South Asia’ possesses significant place in the annals of human history. Bounded by Middle Asia and mighty Himalayan range in the north, gulf countries and Arabian Sea in the west, vast Indian Ocean in south and Bay of Bengal and Myanmar in the east, South Asia is strategically located on the world map. Many ancient civilizations and great world religions originated and flourished in South Asia. Ancient civilizations like Harappa and Indus Valley, and great religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are to account among these. The region is also unique demographically, racially, religiously, economically, socio-culturally and politically. A large segment of world population inhabits in South Asia. Though grouped under ‘developing countries’ manifested by many problems—poverty, hunger, overpopulation, unemployment, political instability, insurgency and social turmoil, health hazards, etc. rich biodiversity, climatic variations, exotic fauna and flora, mineral and marine resources, abode of many autochthones, and a hot bed of world politics and economy are some of the salient features of the region. Encyclopaedia of South Asia (in fifteen volumes) is designed to present the region in new perspective. Arranged country-wise alphabetically the succinct information gathered herein is drawn from the writings of various scholars of eminence. Volumes first and second deal with Bangladesh, a rather newly emerged nation-state among the comity of nations. Study of Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, the land of Dragon, comprises the subject matter of volumes three to five. India, the biggest country of the South Asia having second largest population share in the world and successful democratic republic is given elaborate treatment in three volumes, i.e. volumes six to eight. Himalayan monarchical Democracy of Nepal is portrayed in multidisciplinary way in two volumes. Islamic country Pakistan is given competent treatment in further two volumes eleven and twelve. In the last three volumes the island country of Sri Lanka is portrayed multifacetedly under twenty chapters. Thus, the wide yet panoramic coverage of different countries of South Asia presented in this work will prove of reliable reference value to the scholars, policy makers and laymen equally. Efforts are made to collate latest and well researched material.
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