India

INDIA….land of diversities I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, spanning a period of more than 4000 years, and witnessing the fusion of several customs and traditions, which are reflective of the rich culture and heritage of the Country.

The history of the nation gives a glimpse into the magnanimity of its evolution - from a country reeling under colonialism, to one of the leading economies in the global scenario within a span of fifty years. More than anything, the nationalistic fervour of the people is the contributing force behind such development. This transformation of the nation instills a sense of national pride in the heart of every Indian within the Country.

India at a Glance

BACKGROUND India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It covers an area of 32,87,2631 sq. km, extending from the snow- covered Himalayan heights in the north to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7 th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity.

GEOGRAPHY Location: The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Geographic Coordinates : Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6' latitudes north of the Equator, and 68° 7' and 97° 25' longitudes east of it. Border Countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north- west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

Climate The country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons: i. winter (December-February) ii. summer (March-June) iii. south-west monsoon season (June-September) iv. post monsoon season (October-November)

PEOPLE Nationality : Indian Ethnic Groups : All the five major racial types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India. Religions : According to the 2001 census, out of the total population of million in the Country, Hindus constituted the majority with 80.5%, Muslims came second at 13.4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.

Government Country Name: Republic of India; Bharat Ganrajya Government Type: Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government Capital: New Delhi Administrative Divisions: 28 States and 7 Union Territories. Legal System: The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.

Culture & Heritage Customs & Lifestyles Travel & tourism

Culture & Heritage The monuments & art forms of India represent its nationalism, culture & heritage and constitute the heart & soul of the country with its retrospective magnitude. The fragrance of Indias inherent ethnic essence lingers to mesmerize & enchant.

Customs & Lifestyles The spirit of India manifests itself in its diverse culture, lively festivals, vibrant costumes and rich traditions. It lives and express itself in every aspect of the life of Its people.

Travel & tourism Nature has exhausted its palette to paint the rich canvas of India. Its mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and rich landscape are natures creative expression.

India Cinema Indian cinema has come a long way from the shaky flickering images and grating noises and sounds to a very sophisticated state-of-the-art technology for creation and projection of image and sound track. India's film business was $2.1 billion in 2006, as per PWC and FICCI. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of the number of films produced annually (1,091 feature films and over 1,200 short films were released in the year 2006 alone). In contrast, 473 films were produced in the US in 2003 (India produced 877 movies in 2003). Movie tickets in India are among the cheapest in the world. India accounts for 73% of movie admissions in the Asia-Pacific region, and earnings are estimated at US$2.9 billion for 2007.

Modern India

This is Modern India A rapidly modernising country which is adjusting to its new found status as a global power. A country where fast evolving industries are driving the country forward. A hotbed of entrepreneurialism from the individual to a multinational scale. A country which is not following but now leading by example. A country which is proud of its culture and heritage and continues to embrace these.

Cricket in India Cricket, like cinema is one of the passions of India. It was introduced to India by European merchant sailors in the 18th-century and the first cricket club in India was established in Calcutta in India's national cricket team didn't play their first Test match until 25 June 1932 at Lord's. The team, gained strength near the end of the 1970s has continued to grow in strength. Today it is highly ranked in all forms of cricket. It won the Cricket World Cup in 1983 and was runners-up in It also won the inaugural World Twenty20 in The current team contains many of the world's leading players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who hold numerous cricketing world records.