South Asia Country Profiles
The Center for South Asian Studies' focus on the region of South Asia – including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives – seeks to bring k-12 teachers across the disciplines current and ongoing research in an effective and usable manner.
The links below, The World Fact Book and the BBC Country Profiles, provide excellent information about the South Asian region's countries. The links listed under each country will take you directly to that country's web page. We also urge you to contact the embassies directly for more resources and information. Another practical classroom resource is the Lonely Planet.
Bangladesh
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
Honorary Consul in Illinois: Mr. Monir Choudhury
5230 N Leclaire Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
Phone: (773) 796-8292
Email: monirc.honconsul@gmail.com
Bhutan
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
India
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Indian American Student Association (IASA) at the University of Michigan
New India Times
India Consulate General -Illinois
Mr. Surendra Kumar- Consul General
455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive
Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60611
USA
ph: 312.595.0405
fax: 312.595.0416
Maldives
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
Nepal
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
Honorary Consul: Mr. Marvin A. Brustin
10 North Dearborn St. 7th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: 312.263.1250
Email: mablaw1@voyager.net
Pakistan
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN-WASHINGTON DC
Ambassador: Mr Ashraf Jehangir Qazi
3517 International Court, NW
Washington DC, 20008
Phone: 202.243.6500
Email : info@embassyofpakistan.org
Sri Lanka
The World Fact Book
BBC News Country Profile
EMBASSY OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
Ambassador: Bernard Goonetilleke
Chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20008
Phone: 202.483.4025 ex. 28
Email : slembassy@slembassyusa.org
consular@slembassyusa.org (for consular matters)
Tibet
The World Fact Book: Noted as part of China. Little information given.
BBC News Country Profile
Information on Web Resources
Opportunities for Educators in Michigan
Resources for Classroom Use
- Drawing the Line: an analysis of political borders and India's tenuous relationship with its neighbors
- This innovative lesson plan by Amy Perkins, from Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, MI is designed for Grades 9-12. It's a close analysis of India's ongoing border disputes, focusing largely on its tense relationship with Pakistan and the crisis in Kashmir. The unit connects the legacy of British imperialism to current events.
- Teach-In on Thirty Years of Indian and Pakistani History: Bangladesh; from the Midnight’s Children Humanities Festival
- Columbia University's Southern Asian Institute maintains interesting audio recordings of scholars addressing particular issues of Bangladesh's History
- The University Musical Society (UMS) Youth & Teacher Programs and Performances
- Offering student performances, teacher workshops and lesson planning guides connected to the performances, the UMS education programs are a phenomenal resource for K-14 teachers.
- Words Without Borders
South Asia Centers and Other Resources
World History Resources
Information on Afghanistan
Information on Nepal
Himalayan Art, University of Michigan
Sri Lanka: Photographic Archive of Professor Howard Wilson
- The Ancient Indian and Iran Trust
- Resources on human rights and politics in Sri Lanka
American Institute of Indian Studies
- American Institute of Indian Studies
- The web site is intended to be a resource with information about curricula, internship opportunities in South Asia, language learning and fellowship opportunities, etc. It is also meant to be interactive so scholars are encouraged to add resources. Funding for the workshop and web site was provided by the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation of New York through the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.
- Web site for AIIS workshop on women in South Asian Muslim societies, in partnership with the University of Chicago South Asia Language and Area Center, the American Institute of Pakistan Studies and the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies, on women in South Asian Muslim.
Professional Organizations and Community Partnerships
With the hope of bringing our resources directly to teachers and students, the Center for South Asian Studies is proud to partner with several groups as we work towards internationalizing curriculum and classrooms across the state:
- Michigan Council for the Social Studies (MCSS)
- Michigan World Language Association (MIWLA)
- The Midwest Institute for International/Intercultural Education (MIIIE)
- Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS)
- Oakland Independent School District
- Detroit Institute for the Arts Education
- Michigan Asian Arts Society
- U-M Osher Lifelong Learning Center
- U-M School of Education Secondary Education Teacher Training Program
- Eastern Michigan University Secondary Education Teacher Training Program
