Middle School
The cultures of South Asia are highly diverse. India has two official languages, Hindi and English. Although the British were a huge presence in India for many years, there are also as up to 15 other languages spoken throughout the country. Pakistan, like India, also has 2 official languages - English and Urdu. People in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also speak different languages. Many people are immigrants and have come from other countries. Their cultures have mixed together and you can see this is in their languages, religion, arts, and other family traditions. South Asias diversity is also apparent in religion and the arts. Six main religions are practiced in the region - Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Christianity. Why is South Asia sometimes called a cultural "melting pot"? Use evidence from the text to support your answer and write in complete sentences.