The Indian Subcontinent – Definition

Defining the constituent countries of the Indian Subcontinent is more of a political than geographical exercise. There are at least five different interpretations of this constituent grouping. Moreover, the acceptance of the term “Indian Subcontinent” to represent this grouping, itself is contested.  Many constituent countries prefer to call it “South Asia” instead of “Indian Subcontinent.” To start off, let’s look at some facts about the Indian Plate. There is a consensus among geophysicists that:

1. The Indian Plate was part of the ancient super-continent of Gondwana.
2. It is thinner than the other tectonic plates, and thus moved quickly.
3. The Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas came into existence due to collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate.
4. The Indian Plate consists of modern day countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Autonomous Region of Tibet (China), and Islands of Maldives.

So, if we go by the definition of geophysicists, the Indian Subcontinent includes the following countries:

1. Afghanistan
2. Bhutan
3. Bangladesh
4. India
5. Maldives
6. Nepal
7. Pakistan
8. Sri Lanka
9. Tibet (Autonomous Region of Tibet, China)

Authors of books on political histories of countries closely link the use of the term “Indian Subcontinent” to the successor countries which replaced the British India. Thus, historians exclude Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim, as these were never part of the British India and were recognized by the British as independent states. This leaves us with:

1. Bangladesh
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Mayanmar (Burma was considered a part of the British India till 1937)

However, if we go by the member list of South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC), the grouping comes very close to how geophysicists define it:

1. Bhutan
2. Bangladesh
3. India
4. Maldives
5. Nepal
6. Pakistan
7. Sri Lanka

If you are aware of some other constituent list of countries of the Indian Subcontinent, please share it with us and tell us what rationale is behind it. Ref Map :  SAARC Country Map