South Asia

Today

Visual Vocabulary

Democracy
A form of government
by the people, in
which citizens often
elect representatives
to govern them

Federal republic
A democratic form of
government in which
voters elect
representatives and
the central
government shares
power with the states

Infrastructure
The basic systems of a
society such as roads,
bridges, sewers, and
electricity

Outsourcing
The shifting of jobs to
workers outside of a
company, often to a
foreign country

Developed Nations
Countries with a high
per capita gross
domestic product

Developing Nations
Countries with a low
per capita gross
domestic product

Microlending
The practice of
making small loans to
people starting their
own businesses

Modernization
Policies and actions
designed to bring a
country up to date in
technology and other
areas

Accomodate
To make room for

Establish
To put into place

Parliament
The legislative branch
of Indias government

Golden Quadrilateral
A super highway that
connects four major
cities in India

Karma
In Hinduism, the
negative or positive
effect one receives as
a result of his or her
actions

Pilgrimage
A religious journey

Henna
A reddish powder used
to create designs on
skin

Sari
A traditional Indian
garment for women
worm wrapped around
the body

Literacy Rate
The percentage of
people who can read
and write

Shalwar-kameez
A long shirt with loosefitting pants worn in
India and Southwest
Asia

Cricket
A team game similar
to baseball

Popular Culture
The arts, music, and
other elements of
everyday life in a
region

Krishna
In Hinduism, a deity in
the bodily form of
Vishnu

Bollywood
Indias film industry in
Mumbai

Slum
An area in a city that
is crowded, with poor
housing and bad living
conditions

Push-pull Factors
Reasons why people
migrate; push
factors cause them to
leave; pull factors
make them come to a
place

Military Dictatorship
A form of government
in which the army runs
the government

Overpopulation
The condition of too
many people living in
one place

Cyclone
A storm with rotating
winds, called a
typhoon in the Eastern
Hemisphere; a
hurricane in other
parts of the world

Deny
To refuse to recognize

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

A leader of the AllIndia-Muslim League
who helped found
Pakistan and was
Pakistans first
Governor-General
from 1947-1948

Benazir Bhutto
The female prime
minister of Pakistan,
1988-1999