Hinglish

Myanmar and Afghanistan

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 14: India and Her Neighbours · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 14.4

Learn

Myanmar (once Burma) shares a land border with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, and a sea boundary in the Bay of Bengal. As the land of the Buddha, India draws many pilgrims from Myanmar. It is India's gateway to Southeast Asia: a 2018 agreement eased crossings for border people, and India helped restore the earthquake-damaged Ananda temple in Bagan. The India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway from Manipur aims to link the three by road.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country that once touched India directly; since 1947 Pakistan lies between them. The ancient Uttarāpatha route ran from the Ganga plains through Takṣhaśhilā and Gandhāra into Central Asia, carrying goods, Buddhism, Hinduism and art. Before the 7th century, Afghanistan was a centre of Buddhist and Hindu culture; the giant Bamiyan Buddhas stood there until they were destroyed in 2001. India has since helped build Afghanistan's Parliament building, the Zaranj–Delaram highway, schools and hospitals.

Explore: Myanmar or Afghanistan?

  1. Sort each clue.

Remember

  • Myanmar links India's northeast to Southeast Asia and shares Buddhist ties.
  • Afghanistan was linked by the Uttarāpatha; India helps it with roads and buildings.

Quick check

Why is Myanmar called India's gateway to Southeast Asia?

  1. its land link joins India's northeast to Thailand and beyond
  2. it is an island
  3. it borders Pakistan
  4. it has no roads
Answer

its land link joins India's northeast to Thailand and beyond. The Trilateral Highway is meant to strengthen that link.

Think about it

Why might a landlocked country value good relations with its neighbours?

One answer

Without a coast, all its trade must pass through neighbours' land or ports, so friendly relations keep its imports, exports and travel flowing.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.