SOUTH ASIA
South Asia, as its name suggests, represents the southern region of the Asian continent. For this lesson, we include the following countries in the region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is home to over one fifth of the world's population, making it the most populous and the most densely populated region in the world. It is home to a vast array of peoples and cultures. Below is a map of the region.
As you can see in the map, the region is surrounded by bodies of water such as the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Ocean serves as the boundary of the region in the south. These bodies of water affect the climate of the region year round, affecting the way the lives of the people in the region are lived. Most of the region is found on the Indian Plate. A little bit of history: The Indian subcontinent was a small continent before colliding with the Eurasian Plate about 50 to 55 million years ago. The collision gave birth to the Himalayan Range and the Tibetan Plateau. Below is a graphic showing the collision million years ago:
I already mentioned the great effects of the three large bodies of water on the climate of the region. The region's climate varies from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate climate in the north. Other factors affecting climate in the region is latitude, proximity to the water of bodies, and the seasonal impact of the monsoons, as well as landforms such as mountains and plateaus, and elevation. The climate also affects what kinds of vegetation are grown in the region. Its Monsoon climate keeps the region humid during the summer and dry during winter, favoring the cultivation of jute, tea, rice, and various vegetables.
WIZARDING SOUTH ASIA
As we have learned in the past lesson, the term Far East is also occasionally used to signify the places part of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, which are countries of South Asia. This implies the existence of magical creatures such as demiguise, occamy, and re'em. It also follows that like the case of East Asia, the region is also a good breeding ground for illegal magical creatures which would later be moved to England. India being a previous British colony supports this information. There are somehow many sources of information for the region. Let us tackle this information by country. Let's start with the first one.
Bangladesh is an important country in the region, due to it being the place where the magic carpet was invented. The magic carpet is the country's main source of transportation, making Quidditch and broomsticks never progress in the area. Due to proximity, I could say that magic carpets are the most influential means of transportation in the whole South Asia region.
Pakistan is another country in South Asia. It has its own Ministry of Magic, making it affiliated with the wizarding world. It is also said to have flourishing trade of flying carpets, suggesting the rarity of broomsticks in the region. Qizilbash Quality Confectionary, the company producing Cauldron Cakes, is from this country. They had been mass producing cauldron cakes since 1854. Below is a picture of the company's logo.
Bangladesh is an important country in the region, due to it being the place where the magic carpet was invented. The magic carpet is the country's main source of transportation, making Quidditch and broomsticks never progress in the area. Due to proximity, I could say that magic carpets are the most influential means of transportation in the whole South Asia region.
Pakistan is another country in South Asia. It has its own Ministry of Magic, making it affiliated with the wizarding world. It is also said to have flourishing trade of flying carpets, suggesting the rarity of broomsticks in the region. Qizilbash Quality Confectionary, the company producing Cauldron Cakes, is from this country. They had been mass producing cauldron cakes since 1854. Below is a picture of the company's logo.
Nepal is a country in South Asia, positioned between India and China. Its capital is Kathmandu. According to Goshawk's Guide to Herbology, there is a wizard in Nepal who grows gravity resistant trees. This tree is presumably to float. The invention could be due to the country's high elevation and/or lack of good land for raising vegetation. I also assume the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest, to have significant impact on the wizarding population in the region. Spells having to do with earthquake, terrestrial movement could be popular disciplines in the area since they are living in a very active zone of plate tectonics.
Lastly, we proceed to the largest country in South Asia, India. India is the second most populous country in the world, following China. Like the countries mentioned above, there is also a rarity of broomstick use in the country. Most people use flying carpet as the main mode of transportation. But not like the countries mentioned above, Quidditch thrives in the country. There are Quidditch fans on the streets and the country also has its National Quidditch Team.
A spell that originated in India is the Snake Summons Spell or the Serpensortia Spell. It is a transfiguration spell conjuring a snake from the tip of the wand. The spell had such a unique character relating to the streets of India. It is illegally used by 'snake charmers', as Muggles call them, to profit from entertaining Muggles. The Indian Ministry of Magic punishes these wizards for breaching the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Now, we know that they don't have intelligent snakes, just snakes controlled by the spell. Below is a picture of a snake charmer in the streets of India.
Lastly, we proceed to the largest country in South Asia, India. India is the second most populous country in the world, following China. Like the countries mentioned above, there is also a rarity of broomstick use in the country. Most people use flying carpet as the main mode of transportation. But not like the countries mentioned above, Quidditch thrives in the country. There are Quidditch fans on the streets and the country also has its National Quidditch Team.
A spell that originated in India is the Snake Summons Spell or the Serpensortia Spell. It is a transfiguration spell conjuring a snake from the tip of the wand. The spell had such a unique character relating to the streets of India. It is illegally used by 'snake charmers', as Muggles call them, to profit from entertaining Muggles. The Indian Ministry of Magic punishes these wizards for breaching the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Now, we know that they don't have intelligent snakes, just snakes controlled by the spell. Below is a picture of a snake charmer in the streets of India.
It is not just the snakes that thrive in India. Occamy and phoenix are also native to India. This could mean stricter law implemented by the Ministry of Magic in creature protection, a greater challenge for them. For native plants and trees in the region, Ceylon Ebony is a tree native to Sri Lanka and India. Ebony is a dense, black wood used to make wands.
A wizarding village in India is found at Kalale since the Daily Prophet mentioned the place in its international section. Kalale is a village located at the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is a small village, with a population of only around 7,000 inhabitants, a perfect place for a wizarding village to thrive. Through the lesson, we noticed unique characteristics of wizarding world in South Asia. Influenced by many factors, natural or cultural, we had a glimpse of how witches and wizards live their lives in the region.
A wizarding village in India is found at Kalale since the Daily Prophet mentioned the place in its international section. Kalale is a village located at the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is a small village, with a population of only around 7,000 inhabitants, a perfect place for a wizarding village to thrive. Through the lesson, we noticed unique characteristics of wizarding world in South Asia. Influenced by many factors, natural or cultural, we had a glimpse of how witches and wizards live their lives in the region.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia
- http://southasiamonitor.org/samfolder/cms/sites/default/files/news%20thumb%20images/Map_of_South_Asia.png
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Far_East
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Asia
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Bangladesh
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Pakistan
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Cauldron_Cake
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Qizilbash_Quality_Confectionary
- http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120919202125/harrypotter/images/5/59/CauldronCakePottermore.png
- http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120911142253/harrypotter/images/4/40/QizilbashLogo.jpg
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Nepal
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Gravity-resistant_tree
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/India
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Snake_Summons_Spell
- http://m5.i.pbase.com/u16/chammett/upload/38953475.JaipurSnakeCharmer.jpg
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Ebony
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalale