India

There is no “one India.” A landmass of nearly three million square kilometers (about one-third the size of the United States and three times the size of neighboring Pakistan), it is home to two thousand ethnic groups, over a dozen religious sects, four distinct biomes, and more than 100 languages and dialects. Its immense population, ancient culture, and economic importance combine to make it the anchor of South Asia. Not all of India’s neighbors are friendly, but they all understand the country’s importance in the region.
CASTE & CULTURE A unique feature about many superhumans in India is how they fit into the nation’s millennia-old caste system. Some superhumans, especially supervillains, consider themselves an “overcaste” with even the lowest-powered superhuman ranking above the highest member of the Brahmin caste. Others consider super powers to be irrelevant to caste, and that even a powerful member of the untouchable caste should remain in his or her station. Many younger superhumans reject the caste system altogether and live their lives ignoring it as much as possible.
BANDHANA CITY “Bandhana” is Hindi for “Nexus” and this metropolis of 6 million people lives up to its name. Located where the Hugli branch of the Ganges River meets the Indian Ocean, it grew from relatively humble roots into a technology hub as Western companies moved manufacturing, customer service, and other business functions to India. A cadre of wealthy high-tech-using heroes attracted other heroes and soon Bandhana boasted the largest population of super heroes and supervillains in South Asia. It attracts superhumans from rival cities like Mumbai and Kolkata and the numbers continue to grow.
Most cities in India have ancient buildings and crumbling infrastructure due to their centuries-long existence. By contrast, most of Bandhana was built during the 21st century. Its towers of glass and steel, surrounded by modern apartments and homes, make it look more like a city in the United States than what one would expect to find in Southeast Asia. Attitudes are also very progressive in comparison to the rest of India. The tech boom attracted younger people with attitudes influenced by Western culture, which has made pizza as popular as curry for lunch.
With prosperity comes crime. Regular organized crime in Bandhana victimizes both local businesses and worldwide targets via various online scams. Super-criminals stalk the night or operate boldly on the Internet. Fortunately, with super-criminals comes superheroes determined to stop them. Four young superheroes named Instant Karma fight crime with a sense of humor and a political statement meant for India and the world.

Type

Geopolitical, Country