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Concept List

Each concept is introduced in exactly one chapter. Labels are exact: use them verbatim.

Chapter 1: What Is South Asia?

  1. South Asia [GEO]
  2. Indian Subcontinent [GEO]
  3. SAARC [GEO]
  4. Himalaya [GEO]
  5. Hindu Kush [GEO]
  6. Indus River [GEO]
  7. Ganges (Ganga) River [GEO]
  8. Brahmaputra River [GEO]
  9. Indo-Gangetic Plain [GEO]
  10. Deccan Plateau [GEO]
  11. Western and Eastern Ghats [GEO]
  12. Thar Desert [GEO]
  13. Monsoon [GEO]
  14. Bay of Bengal [GEO]
  15. Indian Ocean [GEO]
  16. Population of South Asia [GEO]
  17. Regional Diversity [GEO]

Chapter 2: Ancient Roots

  1. Mehrgarh [ANC]
  2. Indus Valley Civilization [ANC]
  3. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro [ANC]
  4. Indus Script [ANC]
  5. Indo-Aryan Migration [ANC]
  6. Vedic Period [ANC]
  7. The Vedas [ANC]
  8. Sanskrit [ANC]
  9. Mahajanapadas [ANC]
  10. Rise of Buddhism and Jainism [ANC]
  11. Maurya Empire [ANC]
  12. Ashoka [ANC]
  13. Edicts of Ashoka [ANC]
  14. Kushan Empire [ANC]
  15. Sangam Age [ANC]
  16. Gupta Empire [ANC]
  17. Nalanda [ANC]

Chapter 3: Empires and Encounters

  1. Indian Ocean Trade [EMP]
  2. Chola Dynasty [EMP]
  3. Sri Lankan Kingdoms [EMP]
  4. Early Islam in South Asia [EMP]
  5. Delhi Sultanate [EMP]
  6. Vijayanagara Empire [EMP]
  7. Bhakti Movement [EMP]
  8. Sufism [EMP]
  9. Guru Nanak [EMP]
  10. Mughal Empire [EMP]
  11. Akbar [EMP]
  12. Indo-Persian Culture [EMP]
  13. Taj Mahal [EMP]
  14. Maratha Empire [EMP]
  15. Durrani Empire [EMP]
  16. European Traders [EMP]
  17. East India Company [EMP]

Chapter 4: Colonialism, Independence, and Partition

  1. Battle of Plassey [MOD]
  2. Revolt of 1857 [MOD]
  3. British Raj [MOD]
  4. Princely States [MOD]
  5. Anglo-Afghan Wars [MOD]
  6. Bengal Famine of 1943 [MOD]
  7. Indian National Congress [MOD]
  8. All-India Muslim League [MOD]
  9. Mahatma Gandhi [MOD]
  10. Satyagraha [MOD]
  11. B. R. Ambedkar [MOD]
  12. Muhammad Ali Jinnah [MOD]
  13. Partition of 1947 [MOD]
  14. Radcliffe Line [MOD]
  15. Partition Migration [MOD]
  16. Kashmir Dispute [MOD]
  17. Sri Lankan Independence [MOD]
  18. Language Movement of 1952 [MOD]
  19. Bangladesh Liberation War [MOD]

Chapter 5: Faiths of South Asia

  1. Hinduism [FAITH]
  2. Dharma [FAITH]
  3. Karma and Rebirth [FAITH]
  4. Puja [FAITH]
  5. Buddhism [FAITH]
  6. Theravada and Vajrayana [FAITH]
  7. Jainism [FAITH]
  8. Ahimsa [FAITH]
  9. Islam in South Asia [FAITH]
  10. Sunni and Shia Islam [FAITH]
  11. Sikhism [FAITH]
  12. Guru Granth Sahib [FAITH]
  13. Langar [FAITH]
  14. Christianity in South Asia [FAITH]
  15. Zoroastrians (Parsis) [FAITH]
  16. Jewish Communities [FAITH]
  17. Pilgrimage [FAITH]
  18. Religious Pluralism [FAITH]

Chapter 6: Languages and Scripts

  1. Language Family [LANG]
  2. Indo-Aryan Languages [LANG]
  3. Dravidian Languages [LANG]
  4. Tibeto-Burman Languages [LANG]
  5. Austroasiatic Languages [LANG]
  6. Iranian Languages [LANG]
  7. Eighth Schedule [LANG]
  8. Hindi-Urdu (Hindustani) [LANG]
  9. Bengali Language [LANG]
  10. Tamil Language [LANG]
  11. Brahmi Script [LANG]
  12. Abugida [LANG]
  13. Devanagari [LANG]
  14. Gurmukhi [LANG]
  15. Perso-Arabic Script [LANG]
  16. Code-Switching [LANG]
  17. Heritage Language [LANG]

Chapter 7: Festivals Through the Year

  1. Lunisolar Calendar [FEST]
  2. Islamic Lunar Calendar [FEST]
  3. Diwali [FEST]
  4. Holi [FEST]
  5. Navaratri and Durga Puja [FEST]
  6. Dashain and Tihar [FEST]
  7. Ramadan [FEST]
  8. Eid al-Fitr [FEST]
  9. Eid al-Adha [FEST]
  10. Ashura [FEST]
  11. Vaisakhi [FEST]
  12. Pohela Boishakh [FEST]
  13. Pongal and Makar Sankranti [FEST]
  14. Onam [FEST]
  15. Vesak [FEST]
  16. Losar [FEST]
  17. Nowruz [FEST]
  18. Christmas in South Asia [FEST]

Chapter 8: Food and the Table

  1. Staple Grains [FOOD]
  2. Regional Cuisines [FOOD]
  3. Thali [FOOD]
  4. Masala [FOOD]
  5. Tadka [FOOD]
  6. Dal [FOOD]
  7. Roti and Naan [FOOD]
  8. Biryani [FOOD]
  9. Columbian Exchange [FOOD]
  10. Chai [FOOD]
  11. Street Food [FOOD]
  12. Mithai [FOOD]
  13. Dietary Rules and Faith [FOOD]
  14. Vegetarianism in South Asia [FOOD]
  15. Halal [FOOD]
  16. Eating With Hands [FOOD]
  17. Hospitality Customs [FOOD]

Chapter 9: Music

  1. Raga [ARTS]
  2. Tala [ARTS]
  3. Sargam [ARTS]
  4. Hindustani Music [ARTS]
  5. Carnatic Music [ARTS]
  6. Gharana [ARTS]
  7. Guru-Shishya Tradition [ARTS]
  8. Sitar [ARTS]
  9. Tabla [ARTS]
  10. Veena [ARTS]
  11. Qawwali [ARTS]
  12. Ghazal [ARTS]
  13. Baul Music [ARTS]
  14. Folk Music [ARTS]
  15. Bhangra [ARTS]
  16. Film Music (Filmi) [ARTS]

Chapter 10: Dance and Theater

  1. Natya Shastra [ARTS]
  2. Rasa [ARTS]
  3. Mudra [ARTS]
  4. Classical Dance [ARTS]
  5. Bharatanatyam [ARTS]
  6. Kathak [ARTS]
  7. Odissi [ARTS]
  8. Kathakali [ARTS]
  9. Kuchipudi [ARTS]
  10. Manipuri Dance [ARTS]
  11. Mohiniyattam [ARTS]
  12. Sattriya [ARTS]
  13. Folk Dance [ARTS]
  14. Garba [ARTS]
  15. Kandyan Dance [ARTS]
  16. Attan [ARTS]
  17. Shadow Puppetry [ARTS]

Chapter 11: Art, Architecture, and Craft

  1. Stupa [CRAFT]
  2. Hindu Temple Architecture [CRAFT]
  3. Jali [CRAFT]
  4. Mughal Architecture [CRAFT]
  5. Calligraphy [CRAFT]
  6. Mughal Miniature Painting [CRAFT]
  7. Sigiriya [CRAFT]
  8. Thangka [CRAFT]
  9. Madhubani Painting [CRAFT]
  10. Rangoli [CRAFT]
  11. Kolam [CRAFT]
  12. Mehndi [CRAFT]
  13. Terracotta [CRAFT]
  14. Block Printing [CRAFT]
  15. Truck Art [CRAFT]
  16. Rickshaw Art [CRAFT]

Chapter 12: Clothing and Textiles

  1. Cotton in South Asia [CRAFT]
  2. Silk Weaving [CRAFT]
  3. Jamdani [CRAFT]
  4. Ikat [CRAFT]
  5. Pashmina [CRAFT]
  6. Khadi [CRAFT]
  7. Saree [CRAFT]
  8. Dhoti [CRAFT]
  9. Lungi [CRAFT]
  10. Kurta [CRAFT]
  11. Shalwar Kameez [CRAFT]
  12. Dupatta [CRAFT]
  13. Gho and Kira [CRAFT]
  14. Turban (Dastar) [CRAFT]
  15. Bindi [CRAFT]
  16. Bangles [CRAFT]

Chapter 13: Family, Names, and Life Events

  1. Joint Family [SOC]
  2. Kinship Terms [SOC]
  3. Respect for Elders [SOC]
  4. Naming Traditions [SOC]
  5. Surnames [SOC]
  6. Varna and Jati [SOC]
  7. Caste System [SOC]
  8. Caste Discrimination Laws [SOC]
  9. Life-Cycle Rituals [SOC]
  10. Coming-of-Age Rites [SOC]
  11. Weddings [SOC]
  12. Arranged Marriage [SOC]
  13. Mehndi Night and Sangeet [SOC]
  14. Nikah [SOC]
  15. Anand Karaj [SOC]
  16. Funeral Customs [SOC]
  17. Gender Roles and Change [SOC]

Chapter 14: Stories and Literature

  1. Oral Tradition [LIT]
  2. Ramayana [LIT]
  3. Mahabharata [LIT]
  4. Bhagavad Gita [LIT]
  5. Jataka Tales [LIT]
  6. Panchatantra [LIT]
  7. Sangam Literature [LIT]
  8. Kalidasa [LIT]
  9. Kabir [LIT]
  10. Akbar and Birbal Tales [LIT]
  11. Mirza Ghalib [LIT]
  12. Rabindranath Tagore [LIT]
  13. Kazi Nazrul Islam [LIT]
  14. Allama Iqbal [LIT]
  15. Partition Literature [LIT]
  16. South Asian English Writing [LIT]

Chapter 15: Cinema, Cricket, and Pop Culture

  1. Bollywood [POP]
  2. Regional Cinemas [POP]
  3. Satyajit Ray [POP]
  4. Pakistani Cinema [POP]
  5. Playback Singing [POP]
  6. Pakistani Dramas [POP]
  7. Coke Studio [POP]
  8. Global South Asian Pop [POP]
  9. Streaming Era [POP]
  10. Representation in Media [POP]
  11. Cricket [POP]
  12. India-Pakistan Rivalry [POP]
  13. Field Hockey [POP]
  14. Kabaddi [POP]
  15. Carrom [POP]

Chapter 16: Science, Math, and Ideas

  1. Brahmi Numerals [IDEA]
  2. Place Value System [IDEA]
  3. Zero [IDEA]
  4. Aryabhata [IDEA]
  5. Brahmagupta [IDEA]
  6. Hindu-Arabic Numerals [IDEA]
  7. Al-Biruni [IDEA]
  8. Kerala School [IDEA]
  9. Panini's Grammar [IDEA]
  10. Ayurveda [IDEA]
  11. Sushruta Samhita [IDEA]
  12. Unani Medicine [IDEA]
  13. Yoga [IDEA]
  14. Chaturanga [IDEA]
  15. Wootz Steel [IDEA]
  16. Srinivasa Ramanujan [IDEA]
  17. C. V. Raman [IDEA]

Chapter 17: India

  1. Republic of India [NATION]
  2. Constitution of India [NATION]
  3. Parliament of India [NATION]
  4. Elections in India [NATION]
  5. New Delhi [NATION]
  6. States and Union Territories [NATION]
  7. Linguistic States [NATION]
  8. Northeast India [NATION]
  9. South India [NATION]
  10. Adivasi Communities [NATION]
  11. Unity in Diversity [NATION]
  12. National Symbols of India [NATION]
  13. Indian Economy [NATION]
  14. Indian Rupee [NATION]
  15. ISRO [NATION]

Chapter 18: Pakistan and Afghanistan

  1. Islamic Republic of Pakistan [NATION]
  2. Islamabad [NATION]
  3. Provinces of Pakistan [NATION]
  4. Punjab Region [NATION]
  5. Lahore [NATION]
  6. Sindh [NATION]
  7. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [NATION]
  8. Balochistan [NATION]
  9. Urdu as National Language [NATION]
  10. Afghanistan [NATION]
  11. Kabul [NATION]
  12. Dari and Pashto [NATION]
  13. Pashtunwali [NATION]
  14. Khyber Pass [NATION]
  15. Buddhas of Bamiyan [NATION]
  16. Afghan Carpets [NATION]

Chapter 19: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

  1. People's Republic of Bangladesh [NATION]
  2. Dhaka [NATION]
  3. Bengal Delta [NATION]
  4. Sundarbans [NATION]
  5. Rivers and Floods [NATION]
  6. Ekushey February [NATION]
  7. Garment Industry [NATION]
  8. Microfinance [NATION]
  9. Sri Lanka [NATION]
  10. Colombo [NATION]
  11. Anuradhapura [NATION]
  12. Sinhala Language [NATION]
  13. Sri Lankan Tamils [NATION]
  14. Sri Lankan Civil War [NATION]
  15. Ceylon Tea [NATION]
  16. Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) [NATION]

Chapter 20: Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives

  1. Nepal [NATION]
  2. Kathmandu Valley [NATION]
  3. Mount Everest [NATION]
  4. Sherpa People [NATION]
  5. Gurkhas [NATION]
  6. Lumbini [NATION]
  7. Nepal's Republic (2008) [NATION]
  8. Bhutan [NATION]
  9. Dzongkha [NATION]
  10. Dzong [NATION]
  11. Gross National Happiness [NATION]
  12. Maldives [NATION]
  13. Atolls [NATION]
  14. Malé [NATION]
  15. Dhivehi [NATION]
  16. Sea-Level Rise [NATION]

Chapter 21: The South Asian Diaspora

  1. Diaspora [DIAS]
  2. Indentured Labor [DIAS]
  3. Indo-Caribbean Communities [DIAS]
  4. South Asians in East Africa [DIAS]
  5. Uganda Expulsion of 1972 [DIAS]
  6. British South Asians [DIAS]
  7. Gulf Migrant Workers [DIAS]
  8. Remittances [DIAS]
  9. Punjabi Pioneers in California [DIAS]
  10. Bhagat Singh Thind Case [DIAS]
  11. Immigration Act of 1965 [DIAS]
  12. South Asians in Minnesota [DIAS]
  13. Model Minority Myth [DIAS]
  14. Post-9/11 Backlash [DIAS]
  15. Desi Identity [DIAS]
  16. Transnational Families [DIAS]

Chapter 22: Bring It Home

  1. Cultural Identity [ID]
  2. Hyphenated Identity [ID]
  3. Third Culture Kids [ID]
  4. Stereotypes [ID]
  5. Colorism [ID]
  6. Cultural Appropriation [ID]
  7. Cultural Appreciation [ID]
  8. Intergenerational Dialogue [ID]
  9. Oral History [ID]
  10. Informed Consent [ID]
  11. Active Listening [ID]
  12. Cultural Preservation [ID]
  13. Allyship [ID]
  14. Student Clubs [ID]
  15. Community Organizing [ID]
  16. Community Impact [ID]

Appendices

  1. Transliteration [LANG]
  2. Phonetic Respelling [LANG]
  3. Calendar Conversion [FEST]