Re: What will be the culture and language of the subcontinent after a century?
India is geographically and demographically the largest country in South-Asia but that doesn't mean neighbouring countries should go under its banner.
Had India been officially/internationally known as Bharat, I wouldn't have had a problem with the word "Indian" as it actually comes from the ancient name of our river and country: "Indus", but it has come to be associated with your country and no Paki wants to be considered less than anyone else..
It is a misnomer to refer to all of South-Asia as Indian, I know your country's name comes from our country's name as does your history/heritage but that particular pronounciation has come to be associated with you and we don't want it.. We don't mind being referred to as fellow South-Asians but not Indian just as you wouldn't want to be known as Paki, we live in the same geographical region and we share cultural similarities as well as racial (with bit of NW India) but we both have our own identities.
U r south asians alright, but u belong to Indian subcontinent.:). Belonging to Indian subcontinent does not mean that u r Indian.
who wanted the countries to go under one banner. No way. But I again tell you, live with it, u cant just choose your neighbors. India as u have said is the dominant country in the subcontinent and hence called indian subcontinent. The languages are mostly classified as indo-european, the cuisine is indian cuisine, and the ocean is indian ocean . As somebody said, all these names have not been derived by Indian people. The place, the culture, and everything else are known to a foreigner by these names. We didnt create it. Besides it is a continent on its own. It has different language, religion, culture, race, and eating habits. So why not being called by the dominant country in that region. If you have a problem with it, then u have to go and complain to the whites, not to us.