Amazing India!Amazing India!

The Population FactorThe Population Factor The world’s 2The world’s 2ndnd largest largest country with country with 1,121,800,0001,121,800,000

Only 1/3 the size of the Only 1/3 the size of the U.S.U.S.

1.7%1.7% natural increase natural increase 2025 – approaching 2025 – approaching 1.4 1.4 billionbillion

World’s largest!World’s largest! Will surpassWill surpass ChinaChina by by 20322032

70 million have moved 70 million have moved to the cities between to the cities between 1991-20011991-2001

Growing massive cities Growing massive cities such as: Mumbai, New such as: Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, ChennaiDelhi, Kolkata, Chennai

Urban/RuralUrban/Rural India is still India is still 70% rural70% rural in in

terms of population.terms of population. Over Over 600,000 villages600,000 villages are are

found throughout the found throughout the country.country.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Crushing PovertyCrushing Poverty Per Capita GDP - $3600Per Capita GDP - $3600 100 million farmers own 100 million farmers own NONO land. land.

Approximately 80% of Approximately 80% of all Indians live on the all Indians live on the equivalent of less than equivalent of less than $2 a day$2 a day..

Tremendous Rural PovertyTremendous Rural Poverty

The Physical GeographyThe Physical Geography The Indian sub-continentThe Indian sub-continent HimalayasHimalayas bound to the north bound to the north

•World’s highest mountain World’s highest mountain rangerange

Bay of Bengal to the eastBay of Bengal to the east Arabian Sea to the westArabian Sea to the west Thar Desert to the westThar Desert to the west

ClimateClimate Overall a tropical country Overall a tropical country

between 10 and 30 degrees between 10 and 30 degrees NorthNorth

Monsoon impactMonsoon impact•Seasonal reversal of windSeasonal reversal of wind•Blowing across the warm Blowing across the warm

Indian Ocean in the summer Indian Ocean in the summer monthsmonths

•Coming down off the cool Coming down off the cool Himalayas in the winterHimalayas in the winter

2 Seasons!2 Seasons!Dry season – Dry season –

•November to AprilNovember to AprilWet season – Wet season –

•May to OctoberMay to October

India’s LandscapeIndia’s Landscape Interior Interior

•Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau•Abundant supply of arable landAbundant supply of arable land•Extensive River SystemExtensive River System

Large River SystemLarge River System•Ganges – India’s most Ganges – India’s most

importantimportant•Many rivers produce hydro-Many rivers produce hydro-

electric powerelectric power

Sunrise on the GangesSunrise on the Ganges

Mountains of IndiaMountains of India Mountainous RimMountainous Rim Hems in the countryHems in the country Has not prevented invasions Has not prevented invasions

howeverhowever•HimalayasHimalayas•Western GhatsWestern Ghats•Eastern GhatsEastern Ghats•Rainforests in the shadow of Rainforests in the shadow of

the Ghatsthe Ghats

KanchenjungaKanchenjunga(India’s highest)(India’s highest)

Settlement and Settlement and SocietySociety

2000 BC? Aryans crossed into 2000 BC? Aryans crossed into South AsiaSouth Asia

Indus civilization developedIndus civilization developed Brought ancient Sanskrit Brought ancient Sanskrit

language and written sacred textlanguage and written sacred text•Vedas – a written texts of Vedas – a written texts of

prayers, chants, and prayers, chants, and meditations became the meditations became the foundation of Hinduismfoundation of Hinduism

HinduismHinduism Complex polytheistic religionComplex polytheistic religion Brahma – a supreme creatorBrahma – a supreme creator

• Shiva – destroyer of ignoranceShiva – destroyer of ignorance• Ganesh – lord of success Ganesh – lord of success • Vishnu – the protectorVishnu – the protector• Lakshmi – goddess of prosperityLakshmi – goddess of prosperity

Sacred Texts include:Sacred Texts include:• Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad-GitaVedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita

Basic Beliefs of HinduismBasic Beliefs of Hinduism All living things have a soul (atman)All living things have a soul (atman) The earth is temporary (Maya)The earth is temporary (Maya) Ultimate goal is Ultimate goal is liberationliberation Only possible through Only possible through reincarnationreincarnation

• Souls passing through a cycle of death Souls passing through a cycle of death and rebirthand rebirth

Follow one’s Follow one’s dharmadharma creating good creating good karmakarma• Good and bad deeds that will come back Good and bad deeds that will come back

to youto you

Caste SystemCaste System Strict and distinct class system Strict and distinct class system

outlawed but still practiced.outlawed but still practiced. A person is locked in their caste A person is locked in their caste

throughout this lifetime.throughout this lifetime. You are not to marry outside of You are not to marry outside of

this caste. Still largely arranged.this caste. Still largely arranged. Distinctive names, dress, and Distinctive names, dress, and

even language may distinguish even language may distinguish castescastes

Caste levelsCaste levels Brahman – traditional caste Brahman – traditional caste

of priests, religious teachers, of priests, religious teachers, and judgesand judges

Kshatriyas – traditional Kshatriyas – traditional warrior and politician classwarrior and politician class

Vaisyas – Merchant class and Vaisyas – Merchant class and land owning farmersland owning farmers

Shudras – common laborersShudras – common laborers

The “untouchables”The “untouchables” Also known as “dalits” literally mean Also known as “dalits” literally mean

oppressed.oppressed. Traditionally prevented from Traditionally prevented from

associating with any other caste.associating with any other caste. Did the most unclean of work Did the most unclean of work

including cleaning sewage from including cleaning sewage from streets and handling dead animals.streets and handling dead animals.

Approximately 160-180 million in Approximately 160-180 million in India today.India today.

Colonial IndiaColonial India Why did the British come?Why did the British come?

• British East India Company (1700’s)British East India Company (1700’s)• A virtual British colonyA virtual British colony• Cotton and teaCotton and tea• Cotton exporting destroyed much of Cotton exporting destroyed much of

the local cottage industry.the local cottage industry.• Sold finished products back to IndiaSold finished products back to India• 1858 Sepoy Mutiny led to full 1858 Sepoy Mutiny led to full

British control of South Asia.British control of South Asia.

Colonial IndiaColonial India How were they able to How were they able to

colonize?colonize?•Hundred of ethnic groups Hundred of ethnic groups and languagesand languages

•Inferior technologyInferior technology•HinduismHinduism

General passivityGeneral passivity

The Independence MovementThe Independence Movement

Mohandas K. GandhiMohandas K. Gandhi The “Mahatma” or Great SoulThe “Mahatma” or Great Soul BornBorn in Gujarat in 1869 in Gujarat in 1869 Married at 13 to Kasturba. Married at 13 to Kasturba.

His wife for the rest of their His wife for the rest of their lives together.lives together.

Went to study in England in Went to study in England in 1888.1888.•Graduated from Oxford as a Graduated from Oxford as a barristerbarrister

Mohandas K. GandhiMohandas K. Gandhi Went to practice law in South Went to practice law in South

Africa in 1894Africa in 1894•Fought racial injustice while Fought racial injustice while herehere

Returned to India in 1914Returned to India in 1914 Spent the next 40 years plus Spent the next 40 years plus

as an advocate for Indian as an advocate for Indian independence.independence.

Mohandas K. GandhiMohandas K. Gandhi Advocated non-violence as the Advocated non-violence as the

proper method.proper method. Led boycotts of British products Led boycotts of British products

(cotton)(cotton) Jailed many timesJailed many times Fasted successfully to gain Fasted successfully to gain

attentionattention Became a social advocate with Became a social advocate with

both Hindu (Nehru)and Muslim both Hindu (Nehru)and Muslim (Jinnah) leaders.(Jinnah) leaders.

Mohandas K. GandhiMohandas K. Gandhi Sought a unified, non-partitioned Sought a unified, non-partitioned

India.India. Hindu and Muslims would not agreeHindu and Muslims would not agree India and Pakistan were divided as India and Pakistan were divided as

they became independent.they became independent.• India gains independence on India gains independence on August 15, 1947August 15, 194712 million people move and a million 12 million people move and a million

are killed in the process.are killed in the process.

Gandhi’s deathGandhi’s death Was Was

assassinated by assassinated by a Hindu a Hindu nationalist, nationalist, Nathuram Godse Nathuram Godse in Delhi on in Delhi on January 30, January 30, 1948.1948.Godse was later Godse was later hanged.hanged.

Modern IndiaModern India The world’s largest democracyThe world’s largest democracy Multiple party systemMultiple party system

• Congress Party, BJP Hindu PartyCongress Party, BJP Hindu Party Prime Minister – Manmohan SinghPrime Minister – Manmohan Singh Capital – New DelhiCapital – New Delhi Foreign policyForeign policy

• Nuclear power with a long history Nuclear power with a long history of conflict and mistrust of of conflict and mistrust of neighboring Pakistanneighboring Pakistan

28 state and 7 UT28 state and 7 UT

Diverse CultureDiverse Culture 83% Hindu83% Hindu Approximately 150 million Approximately 150 million

MuslimsMuslims Minorities of Buddhists, Sikhs, Minorities of Buddhists, Sikhs,

Jains, Zoroastrians, Christians Jains, Zoroastrians, Christians and Jews.and Jews.

18 “scheduled” or standard 18 “scheduled” or standard languages recognized by the languages recognized by the government.government.

Hindi and English are officialHindi and English are official Dozens of other languagesDozens of other languages

Traditional Patriarchal SocietyTraditional Patriarchal Society Largely male dominatedLargely male dominated Extended families still Extended families still

importantimportant Arranged marriages still Arranged marriages still

commoncommon Dowry still paid by brides Dowry still paid by brides

familiesfamilies Marriage for love becoming Marriage for love becoming

more common, especially more common, especially within the cities.within the cities.

Cultural TraitsCultural Traits Indian food (regional)Indian food (regional)

•““curry”, tamarind, coriander, curry”, tamarind, coriander, naan bread, paneer, chicken naan bread, paneer, chicken tikka, samosa, tikka, samosa,

CurrencyCurrency•Rupee – 43 R to the $1.00Rupee – 43 R to the $1.00

Traditional clothingTraditional clothing•Sari Sari •Salwar kamizSalwar kamiz•Kurta pajamaKurta pajama

High Tech High Tech India!India! Bangalore in southern India is Bangalore in southern India is

the new software center of the the new software center of the world!world!

Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola, Intel, Honeywell, Cisco, Philips, Intel, Honeywell, Cisco, Philips, and Delland Dell

Indian software companies: Indian software companies: TATA, Wipro, and Infosys.TATA, Wipro, and Infosys.

Gurgaon, Chennai, and other Gurgaon, Chennai, and other cities are becoming cities are becoming call centercall center headquarters.headquarters.

Major issues India facesMajor issues India faces Population related:Population related:

•PovertyPoverty•Literacy rates (education)Literacy rates (education)•Agricultural misuse or overuseAgricultural misuse or overuse

Hindu – Muslim relationships:Hindu – Muslim relationships:• India – Pakistan tensionsIndia – Pakistan tensions•Kashmir situationKashmir situation•Sikh nationalismSikh nationalism•Hindu nationalismHindu nationalism

Amazing India!Amazing India! Watch this emerging giant as we Watch this emerging giant as we

enter a new phase of the 21enter a new phase of the 21stst century!century!