Strengths and weaknesses of South Asian society...

Like all other places in the world, South Asia has its own set of pros and cons; being a large combined continent has innumerable amounts of advantages and disadvantages both. We often focus on the cons and the bad parts of South Asia, especially if someone has a more westernized thought process, they think of South Asians as being backwards. However this is untrue, and one of the more pressing issues of South Asians is that they lack self-confidence and have a sense of inferiority because  they have been colonized and are still indirectly controlled by the West.

However, let’s take a look at the weaknesses of South Asia first. The main clichéd, yet extremely huge disadvantage is the overpopulation and poverty. This problem also relates to the problem of poverty in the sub continent, when there are so many people in a country so economically challenged, poverty streams from such a nation. The vicious cycle between overpopulation, poverty and a failed economy acts as an ever constant bane adding to the problems of this society. This is because when a whole subcontinent is deprived of the basic necessities of life, how can you expect it to survive in other aspects of the way a subcontinent is supposed to be.

Also, the South Asian sub-continent lacks unity, faith or discipline. The same traits our leaders hoped we would acquire and use in our daily lives. Unfortunately the leaders South Asia has seen over the years following its inception have left the area with no vision and have made us a corrupt nation starving for our own selfish interests.

Talking now about the good parts of the South Asian society, one such important trait that we posses is our rich culture and diversity. Though people can also consider multiculturalism as a negative trait for our nation, I believe that our multiculturalism can also be our strength, if we make it that way. If we become tolerant and start looking at unity within the diversity, we are actually a nation of many hidden talents. And our hardworking nature complements this very factor perfectly, only if we let ourselves shine.

South Asia also has tangible advantages; it is rich in resources and has strategic geographical locations with both land and water access that makes other countries clamoring for a place in its industries. Also, we are a growing nation of nuclear powers.

Lastly, South-Asians are extremely good hosts and the fact is, that they are an extremely strong society of people. They know how to make it when they have nothing or they will die trying. 

            To conclude, South Asia is a society full of hidden treasures, but we are not standing up to our true potentials because of unrest, intolerance and our lack of faith within ourselves. We have idolized the West for too long, and indirectly believe them to be our masters, who makes us forget our sense of independence and makes us dependent upon the others, and it restricts us from reaching the level that we could reach if we had the right mindsets.


Tehreem Fatima Rajani