Both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, in their different ways, spoke of the moral, social, and political regeneration of India as the true basis of self-rule. As this essay points out, these optimistic visions have been largely frustrated.

When India became independent, the peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims unraveled. The resultant partitioning of India and Pakistan is reviewed in this article.

The partition of India in 1947 was the logical outcome of Britain's policies of dividing and ruling. For the Pakistanis it was their founding moment, and it gave the Muslims their separate identity. For the Bangladeshis it was a prelude to their own nation-state, which was realized in 1971.

Jean Alphonse Bernard considers the key provinces of Bengal and Punjab. How they became powderkegs in the nationalist aspirations of both the Hindus and the Muslims is examined in this report.

The Indian government sent a defiant message when it began nuclear testing in May 1998. As Payal Sampat points out, the people of India feel the real threat comes from their own country.

Future prospects for India are threatened by economics and not by their democratic politics. India's population is enormously diversified, and when an election is held, it is the largest organized human activity ever. Their form of government has worked very well for the country.

As India experiences the pressures of a free market, its society begins to polarize. A strong middle class is emerging, but at the same time enormous numbers of people are still mired in poverty.

India used to pride itself on poverty-stricken self-sufficiency. Now it seeks growth, exports, and foreign investment, and the economy is booming.

Indian law sets 18 as the minimum age for a women to marry and 21 for a man. In spite of legislation to curb it, child marriages still continue in virtually every state in India. Research indicates that child marriages keep India well behind in women's rights.

The role of women in India has undergone some changes, but many of the historical problems persist. Tanika Sarkar examines the evolving position of women in India before 1947 and since its independence.

The Zoroastrian religion dates back to sometime before 600 B.C. and was imported from what is now eastern Iran. However, current social pressures are working to extinguish this ancient religion.

A process developed in India, which turns cow dung into a flammable gas that is an excellent source of electric power and turns a byproduct into an excellent fertilizer, may help in the formation of a decentralized energy strategy not only in India but also in other developing countries.

As India rushes into the age of technology, as well as developing nuclear weapons, the passion for the ancient ritual of bathing in the Ganges shows no signs of dwindling.

The Ganges River is slowly declining due to the steady flow of municipal and industrial waste. Municipal sewage accounts for 80% by volume of total waste dumped into the river, while industrial waste constitutes 15%. Ironically, although the river is viewed as a figure of purification not only by Hindus but by other religious denominations, Indians persist in dumping the ashes of their dead into it. Government efforts to clean up the river have failed due to poor planning, technological mismanagement and corruption.

Richard Mackenzie reviews Afghanistan's long and tumultuous history. The takeover by the extremist movement known as the Taliban and changes that have occurred as a result are examined in this report.

A Bank for the Poor: Credit Where Credit's Due, Muhammad Yunus, The Guardian (London), October, 1998.

The Grameen Bank, which became a pioneering institution that has encouraged the social and political emancipation of needy women in Bangladesh, is described by Muhammed Yunus.

While Pakistan is in deep economic trouble, its leadership is not doing much to improve its plight. This, coupled with the fact that it has nuclear capability, makes for an uncertain future.

After Pakistan staged nuclear tests in 1998, the international credit community imposed sanctions. These articles review the importance of restoring important credit resources so Pakistan can get out of the economic hole it is in.

There does not seem to be an end in sight to the 15-year-old separatist war in Sri Lanka. The government and its armed forces opponents are perpetuating the conflict for their own needs.

China has had control over Tibet since 1950, and during this time it has tried to impose Chinese culture on the Tibet people. The struggle continues to the present.

In this speech by the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, the plight of his country is outlined. Since China made Tibet an "autonomous region" under Chinese control, Tibet has faced only repression.

The Dalai Lama of Tibet contends that people must create a world governed by peace and goodwill to achieve contentment and happiness. The respect and attention people give to the well being of others would likewise improve their lives This situation paves the way for the optimal functioning of human rights.