[Sam L]

Copycat thread. For the purposes of this thread, I'll take a liberal approach and include all regions of "Greater" South Asia including Iran to the west, Burma to the east, Afghanistan/Tibet to the north and everything in between.

Let's talk about the languages (Sanskrit/Pali and others), cuisine (my favourites falooda and dosa and anything else Indian/vegetarian), culture (Bollywood), art and literature (who's read Mahabharata/Ramayana?), history (Achaemenids/Mauryans/Guptas), religions (Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism/Sikhism/Zoroastrianism) of this region. And politics and anything else we want to talk about. And also travel. I haven't been to a lot of these places and would love to go there.

For now I'll leave you with a picture of Varanasi, as put by Mark Twain: "... older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

[Ashi]

Good thread. I'm game.

I'm pretty woeful at history. Always got good grades, but I don't seem to remember a lot of Ancient Indian History because even being Indian it was the toughest to remember.

Not that I've travelled extensively in India, I've seen most cities in Rajasthan, Kerala & Tamil Nadu. A bit of Karnataka & Maharashtra.

Amongst temples, the Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu, Rajasthan are a highlight IMO.

[Sam L]

Originally Posted by Ashi

Good thread. I'm game.

I'm pretty woeful at history. Always got good grades, but I don't seem to remember a lot of Ancient Indian History because even being Indian it was the toughest to remember.

Not that I've travelled extensively in India, I've seen most cities in Rajasthan, Kerala & Tamil Nadu. A bit of Karnataka & Maharashtra.

Amongst temples, the Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu, Rajasthan are a highlight IMO.

Not sure how popular it's going to be but we'll see I guess.

Ancient Indian history is so complex especially given how quite divided the Subcontinent is at most periods of history. I have a fairly good understanding of the Northern Indian dynasties/history but not so the southern ones.

I would love to read Mahavamsa also. Anyone game to enter into this discussion?

That's quite a lot. A lot more than what I've been to. I would love to go to the Ellora caves in Maharashtra. I'm aiming maybe around this time next year to do India/Nepal/Sri Lanka at the very least.

[Sammo]

Would Indonesia qualify as South Asia? Or just South-East Asia?

[Sam L]

Originally Posted by Sammo

Would Indonesia qualify as South Asia? Or just South-East Asia?

No. There's heavy influence from India historically (sphere of influence) but probably not the since the coming of Islam there and geographically definitely no, unlike say Burma or Tibet.

You can start your own South East Asia thread with McPie.

[Ashi]

Originally Posted by Sam L

Not sure how popular it's going to be but we'll see I guess.

Ancient Indian history is so complex especially given how quite divided the Subcontinent is at most periods of history. I have a fairly good understanding of the Northern Indian dynasties/history but not so the southern ones.

I would love to read Mahavamsa also. Anyone game to enter into this discussion?

That's quite a lot. A lot more than what I've been to. I would love to go to the Ellora caves in Maharashtra. I'm aiming maybe around this time next year to do India/Nepal/Sri Lanka at the very least.

I haven't been to the Ellora caves, but my dad has.
Are you Indian? Where have you visited in India?
I'd love to visit Rishikesh, Leh & Ladakh in Kashmir.

[Expat]

Bollywood isn't cultural at all.
Anyway South Asia can't be discussed without the biggest religion in South Asia probably now itself and most definitely in the future: Islam and its impact on South Asians. So I am not sure why Indonesia can't be included.

[Ashi]

Originally Posted by Expat

Bollywood isn't cultural at all.
Anyway South Asia can't be discussed without the biggest religion in South Asia probably now itself and most definitely in the future: Islam and its impact on South Asians. So I am not sure why Indonesia can't be included.

Party pooper. For a Mumbaikar, there is no other culture than Bollywood.

Although you'd have to be real careful about what films to recommend in order to imbibe the reality. Becuase 'real' doesn't always work at the box office.

Yes, Bollywood is not as influencial in the South. Regional cinema rules in Andra Pradesh, Bengal, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka.

Rajnikant & Kamal Hasan are bigger, badder than the Big B Bachchan. There's always going to be tussle about whether Hindi is as important to South Indians as to the rest of India.

[Start da Game]

bollywood died the moment they started making films for the westerners......which is around 2003 or so......most of the bollywood films these days = heavily western influenced crap......

[Start da Game]

i genuinely dislike categorizing hindusthan(india) under asia......

[Start da Game]

Originally Posted by Sam L

Copycat thread. For the purposes of this thread, I'll take a liberal approach and include all regions of "Greater" South Asia including Iran to the west, Burma to the east, Afghanistan/Tibet to the north and everything in between.

Let's talk about the languages (Sanskrit/Pali and others), cuisine (my favourites falooda and dosa and anything else Indian/vegetarian), culture (Bollywood), art and literature (who's read Mahabharata/Ramayana?), history (Achaemenids/Mauryans/Guptas), religions (Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism/Sikhism/Zoroastrianism) of this region. And politics and anything else we want to talk about. And also travel. I haven't been to a lot of these places and would love to go there.

For now I'll leave you with a picture of Varanasi, as put by Mark Twain: "... older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

i am willing to bet that most indians aren't even aware of half of what some of the westerners know about india and its rich historical heritage......

but at the same time, i don't blame anybody for that......it is only natural that you get attracted to something outside rather than being fascinated to what you already have with you......

[Ashi]

Originally Posted by Start da Game

i genuinely dislike categorizing hindusthan(india) under asia......

Why so?
It's Bharat now, not Hindustan.

[Sam L]

Originally Posted by Ashi

I haven't been to the Ellora caves, but my dad has.
Are you Indian? Where have you visited in India?
I'd love to visit Rishikesh, Leh & Ladakh in Kashmir.

Originally Posted by Start da Game

i am willing to bet that most indians aren't even aware of half of what some of the westerners know about india and its rich historical heritage......

but at the same time, i don't blame anybody for that......it is only natural that you get attracted to something outside rather than being fascinated to what you already have with you......

I'm not Indian but I'm not exactly a stranger to this region. See my rep.

Originally Posted by Expat

Bollywood isn't cultural at all.
Anyway South Asia can't be discussed without the biggest religion in South Asia probably now itself and most definitely in the future: Islam and its impact on South Asians. So I am not sure why Indonesia can't be included.

Indonesia is not South Asia by any definition. By that logic, you might as well include Saudi Arabia. You can talk about Islam, if you want. I don't know much about it and personally, there are many other things about South Asia to talk about other than Islam.

[bulava]

Originally Posted by Sam L

Ancient Indian history is so complex especially given how quite divided the Subcontinent is at most periods of history. I have a fairly good understanding of the Northern Indian dynasties/history but not so the southern ones.

Then I would suggest you to start from this one:

Satavahana Empire held for more than 400 hundred years. Lot of information is there on Wiki. Example, look at the work/skill from 1st Century BCE:



Many from the present generation in India don't have a clue about them.

[bulava]

Originally Posted by Start da Game

but at the same time, i don't blame anybody for that......it is only natural that you get attracted to something outside rather than being fascinated to what you already have with you......

It's nothing wrong if people tend to get attracted from the outside world. Key is to balance, never forget the roots. We need to know/learn from all parts of the world. But people tend to (mis)understand when we say world then it should be Western countries, thanks to globalization. That's quite incorrect. If one goes to Japan, China, Israel etc he/she could learn many fascinating things...whatever maybe the region/country if one tries to absorb/apply the good and leave the bad, that should suffice