1950, Chinese forces gained military control over Tibet. At this time, India provided shelter to more than 80,000 Tibetan refugees who migrated to India with their spiritual leader Dalai Lama. They were rehabilitated in ten states of India. The Tibetan settlements are found at Bailukuppe in Mysore and Mundagod in Uttara Karnataka, both in Karnataka. [CHECKPOINT]
The discontented Chinese forces tried to occupy many territories in the eastern borders of India, and India protested this move. Activity for you: Prepare a report on the lifestyle of Tibetans rehabilitated at Bailukuppe and Mundagod during your trip with your teacher, or collect information about their lifestyle and religion. The Chinese Prime Minister Chou-En-Lai visited India in 1954 and signed the Panchasheela Treaty with Nehru. India requested China to correct its textbooks, which showed some Indian territories as belonging to China. The Chinese Prime Minister agreed, but no changes were made. In 1962, China launched a major attack intending to occupy territories from the eastern borders to the Ladakh region near Jammu and Kashmir, against the backdrop of the Tibetan problem. China unilaterally declared a truce with India. Before this, it had already occupied around 14,671 square kilometres of Indian territory. Prime Minister Nehru, who signed the Panchasheela treaty, was deeply upset. Even today, the Line of Actual Control maintains the status quo. China's pro-Pakistan policy and the highways built between China and Pakistan remain a matter of concern for India. [CHECKPOINT]
The international border line of 3,440 kilometres between India and China was recognized by Sir McMahon, the then Foreign Secretary of the British-run government, and is therefore called the McMahon Line. In 1962, China attacked eastern Ladakh, specifically the Aksai Chin region, and occupied about 14,671 square kilometres of Indian territory, maintaining its hold to this day. Furthermore, China claims rights over 90,000 square kilometres of area in the borders of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Now, let us learn about India and Nepal. Nepal lies to the north of India, sharing borders with the Himalayan Mountain range. India and Nepal have enjoyed close relations for a long time. Their border areas are free from disputes and remain open for trade and movement of people without interruption. As a landlocked country, Nepal relies on India for contact with other nations. While China also shares a border with Nepal, overseas communication is difficult, so Nepal prefers maintaining good relations with India. [CHECKPOINT]
India-Nepal relations are based on the Friendship and Peace Agreement of 1950. India has specially assisted Nepal in areas like transport, communication, irrigation, power, forestry, and education. Under the 1971 Indo-Nepal trade treaty, India allows the free movement of trade items from Nepal into India without levying any tax. Next is India and Bhutan. According to a 1949 agreement, India assured Bhutan it would not interfere in its internal matters, and Bhutan formally agreed to seek India's help in foreign affairs. India's efforts enabled Bhutan to secure a seat in the United Nations Organization. India extended economic cooperation to Bhutan from 1961 to 1981 and provided complete financial aid for many projects. Bhutan is also a member nation of SAARC. [CHECKPOINT]
Moving south, we have India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island nation located south of India. Emperor Ashoka sent representatives to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism, strengthening cultural ties. Sri Lanka has two prominent communities: the Sinhalese, who are the original inhabitants, and the Tamilians, who migrated from Tamil Nadu. These communities have faced ongoing conflicts, with Tamilians fighting for their rights and a separate Tamil state for decades. Despite this, India wishes to maintain friendly relations and seeks peaceful solutions. Between 1974 and 1976, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement regarding rights over the Katchatheevu island in the Palk Strait, along with a maritime trade agreement. In 1987, Sri Lanka requested India to pacify the Tamilians fighting for a separate state. In 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President Jayewardhene signed an agreement to send Indian Peace Keeping Forces to Sri Lanka. [CHECKPOINT]
The Tamil community in Sri Lanka protested India's decision. A failed attempt was made to assassinate Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during his visit. Despite these tensions, the separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, assassinated Rajiv Gandhi on 21st May 1991. Even after this tragedy, India maintains good relations with Sri Lanka. Following the death of LTTE chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran, revolutionary activities by Sri Lankan Tamilians halted, and the Sri Lankan government continues to seek constitutional solutions. Now, let us discuss India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh was formerly part of Pakistan and known as East Pakistan. Its struggle for independence began in 1960 under the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. When human rights violations occurred in East Pakistan, Indian military intervention became inevitable. After West Pakistan's decisive defeat in 1971, East Pakistan emerged as Bangladesh. [CHECKPOINT]
In 1972, the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh met in Dhaka and signed a twenty-five year treaty for friendship, cooperation, and peace, resolving many bilateral issues. However, challenges remain, such as the migration of Chakma refugees from the Chittagong hilly areas, illegal drug trafficking, and the illegal migration of lakhs of Bangladeshis into Indian territories. Another grave concern is the Government of Bangladesh allegedly harbouring naxalite groups operating in eastern India. Despite these issues, Bangladesh remains a friendly nation to India. Activity for you: Discuss the role of India in the freedom movement of Bangladesh. [CHECKPOINT]
Finally, let us learn about SAARC. South Asian nations formed a regional association for cooperation called SAARC, which came into force in 1985. Initially, it had seven members. Afghanistan joined as the eighth member during the 14th Summit in 2007 at New Delhi. The member nations are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. India launched a satellite exclusively for sharing academic information, allowing all SAARC members to use it. The aims of SAARC are to improve mutual faith and goodwill among South Asian nations, promote the welfare of the people of South Asia, extend cooperation in economic, cultural, technical, and scientific fields, and strengthen relationships with developed countries. However, hurdles remain. SAARC members sometimes expect unilateral responses from India, and viewing India with skepticism and fear hinders progress. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us now review the exercises. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word. One: The Kargil war took place in 1999. Two: The spiritual leader of the Tibetans is Dalai Lama. Three: The person who led the Awami League was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Four: SAARC was established in the year 1985. Five: The refugees who migrated to India from Chittagong hilly areas are the Chakma refugees. Now, answer these questions in two to three sentences each. Six: Which are the neighbouring countries of India? The seven neighbouring countries are China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Seven: Make a list of factors becoming hurdles in improving India-Pak relations. The factors include the Kashmir problem, military attacks, terrorism, water disputes, protection of minorities, and trade development issues. Eight: What are the major causes for Indo-China conflict? The major causes are matters related to Tibet and territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh. Nine: Analyse the role of India in Bangladesh securing its freedom. India intervened militarily due to human rights violations in East Pakistan, leading to West Pakistan's defeat in 1971 and the emergence of Bangladesh. Ten: What are the results of the 1962 India-China war? China unilaterally declared a truce after occupying around 14,671 square kilometres of Indian territory, and the Line of Actual Control maintains the status quo today. Eleven: What are the aims of SAARC? SAARC aims to improve mutual faith, promote welfare, extend cooperation in various fields, and strengthen ties with developed nations. [CHECKPOINT]
Here are your activities for practice. Activity one: Collect information on India's neighbouring nations along with their national flags. Activity two: Locate the neighbouring nations of India on a world map. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]