Magnificent India

Namaste! Welcome to our India Page containing information about India and her rich cultural diversity, customs and traditions! As you may know, India is a vast country with a diverse culture, unparalleled anywhere in the world, that a single site cannot do justice to her. Hopefully, this site will aid you in your quest for knowledge on India.

Overview

A federal republic of southern Asia and member of the Commonwealth, India is situated on a peninsula extending into the Indian Ocean, with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east. Separated from the rest of Asia by the immense Himalayan ranges in the north, India is roughly a third of the land mass of the United States. India is a land of great rivers, along the banks of which much of Indian civilization flourished. Ganga is one of India's most important rivers while it was along the banks of Indus the world's first major civilization flourished.

Modern India became independent of British Raj (rule) at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. The official name of India is Bharat (in Hindi) and Republic of India (in English). The main official languages of India are Hindi & English. Being a secular country, India has no official religion, but is a mix of many religions. New Delhi is the capital of India but is is Mumbai (formerly Bombay) that is known as the business capital of India.

History

India has had an existence that goes back to several thousand years. It has been determined, through archaelogical excavations, that the Indian sub-continent has been inhabitated by man beginning from 40,000 and 20,000 BC. The Indus Valley civilization was the world's first major civilization. Learn more about India's long history by visiting my History page. You can also take a look at the Decisive Dates in India's history.

Culture

The site of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, India has a ancient and diverse culture stretching back to more than 5000 years. Successive years of migration have been absorbed into the culture giving it a distinct physical, religious and racial variety as well as a rich linguistic diversity. It has also been considered the oldest and the most resilient cultures in the world. Modern India presents a picture of unity in diversity where people of different faiths and beliefs live together in peace and harmony. Discover more about India's diverse culture by visiting my Culture page.

Religion

India remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Apart from her many religions and sects, India is home to innumerable castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and hundreds of minor linguistic groups from several totally different language families. Religion, an inseparable part of Indian life, permeates every aspect of life, from common-place daily chores to education and politics. Secular India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable religious traditions with Hinduism being the dominant faith, practised by over 80% of the population. Learn more about India's many religions by visiting my Religion page.

Government

India is a union of 25 states and seven union territories. She is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government. The architects of India's constitution, though drawing on many external sources, were most heavily influenced by the British model of parliamentary democracy. In addition, a number of principles were adopted from the U.S. Constitution, including the separation of powers among the major branches of government, the establishment of a Supreme Court, and the adoption, albeit in modified form, of a federal structure (a constitutional division of power between the central and state governments). Discover more about India's democratic form of governance by visiting my Government page.

Economy

Since becoming independent in 1947, India has transformed herself into a dominant economic powerhouse.The seventh largest and second most populous country in the world, India has a a well-developed infrastructure and a highly diversified industrial base. Today India can boast of having a pool of scientific and engineering personnel that is the third largest in the world. A series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at deregulating the country and stimulating foreign investment has moved India firmly into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region and unleashed the latent strengths of a complex and rapidly changing nation. Discover more about India's vibrant economy through my Economy page.