Chapter 14: India and Her Neighbours
Our neighbours are not only the countries across our land borders but also those across the sea. In this chapter we meet India's land neighbours, from China and Pakistan to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan, and her maritime neighbours, from Sri Lanka and the Maldives to Southeast Asia, Iran and Oman, and see how geography, history and culture tie us together.
In this chapter you will
- distinguish land and maritime neighbours
- describe India's ties with each neighbour
- explain how Buddhism, trade and culture spread across Asia
- give examples of regional cooperation
Topics
- Framing the Neighbourhood NCERT 14.1
Land neighbours share borders; maritime neighbours are linked across the sea.
- China and Pakistan NCERT 14.2
Buddhism and trade link India and China, though border tensions persist.
- Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan NCERT 14.3
Bangladesh shares language, rivers and the Sundarban with India; Nepal has an open border.
- Myanmar and Afghanistan NCERT 14.4
Myanmar links India's northeast to Southeast Asia and shares Buddhist ties.
- Sri Lanka and the Maldives NCERT 14.5
Sri Lanka, 32 km across the Palk Strait, shares Buddhist and epic heritage with India.
- Neighbours in Southeast Asia NCERT 14.6
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia show deep Indian cultural imprints in names, scripts, epics and monuments.
- Iran and Oman NCERT 14.7
Iran and India share ancient language, religion and trade links; India is developing Chabahar.
Key words
- Maritime neighbour
- a country linked by a shared sea
- Regionalism
- countries of a region working together
- Open border
- crossing without passport or visa
- Landlocked
- having no coastline
- Archipelago
- a large group of islands
- SAARC
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (1985)
- Suvarṇabhūmi
- the golden land, old name for Southeast Asian lands
- Stūpa
- a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine with relics
Summary
- India has land neighbours on her borders and maritime neighbours across the Indian Ocean.
- Relations range from tense (Pakistan, China) to very close (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh).
- Buddhism, trade routes and the epics carried Indian culture peacefully across Asia.
- Today India works with neighbours on trade, ports, highways, energy and disaster relief.