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| :: GENERAL
- INDIA A FACT FILE |
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The origin of the land of infinite fascinations
can be traced back to 2500 B.C. The first known
civilization settled along the Indus river in what
is now known as Pakistan. This however collapsed
around 1500 B.C. Between 521 and 486 B.C., under
Darius, the area became a part of Persian Empire.
Alexander the Great arrived in India in 326 B.C.,
but did not venture beyond the boundaries of the
two great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism which
had already developed. Various dynasties followed,
the last which was the Gupta Empire(A.D. 319-360).
The invasion of the White Huns brought
all this to an end and northern India became fragmented,
and was only reunified with the arrival of the
Muslims from the west. During this time, the south
had been trading by sea with Romans and Egyptians.
It took some time for Muslim forces to forge a
permanent presence in northern India.
The British ruled India for nearly 300
years and added a new dimension to it. The most
outstanding fact about Indian culture is that it
imbibes every thing new yet does not loose its
historic charisma. Above all, it welcomes every
new positive change as a gesture to grow and become
even more vast. So came the British and caused
a great deal of harm than benefit , yet were culturally
admitted but politically overthrown. The British
rule was hence, a phase of constant efflux of national
wealth. But the Indian Struggle for Independence
synchronized the the Indian race in to a non- violent
wave that swept the British away. Visionaries like
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore,
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jawaharlal Nehru, Raja Ram
Mohan Roy played a pivotal role in discovering
India as a horizon of diverse unity.
Today we see India as a bright shining
star in the sky but soon we shall see her as the
brightest star in the sky. |
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India
Few countries in the world have a tradition, culture and variety as diverse as
this multi-faceted land called India. Enriched by successive waves of migration
and marauders from distant lands, every one of them left an indelible imprint
which was absorbed into the Indian way of life. It is this variety which provides
a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Its physical,
religious and racial variety is as varied as its linguistic diversity. Underneath
this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure
from the very earliest times until the present day. Modern day India represents
the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity
unparalleled anywhere else.
Here we have attempted to catalogue everything Indian be it religions, festivals,
rituals, artefacts, monuments, different attires, music and dance, language and
literature. Come and let us help you discover a little more of fascinating India. |
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Facts at a Glance
Full country name : Republic of
India
Area : 3,287,590 sq km (1,229,737
sq mi)
Population : 1 billion
Capital city : New Delhi
People : 72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian,
3% other
Language : Hindi
Religion : 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim,
2.4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains,
0.4% other
Government : Federal Republic
GDP : US$1.7 trillion
GDP per head : US$1,720
Annual growth : 5.4%
Inflation : 14% |
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Major
industries :
Textiles, chemicals, food
processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement,
mining, petroleum, machinery, rice, wheat, oilseed,
cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle,
water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
Major trading partners :
US, Hong Kong, UK, Japan, Germany,
Belgium, Saudi Arabia
Culture :
Religion seeps into every facet of Indian life.
Despite being a secular democracy, India is one of the few countries on earth
in which the social and religious structures that define the nation's identity
remain intact, and have continued to do so for at least 4000 years despite
invasions, persecution, European colonialism and political upheaval.
The Indian Flag :
is made up of three horizontal bands of
colour; they are, (top to bottom), saffron yellow, white and green. The saffron
yellow symbolizes the spiritual nature of India, as saffron is the colour worn
by sadhus or Hindu holy men. The white bar symbolizes peace, while green symbolizes
wealth through agriculture. In the middle of the flag is a blue wheel, symbolizing
the importance of truth and honesty |
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