India

Images of India

Republic of India
Some Facts
7th largest country in the world by area (3,287,590 km2)
2nd largest by population (1.1 billion people) capital: New Delhi biggest city: Mumbai (former Bombay) border to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), China, Nepal and Pakistan Languages: English (most important for national, political and commercial communication), Hindi as the national language (30%) and 14 other official languages Religions: Hindu: 81.3%, Muslim: 12%, Christian: 2.3%, Sikh: 1.9% and others: 2.5%

History of India (the beginning - 1600)

3300 - 1700 BC 1500 BC Indus Valley Civilization Aryan tribes invade and merge with the Dravidian inhabitants 712 BC Islam arrives on subcontinent (several Islamic invasion between 1000 and 1500) 12th century Turkish invasions 15th century European traders arrive 1526 Babur of Timur establishes the Mughal Empire by 1600 Mughal Dynasty rules most of the Indian subcontinent

History of India (1600-1857)

31 Dec. 1600 British East India Company founded by Elizabeth I. 1526 British set up first trading post in Surat. Trade in cotton, silk, indigo, saltpetre, tea and opium. Monopoly over trade in East Indies, EIC had own military 1757 Victory in the Battle of Plassey established EIC as a military and commercial power. 1857 Indian Mutiny is defeated by the British, Mughal Empire is defeated; all political power is transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown

The British Raj (1858-1947)

The Raj: British control of the political affairs of the whole of India After the Indian Rebellion the governance of India was organized in: imperial government in London, central government in Calcutta ( represented by the viceroy) and the provincial governments 1876 Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India Both the direct administration of India by the British crown and the technological change brought by the industrial revolution, had the effect of closely intertwining the economies of India and Great Britain. Railways, roads, canals, and bridges were rapidly built in India and telegraph links equally rapidly established in order that raw materials, such as cotton, from India's hinterland could be transported more efficiently to ports. Likewise, finished goods from England were transported back just as efficiently, for sale in the Indian markets.

1885 Indian National Congress founded to unite all Indians and

strengthen bonds with Britain 1920 1929 1930 1942 1947 Satyagraha (Ghandis Non-Cooperation Movement) founded Campaigns against British rule Indian Congress calls for independence (12 March - 6 April) Ghandis Salt March Quit India Movement initiated by Ghandi (15 August) Indian Independence

Republic of India
15 Aug. 1947 Independence Day and Partition of India and Pakistan Jawaharlal Nehru becomes first Prime Minister of India, Mohammed Ali Jinnah becomes first Governor-General 1947 Due to sectarian violence over 1 million people were killed when 6 million Muslims moved to Pakistan and 5 million Hindus moved to India. Ghandi opposed partition but had to cooperate to achieve Indian independence. 30 Jan. 1948 Ghandi is assassinated by Hindu fundamentalist 1950 India becomes republic based on British model 1956 War between India and Pakistan

1966 1971

Indira Ghandi: first woman to become PM. 2nd Indo-Pakistani war leads to 2nd partition: East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh 1974 India builds the atomic bomb 1975-1977 The Emergency due to political unrest (highly controversial) 1984 assassination of Indira Ghandi by Sikh bodyguard Since independence, India has suffered from religious violence, caste-related violence and insurgencies in various parts, but has been able to control them through tolerance and constitutional reforms. Terrorism in India is also a major security problem, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, North-east India and recently in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, 2001 Indian Parliament attack being the most prominent one. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

The Indian Caste System

The Caste System is a rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is found in India. It is believed that if one leads a good life, following good karma and dharma, then they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the Caste System. However, if one is wicked during their life, they will be demoted, and possibly even removed from the Caste System altogether. Outcasts, or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives. Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for these Outcasts.