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Jalandhar

Justyna on 13.03.2010, o 18:33 (UTC)

Jalandhar (Punjabi: ਜਲੰਧਰ, Hindi: About this sound जलंधर (helpˇinfo)), is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. In Hindu mythology, Jalandhara was the eponymous kingdom of a devil in Satyuga. It was also known as Prasthala at the time of Mahabharta and it was also known as Jullundur in British times.

History
Lush greenery after a shower
BMC Chowk

Jalandhar along with Multan is the oldest surviving city of the Trigarta Empire (Punjab region) of Katoch Rulers, with reference in history as far back as A.D. 100.[2] The Jalandhar Doab (the region surrounding the city between Beas and Sutlej rivers) also marked the eastern most territory of the empire of Alexander the Great. He erected giant altars in this area to mark the eastern most extent of his empire and also founded a city named Alexandria in the vicinity and left many Macedonian veterans there.

In the 7th Century, when the famous Chinese traveller and pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of Harsha Vardhana, the Kingdom of Jalandhara or Trigartta was under the rule of Raja Utito (whom Alexender Cunningham identifies with the Rajput Raja Attar Chand of the Katoch dynasty). The kingdom was said to have extended 167 miles (269 km) from east to west and 133 miles (214 km) from north to south, thus including the hill states of Chamba, Mandi and Suket (Himachal Pradesh) and Satadru or Sirhind in the plains. The city proper of Jalandhar was, when visited by Hiuen Tsiang, a large city, miles in circuit, and functioned as the capital of a Rajput kingdom.[3] Raja Utito was a tributary of Harsh Vardhana. The Rajput Rajas appear to have continued to rule over the country right up to the 12th century, with occasional interruptions, but their capital was Jalandhar and Kangra formed an important stronghold.

According to the Chinese pilgrim Fa Hien, who traveled India between 399 and 411 C.E., there were a great many Viharas of Buddhism in India. In the Jalandhar Doab, there were as many as 50 Viharas of Buddhism. The Buddhist religion was adopted by a large number of people. As per some historians and scholars the fourth Buddhist Council out of total six Buddhist Councils took place in Jalandhar in the first century AD during the reign of King Kanishka. The fourth council of Mahayana Buddhism took place here, and placed Buddha as a God at the council[4].

Jalandhar became the seat of Nath movement from 8th to 10th century AD, one of its greatest saint was Jalandhar Nath, whose samadhi later became the site of the existing shrine of Imam Nasir-ud-din Chishti in the fifteenth century[5]. From the later half of the tenth century up to AD 1019, the district was included in the Shahi Kingdom of the Punjab and Jalandhar was an important city in the region. In about 1188 it fell to the control of Ibrahim Shah of Ghor.[2] Under the Mughals Jalandhar was the capital of a sarkar.[3]

In 1758 Maharaja Ghamand Chand of the Katoch dynasty was made the (first ever Rajput) Nizam of Jalandhar by the Durranis. Many Rajputs lived in and around the surrounding areas of Jalandhar before the partition in 1947. With the partition of the country, many like the Manj and Rawal Rajputs went to settle in the Pakistan side of the Punjab, whilst some went to other countries.

Jalandhar was captured by the Sikhs in 1757[citation needed] and captured by the Faizullahpuria confederacy in 1766. Ranjit Singh annexed it in 1811, and in 1846 Jalandhar became the headquarters of the territory acquired by the British after the first First Anglo-Sikh Wars.[3] During British rule Jalandhar became the headquarters, of the Division and District of the same name. According to the 1901 census, the population of the town was 67,535 of whom 14,715 were Hindus, 40,081 Muslim, 901 Sikhs, and 1,543 Christians.[3] In 1947 with the independence and partition of India the Muslim population left for Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs arrived from the other direction.[6]
[edit] Geography
Climate

The city has a humid subtropical climate with cool winters and hot summers. Summers last from April To June and winters from November to February. Temperatures in summer vary from average highs of around 48 degrees Celsius to average lows of around 25 degrees Celsius. Winter temperatures vary from highs of 19 degrees Celsius to lows of -5 degrees Celsius. The climate is on the whole dry except during the brief south-west monsoon season during July-August. The average annual rainfall is about 70 cm.
Economy
People take an active part in every event of the city
Jalandhar Bus Stand

Jalandhar is the world's biggest manufacturer of leather tool pouches and aprons with major American and European customers buying from factories in Jalandhar.It is the biggest supplier of sports material in the country. Jalandhar was a hub of the Gandhi government's green revolution of India in early 60s. Dr. Dilbag Singh Athwal, world renowned scientist in plant breeding, developed India's first high yield wheat Kalyan. The wheat he name afer his native village Kalyanpur 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of city of Jalandhar. Later Dr. Athwal headed International Rice Research Institute, International Agricultural Development Service etc. Dr. Athwal took early retirement from his position as senior vice president Rockefeller Institute. The village Kalyanpur (now part of Jalandhar city) have produced prominent scientist including Dr. Raghbir Singh, Dr. Rajbir Kaur, Dr. Iqbal Singh Athwal. Jalandhar is also quite known for its electrical goods industry. Manufacturers like Standard Switchgears and Apex Electricals, located in Jalandhar. International sports market is situated in Jalandhar. Major Sports brands like BAS Vampire, Bhaseen's Baspo, JJ Jonex, Syndicate Sports etc comes from this part of the world. Jalandhar is quite popular for Uk tourists as there is a Maccy D's!
Demographics

The first language of most people in the city is Punjabi. The World Panjabi Meeting in 2007 was held in Jalandhar, and attendees noted the Panjabi language was losing its viability[7]. However, many in the Panjab exhibit linguistic pride, and some scholars have opinion that Panjabi may actually be gaining popularity as an indigenous medium of decolonization[8]. Since English is taught in Jalandhar schools from the first grade, it has been gaining in popularity in the city as well, and there has been an explosion in English language education in the state[9].

According to the 1991 census, the predominant religions of Jalandhar city are Hinduism (54.54%) and Sikhism (45.46%).Other religions make up around 2.17% of the population.
Media

The city is the media hub of the region having the regional headquarters of Newspapers, National Television and Radio stations.
Main Newspapers

* Rozana Ajit (Daily Ajit)
* Doaba Headlines
* Akali Patrika
* Amar Ujala
* Dainik Jagran
* Dainik Bhaskar
* Punjab Kesri

Educational Institutions

Now Jalandhar is becoming the centre of main educational institutes.Lovely group,CT group,St. Soldier group and APEEJAY society has a number of technical colleges in the area to improve educaion quality.Now LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY is also situated on southern part of district.Which is attracting lots of students from different parts of country.
NIT, Jalandhar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (erstwhile Regional Engineering College) is the eighteenth NIT of the country. Government run, it has been conferred the title of being an Institute of National Importance. It was launched in 1987.[10]
DAVIET Jalandhar

DAV Institute of Engineering & Technology (DAVIET) Jalandhar has been in operation since 2001.[11] It is distinguished as the largest educational organization in the country that is not government-run.[11] The institute offers B. Tech program in six disciplines of Engineering namely Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering along with research programs leading to M.Tech. The Institute has recently started MBA program.
Lyallpur Khalsa College
Lyallpur Khalsa College

Lyallpur Khalsa College—a college of Arts, Science and Commerce—was originally located in Lyallpur, Pakistan, before settling in Jalandhar in 1948.
Schools

The city has many schools which have shone others with their academic and co-curricular excellence such as Apeejay School,M.G.N. Public School,C.T. Public School, Devi Sahai Sanatan Dharam Sr. Sec School e.t.c. Jalandhar Cantonment
Vajra Go Karting which is open to civilians also, is a big attraction

Cantonment also called Cantt is dotted with buildings dating back to British era

The community gets together at markets, amusement parks, etc., especially on weekends

Construction on Jalandhar Cantonment began in 1848. It is notable not only for its age, as it among the oldest cantonments in the country, but also for its proximity to Pakistan. It figured in the 1920 Connaught Rangers mutiny when Irish soldiers replaced the Union Flag with the Irish Republic's flag.[12]
[edit] Famous people

* Grand Ayatollah Bashir Najafi al-Jalandhari. One of the few grand ayatollahs of the Iraqi Shias, who might replace Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, should he pass away, as the leader of the Shiite world and the dean of the learning center of Najaf.
* Diwan Bhai Abdul Hamid, Revenue and Chief Minister of Kapurthala State. b Jullandhar d. Lahore. Basti Danishmandan Jullandhar.
* Hafeez Jullundhri, Poet, who wrote the current National Anthem of Pakistan
* Lawrence Durrell, writer, born in Jalandhar, on 27 February 1912.
* Bapu Sarup Singh, freedom fighter and ex- minister punjab government.
* Kundan Lal Saigal Bollywood actor and singer.
* Baba Kashmira Singh, Famous for their Charity Services.
* Sardar Jagjit Singh, famous Indian Ghazal singer studied in DAV College Jalandhar, where his room is still preserved.
* Dalip Singh Rana (The Great Khali), Indian professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment
* Yash Chopra, Bollywood director and writer
* Paul Nischal, former N.R.I President, first Indian candidate for the British Political Conservative Party
* Hans Raj Hans, famous Punjabi singer
* Swaraj Paul, first Indian to be given title of Lord by British Government
* Remi Kaler, also known as Remi Clair, Canadian actor.
* Sardar Balbir Singh, Sr., Olympian, hockey player
* Sardar Gurjit Singh Kullar, Asian games(1958) hockey player, originally from Sansarpur, currently lives in England.
* Late Sardar Udham Singh Kullar (1928-2000), Olympian, hockey player, originally from Sansarpur.
* Sardar Gurdev Singh Kullar, Olympian, hockey player, originally from Sansarpur currently lives in England.
* Sardar Darshan Singh (field hockey), Olympian, hockey player, originally from Sansarpur currently lives in England.
* Iftikhar Ahmed, Famous Indian actor.
* Imtiaz Ahmed, PTV actor (uncle Urfi fame), brother of Iftikhar Ahmed, an Indian actor.
* Sardar Ajitpal Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
* Sardar Surjit Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
* Sardar Pargat Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
* Sardar Dharam Singh Uppal, International Athlete, Supritendent of Police.
* I.K. Gujral former Prime Minister of India
* Sunil Dutt, famous Bollywood Actor
* P. Paul Verma, Director, Producer and Writer of Punjabi & Hindi movies.
* General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, 6th President of Pakistan & Chief of the Pakistan Army
* Sardar Harbhajan Singh, Member of Indian National Cricket team
* Wasim Sajjad, two-time Acting President of Pakistan, Ex Chairman of Senate
* Mian Mohammed Sharif, Surveyor General of Pakistan. After the Partition he migrated to Pakistan
* Lala Amarnath, famous Indian cricketer
* Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, 4th Prime Minister of Pakistan
* Swami Shraddhanand, Indian educationist and Arya Samaj missionary
* Wazir Ali, prominent figure in early Indian cricket
* R Paul Dhillon, Indo-Canadian journalist
* Ujjal Dosanjh, Indo-Canadian lawyer and politician
* Sukhbir, Bhangra singer
* Arun Shourie, Indian journalist, author and politician
* Sheikh Anwarul Haq, 9th Chief Justice of Pakistan
* Agha Sadiq, Pakistani writer and poet
* Steven Kapur, reggae singer
* Abhishek Saini,Great AIIMSonian

[13]
[edit] Villages around Jalandhar

Sansarpur, Shahkot and Malsian aka Mala, Khusropur, Chitti, Talhan, Salempur Masanda, Parasrampur, Randhawa, Sofi Pind, Mithapur, Wadala, Dhaliwal(Qadian), Suchi Pind, Kapoor Pind, Lambra, Ladhewali, Naugajja, Nagra, Maqsoodan, Kartarpur, Talwandi salem, ughi, kang sahbu, Village Gill, safipur, chamiara, gakhal, mand, sangal-sohal, tajpur, chaheru, maheru, paragpur, nandanpur, bidhipur, jamsher, jandiala, divali, kangniwaal, samrai-khas, sarhali

Punjabi

Justyna on 13.03.2010, o 18:30 (UTC)

Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjab region. It is one of the oldest and richest cultures[citation needed] in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. The Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjabi people who are now distributed throughout the world. The scope, history, sophistication and complexity of the culture are vast. Some of the main areas include, Punjabi Philosophy, poetry, spirituality, education, artistry, music, cuisine, science, technology, military warfare, architecture, traditions, values and history.[citation needed]

Ancient Punjabi Culture

Main article: History of the Punjab

Ancient Punjabis' were renowned for their architectural excellence and gave their civilization a highly distinct look with baked-brick urban architecture. The written alphabet of the Ancient Punjabis is yet to be cracked and deciphered; it remains one of the few ancient cultures whose literature remains unread and unknown.[citation needed]

Ancient Punjabis' enjoyed and were fascinated with games, this is supported by the very large number of games artefacts, such as dice, excavated by archaeologists.[citation needed]
[edit] Middle Age Punjabi Culture
The Shalimar Gardens in Lahore

Middle Age Punjabi Culture, during the period of foreign invasions, saw the already very high number of layers and complexity of the Punjabi Culture increase to another level.[citation needed] During this time contributions from Greek, Persian, Mongol and Afghan influences were incorporated into the enormous complexity and sophistication of the Punjabi Culture. During this period saw the birth and rise of a new world-religion in Punjab, Sikhism, this had a dramatic effect on the culture and gave it an additional dimension. This further increased the martial and military dimensions of the Punjabi culture and of the Punjabi People.[citation needed]
[edit] Modern Punjabi Culture

Due to the large number of Punjabi People distributed throughout the world, Pakistan and India, many people are increasingly experiencing the culture and becoming influenced by it. Traditional Punjabi culture is being strengthened and expanded in the Western world (e.g. U.S., UK, EU, Canada and etc), the scope is huge, ranging from Punjabi Philosophy, poetry, spirituality, education, artistry, music, cuisine, architecture and etc.[citation needed]
[edit] Punjabi Culture
Bhangra tournament concert

People of different languages, cultures, customs and races came to Punjab for various reasons. These immigrants influenced and were influenced by Punjabi culture.[citation needed]

Punjabi Music

Main article: Music of Punjab

Bhangra is one of the many Punjabi musical art forms that is increasingly being listened to in the west and is becoming a mainstream favourite.[citation needed] Punjabi music is being used by western musicians, in many ways, such as mixing it with other compositions to produce award-winning music.[citation needed] In addition, Punjabi Classical music is increasingly becoming popular in the west.[citation needed]

Punjabi Cuisine
Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in Punjabi cuisine.

Main article: Punjabi cuisine

Punjabi Cuisine has an immense range of dishes and has become world-leader in the field so much so that many entrepreneurs that have invested in the sector have built large personal fortunes due to popularity of Punjabi Cuisine throughout the world.[citation needed]

Punjabi Poetry

Punjabi Poetry is renowned for its extremely deep meaning, beautiful, exciting and hopeful use of words.[citation needed] The poetry is one of the clearest views into the Punjabi mindset. The large number of Punjabi poetry works are being translated throughout the world into many languages. Famous Punjabi poets.
See also: Punjabi Kisse

Punjabi Dances

Main article: Punjabi dance

Punjabi Dances, due to the long history of the Punjabi culture and of the Punjabi people there is a large number of dances. These dances are normally performed at times of celebration, including harvests, festivals, and weddings. The particular background of the dances can be non-religious and religious. The overall style can range from the high energy "Bhangra" men's dance to the more reserved "Jhumar," the "Gidha" women's dance, etc.

Punjabi wedding traditions

Main article: Punjabi wedding traditions

Punjabi wedding traditions and ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Punjabi and are a strong reflection of Punjabi culture. While the actual religious marriage ceremony, among Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains may be conducted in Arabic, Punjabi, Sanskrit, by the Qazi, Pundit, Granthi or Priest. There are commonalities in ritual, song, dance, food, dress. The Punjabi wedding has many rituals and ceremonies that have evolved since traditional times.
[edit] Punjabi Culture in the Western world
a simple old style Punjabi home

Due to the values and heritage of the Punjabi Culture, the Punjabi people have become one of the most successful and wealthiest sections of society in the west[citation needed], this is in addition to on average being the wealthiest in Pakistan and India.

Punjabi Dances, due to the long history of the Punjabi culture and of the Punjabi people there is a large number of dances[citation needed]. These dances are normally performed at times of celebration the most prominent being at Punjabi weddings, where the elation is usually particularly intense. The particular background of the dances can be non-religious and religious. The overall style can range from very high energy to more reserved, however the common elements make it particularly attractive to the viewers whether they be of Punjabi heritage or not, the allure is considered universal. Punjabi dances are designed for either men or women. At Punjabi weddings everyone is encouraged to take part in the dances. Married Punjabi couples usually dance as one unit at specific points of the wedding. The husband dances in the style of male Punjabi dances and the wife dancing in the style of female Punjabi dances.

Common Female Punjabi Dances

* Sammi
* Giddha
* Jaago
* Kikli
* Luddi

Common Male Punjabi Dances

* Bhangra
* Malwai Giddha
* Jhumar
* Luddi
* Julli
* Dankara
* Dhumal

Punjabi Brahmins

The Brahmins of the Punjab region are chiefly Saraswat Brahmins. They have a special association with the Punjab since they take their name from the river, Saraswati.

Sub-divisions

In Punjab, the Saraswat Brahmins are further divied into following main sections.

1. Panja jati (five families), the highest subgroup of Punjabi Brahmins whose surnames are Jaitly, Trikha, Kumoria, Jinghan and Morlhe. These families were allowed to marry within their gotra - distinct from all other families.
2. Barahis (twelvers), who marry among twelve castes only[1]. This group belongs to the Shakadweepi Brahmins/ Maga Brahmins.
3. Bawanjais (fifty-twoers), who marry among fifty-two houses only.
4. Athwans (eight families/eighters) and include Joshis, Kurals, Bhanots, Sands, Pathaks, Bharadwajs, Shouries,dwivedi and Tewaris. These eight families marry among each other.
5. Mohyals- the warrior brahmin race. They are a distinct category of Brahmins who combine military knowledge with learning, they strictly refrain from performing priestly duties, often to the point of excommunicating anyone who violates that rule. They are a group comprising of seven clans (Balis, Bhimwals, Chhibber, Datts, Laus, Mohans, and Vaids). They generally own lands,and are mostly involved in military and administrative services, they eat meat and are not very strict in the observance of religious taboos. They also marry within the seven clans.
6. Bhaskars Gotra Vashisht, originating from a place "Badu ki Gusaiyaan" now in Pakistan.

In the changed socio-economic circumstances however, the rigidity of having matrimonial alliances within particular groups amongst Barahis, Bawanjais, Athwans and Mohyals has greatly diminished and they generally inter-marry now-a-days.

Athwans (eight families/eighters) the seven families (except Kurals) are considered to be direct descendants of seven original rishis upon whom the word of God (The four Vedas: Hindu Religious Text) was sent.

Mohyals trace their descent from Lord Parshuram who was the first Brahmin as per Hindu beliefs to wear arms and to conquer territories. Dwivedi punjabi brahmins are mostly in hoshiarpur district.In village Budhipind near tanda majority brahmins are Dwivedi'S.
[edit] Trivedi

Trivedi Saraswat Brahmins are those who adhere to the old philosophical vedic tradition that there are only three vedas i.e Rig Veda, Sam Veda and Yajur Veda. They do not accept Atharva Veda as a Veda because of the fact that it was after the migration that the Atharva Veda was created and also because the content of the same is against the content of Rig Veda. Thus on philosophical dissension those Saraswats which adhere to this school of thought have taken Trivedi surname. These are originally from Sirsa (Haryana) and Kashmir but now spread all over U.P., Uttarakhand etc.

[edit] See also

* Mohyal
* Chhibber
* Chawla
* Datt
* Mohan
* Vaid
* Bhimwal
* Bali
* Trikha

India

Justyna on 13.03.2010, o 18:27 (UTC)

India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: भारत गणराज्य Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometres (4,700 mi).[16] It is bordered by Pakistan to the west;[17] China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

Home to the Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history.[18] Four major religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by the British East India Company from the early eighteenth century and colonised by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread non-violent resistance.[19]

India is a republic consisting of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy. It has the world's twelfth largest economy at market exchange rates and the fourth largest in purchasing power. Economic reforms since 1991 have transformed it into one of the fastest growing economies in the world;[20] however, it still suffers from poverty,[21] illiteracy, disease, and malnutrition. A pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

Etymology
Main article: Names of India

The name India (pronounced /ˈɪndiə/) is derived from Indus, which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sanskrit सिन्धु Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the Indus River.[22] The ancient Greeks referred to the Indians as Indoi (Ινδοί), the people of the Indus.[23] The Constitution of India and common usage in various Indian languages also recognise Bharat (pronounced [ˈbʱɑːrʌt̪] ( listen)) as an official name of equal status.[24] The name Bharat is derived from the name of the legendary king Bharata in Hindu Mythology. Hindustan ([hɪnd̪ʊˈstɑːn]( listen)), originally a Persian word for “Land of the Hindus” referring to northern India, is also occasionally used as a synonym for all of India.[25]
History
Main articles: History of India and History of the Republic of India

Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at the Bhimbetka rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in India. The first known permanent settlements appeared over 9,000 years ago and gradually developed into the Indus Valley Civilisation,[26] dating back to 3400 BCE in western India. It was followed by the Vedic period, which laid the foundations of Hinduism and other cultural aspects of early Indian society, and ended in the 500s BCE. From around 550 BCE, many independent kingdoms and republics known as the Mahajanapadas were established across the country.[27]
Damaged brown painting of a reclining man and woman.
Paintings at the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, sixth century

In the third century BCE, most of South Asia was united into the Maurya Empire by Chandragupta Maurya and flourished under Ashoka the Great.[28] From the third century CE, the Gupta dynasty oversaw the period referred to as ancient "India's Golden Age."[29][30] Empires in Southern India included those of the Chalukyas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagara Empire. Science, technology, engineering, art, logic, language, literature, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy flourished under the patronage of these kings.

Following invasions from Central Asia between the 10th and 12th centuries, much of North India came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire. Under the rule of Akbar the Great, India enjoyed much cultural and economic progress as well as religious harmony.[31][32] Mughal emperors gradually expanded their empires to cover large parts of the subcontinent. However, in North-Eastern India, the dominant power was the Ahom kingdom of Assam, among the few kingdoms to have resisted Mughal subjugation. The first major threat to Mughal imperial power came from a Hindu Rajput king Maha Rana Pratap of Mewar in the 16th century and later from a Hindu state known as the Maratha confederacy, that dominated much of India in the mid-18th century.[33]

From the 16th century, European powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom established trading posts and later took advantage of internal conflicts to establish colonies in the country. By 1856, most of India was under the control of the British East India Company.[34] A year later, a nationwide insurrection of rebelling military units and kingdoms, known as India's First War of Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny, seriously challenged the Company's control but eventually failed. As a result of the instability, India was brought under the direct rule of the British Crown.
Two smiling men in robes sitting on the ground, with bodies facing the viewer and with heads turned toward each other. The younger wears a white Nehru cap; the elder is bald and wears glasses. A half dozen other people are in the background.
Mahatma Gandhi (right) with Jawaharlal Nehru, 1937. Nehru would go on to become India's first prime minister in 1947.

In the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and other political organisations.[35] Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi led millions of people in several national campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience.[19]

On 15 August 1947, India gained independence from British rule, but at the same time the Muslim-majority areas were partitioned to form a separate state of Pakistan.[36] On 26 January 1950, India became a republic and a new constitution came into effect.[37]

Since independence, India has faced challenges from religious violence, casteism, naxalism, terrorism and regional separatist insurgencies, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India. Since the 1990s terrorist attacks have affected many Indian cities. India has unresolved territorial disputes with the People's Republic of China, which in 1962 escalated into the Sino-Indian War, and with Pakistan, which resulted in wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. India is a founding member of the United Nations (as British India) and the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1974, India conducted an underground nuclear test[38] and five more tests in 1998, making India a nuclear state.[38] Beginning in 1991, significant economic reforms[39] have transformed India into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, increasing its global clout.[20]
Government
Main article: Government of India
India National Symbols of India[40][41]
Flag Tricolour
Emblem Sarnath Lion Capital
Anthem Jana Gana Mana
Song Vande Mataram
Animal Royal Bengal Tiger
Bird Indian Peacock
Aquatic animal Dolphin
Flower Lotus
Tree Banyan
Fruit Mango
Sport Field hockey
Calendar Saka
River Ganges

The Constitution of India, the longest and the most exhaustive constitution of any independent nation in the world, came into force on 26 January 1950.[42] The preamble of the constitution defines India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.[43] India has a bicameral parliament operating under a Westminster-style parliamentary system. Its form of government was traditionally described as being 'quasi-federal' with a strong centre and weaker states,[44] but it has grown increasingly federal since the late 1990s as a result of political, economic and social changes.[45]

The President of India is the head of state[46] elected indirectly by an electoral college[47] for a five-year term.[48][49] The Prime Minister is the head of government and exercises most executive powers.[46] Appointed by the President,[50] the Prime Minister is by convention supported by the party or political alliance holding the majority of seats in the lower house of Parliament.[46] The executive branch consists of the President, Vice-President, and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet being its executive committee) headed by the Prime Minister. Any minister holding a portfolio must be a member of either house of parliament. In the Indian parliamentary system, the executive is subordinate to the legislature, with the Prime Minister and his Council being directly responsible to the lower house of the Parliament.[51]

The Legislature of India is the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the upper house called the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the lower house called the Lok Sabha (House of People).[52] The Rajya Sabha, a permanent body, has 245 members serving staggered six year terms.[53] Most are elected indirectly by the state and territorial legislatures in proportion to the state's population.[53] 543 of the Lok Sabha's 545 members are directly elected by popular vote to represent individual constituencies for five year terms.[53] The other two members are nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community if the President is of the opinion that the community is not adequately represented.[53]

India has a unitary three-tier judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India, 21 High Courts, and a large number of trial courts.[54] The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving fundamental rights and over disputes between states and the Centre, and appellate jurisdiction over the High Courts.[55] It is judicially independent,[54] and has the power to declare the law and to strike down Union or State laws which contravene the Constitution.[56] The role as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution is one of the most important functions of the Supreme Court.[57]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of India

India consists of 28 states and seven Union Territories.[58] All states, and the two union territories of Puducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have elected legislatures and governments patterned on the Westminster model. The other five union territories are directly ruled by the Centre through appointed administrators. In 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, states were formed on a linguistic basis.[59] Since then, this structure has remained largely unchanged. Each state or union territory is further divided into administrative districts.[60] The districts in turn are further divided into tehsils and eventually into villages.
Map of India showing its subdivision into states and territories.
Administrative divisions of India, including 28 states and 7 union territories.

States:

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Assam
4. Bihar
5. Chhattisgarh
6. Goa
7. Gujarat

8. Haryana
9. Himachal Pradesh
10. Jammu and Kashmir
11. Jharkhand
12. Karnataka
13. Kerala
14. Madhya Pradesh

15. Maharashtra
16. Manipur
17. Meghalaya
18. Mizoram
19. Nagaland
20. Orissa
21. Punjab

22. Rajasthan
23. Sikkim
24. Tamil Nadu
25. Tripura
26. Uttar Pradesh
27. Uttarakhand
28. West Bengal

Union Territories:

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Chandigarh
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
4. Daman and Diu
5. Lakshadweep
6. National Capital Territory of Delhi
7. Puducherry

Politics
Main article: Politics of India
Large building on grassy grounds. A walkway with pedestrians and central reflecting pools leads to the arched entrance. The ground floor is red; the rest of the building is beige. A main cupola is atop the center of the building.
The North Block, in New Delhi, houses key government offices.

India is the most populous democracy in the world.[61][62] For most of the years since independence, the federal government has been led by the Indian National Congress (INC).[58] Politics in the states have been dominated by several national parties including the INC, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and various regional parties. From 1950 to 1990, barring two brief periods, the INC enjoyed a parliamentary majority. The INC was out of power between 1977 and 1980, when the Janata Party won the election owing to public discontent with the state of emergency declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1989, a Janata Dal-led National Front coalition in alliance with the Left Front coalition won the elections but managed to stay in power for only two years.[63] As the 1991 elections gave no political party a majority, the INC formed a minority government under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and was able to complete its five-year term.[64]

The years 1996–1998 were a period of turmoil in the federal government with several short-lived alliances holding sway. The BJP formed a government briefly in 1996, followed by the United Front coalition that excluded both the BJP and the INC. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with several other parties and became the first non-Congress government to complete a full five-year term.[65] In the 2004 Indian elections, the INC won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), supported by various Left-leaning parties and members opposed to the BJP. The UPA again came into power in the 2009 general election; however, the representation of the Left leaning parties within the coalition has significantly reduced.[66] Manmohan Singh became the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962 to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term.[67]
Foreign relations and military
Main articles: Foreign relations of India and Indian Armed Forces
Indian Air Force's SU-30MKI "Flanker"
The Sukhoi-30 MKI "Flanker" is the Indian Air Force's air superiority fighter.[68]

Since its independence in 1947, India has maintained cordial relationships with most nations. It took a leading role in the 1950s by advocating the independence of European colonies in Africa and Asia.[69] India was involved in two brief military interventions in neighbouring countries – Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and Operation Cactus in Maldives. India is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement.[70] After the Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, India's relationship with the Soviet Union warmed and continued to remain so until the end of the Cold War. India has fought two wars with Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute. A third war between India and Pakistan in 1971 resulted in the creation of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).[71] Additional skirmishes have taken place between the two nations over the Siachen Glacier. In 1999, India and Pakistan fought an undeclared war over Kargil.
Two seated men conversing. The first is dressed in Indian clothing and turban and sits before an Indian flag; the second is in a Western business suit and sits before a Russian flag.
India and Russia share an extensive economic, defence and technological relationship.[72] Shown here is PM Manmohan Singh with President Dmitry Medvedev at the 34th G8 Summit.

In recent years, India has played an influential role in the SAARC, and the WTO.[73] India has provided as many as 55,000 Indian military and Indian police personnel to serve in thirty-five UN peace keeping operations across four continents.[14] Despite criticism and military sanctions, India has consistently refused to sign the CTBT and the NPT, although Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently stated that India would be willing to join the NPT as a recognized nuclear weapons state (NWS). Recent overtures by the Indian government have strengthened relations with the United States, China and Pakistan. In the economic sphere, India has close relationships with other developing nations in South America, Asia and Africa.

India maintains the third-largest military force in the world, which consists of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force[37] and auxiliary forces such as the Paramilitary Forces, the Coast Guard, and the Strategic Forces Command. The President of India is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces. India maintains close defence cooperation with Russia, Israel and France, who are the chief suppliers of arms. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) oversees indigenous development of sophisticated arms and military equipment, including ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft and main battle tanks, to reduce India's dependence on foreign imports. India became a nuclear power in 1974 after conducting an initial nuclear test, Operation Smiling Buddha and further underground testing in 1998. India maintains a "no first use" nuclear policy.[74] On 10 October 2008 Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement was signed, prior to which India received IAEA and NSG waivers, ending restrictions on nuclear technology commerce with which India became de facto sixth nuclear power in world.[75]
Geography
Main article: Geography of India
See also: Geological history of India and Climate of India
Map of India. Most of India is yellow (elevation 100–1000 m). Some areas in the south and mideast are brown (above 1000 m). Major river valleys are green (below 100 m).
Topographic map of India.

India, the major portion of the Indian subcontinent, sits atop the Indian tectonic plate, a minor plate within the Indo-Australian Plate.[76]

India's defining geological processes commenced seventy-five million years ago, when the Indian subcontinent, then part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana, began a northeastwards drift—lasting fifty million years—across the then unformed Indian Ocean.[76] The subcontinent's subsequent collision with the Eurasian Plate and subduction under it, gave rise to the Himalayas, the planet's highest mountains, which now abut India in the north and the north-east.[76] In the former seabed immediately south of the emerging Himalayas, plate movement created a vast trough, which, having gradually been filled with river-borne sediment,[77] now forms the Indo-Gangetic Plain.[78] To the west of this plain, and cut off from it by the Aravalli Range, lies the Thar Desert.[79]

The original Indian plate now survives as peninsular India, the oldest and geologically most stable part of India, and extending as far north as the Satpura and Vindhya ranges in central India. These parallel ranges run from the Arabian Sea coast in Gujarat in the west to the coal-rich Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand in the east.[80] To their south, the remaining peninsular landmass, the Deccan Plateau, is flanked on the left and right by the coastal ranges, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats respectively;[81] the plateau contains the oldest rock formations in India, some over one billion years old. Constituted in such fashion, India lies to the north of the equator between 6°44' and 35°30' north latitude[82] and 68°7' and 97°25' east longitude.[83]

India's coast is 7,517 kilometres (4,700 mi) long; of this distance, 5,423 kilometres (3,400 mi) belong to peninsular India, and 2,094 kilometres (1,300 mi) to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.[16] According to the Indian naval hydrographic charts, the mainland coast consists of the following: 43% sandy beaches, 11% rocky coast including cliffs, and 46% mudflats or marshy coast.[16]
The Himalayas form the mountainous landscape of Northern India. Seen here is Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir.

Major Himalayan-origin rivers that substantially flow through India include the Ganga (Ganges) and the Brahmaputra, both of which drain into the Bay of Bengal.[84] Important tributaries of the Ganga(Ganges) include the Yamuna and the Kosi, whose extremely low gradient causes disastrous floods every year. Major peninsular rivers whose steeper gradients prevent their waters from flooding include the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Kaveri, and the Krishna, which also drain into the Bay of Bengal;[85] and the Narmada and the Tapti, which drain into the Arabian Sea.[86] Among notable coastal features of India are the marshy Rann of Kutch in western India, and the alluvial Sundarbans delta, which India shares with Bangladesh.[87] India has two archipelagos: the Lakshadweep, coral atolls off India's south-western coast; and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a volcanic chain in the Andaman Sea.[88]

India's climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, both of which drive the monsoons.[89] The Himalayas prevent cold Central Asian Katabatic wind from blowing in, keeping the bulk of the Indian subcontinent warmer than most locations at similar latitudes.[90][91] The Thar Desert plays a crucial role in attracting the moisture-laden southwest summer monsoon winds that, between June and October, provide the majority of India's rainfall.[89] Four major climatic groupings predominate in India: tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid, and montane.[92]
Flora and fauna
Main articles: Flora of India and Fauna of India
The Indian peacock is India's national bird.

India, which lies within the Indomalaya ecozone, displays significant biodiversity. One of eighteen megadiverse countries, it is home to 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of all avian, 6.2% of all reptilian, 4.4% of all amphibian, 11.7% of all fish, and 6.0% of all flowering plant species.[93] Many ecoregions, such as the shola forests, exhibit extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant species are endemic.[94][95]

India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and North-East India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes lie the sal-dominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; the teak-dominated dry deciduous forest of central and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central Deccan and western Gangetic plain.[96] Important Indian trees include the medicinal neem, widely used in rural Indian herbal remedies. The pipal fig tree, shown on the seals of Mohenjo-daro, shaded Gautama Buddha as he sought enlightenment. According to latest report, less than 12% of India's landmass is covered by dense forests.[97]

Many Indian species are descendants of taxa originating in Gondwana, from which the Indian plate separated. Peninsular India's subsequent movement towards, and collision with, the Laurasian landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, volcanism and climatic changes 20 million years ago caused the extinction of many endemic Indian forms.[98] Soon thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two zoogeographical passes on either side of the emerging Himalaya.[96] Consequently, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.[93] Notable endemics are the Nilgiri leaf monkey and the brown and carmine Beddome's toad of the Western Ghats. India contains 172, or 2.9%, of IUCN-designated threatened species.[99] These include the Asiatic Lion, the Bengal Tiger, and the Indian white-rumped vulture, which suffered a near-extinction from ingesting the carrion of diclofenac-treated cattle.

In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the system of national parks and protected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially expanded. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act[100] and Project Tiger to safeguard crucial habitat; in addition, the Forest Conservation Act[101] was enacted in 1980. Along with more than five hundred wildlife sanctuaries, India hosts thirteen biosphere reserves,[102] four of which are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves; twenty-five wetlands are registered under the Ramsar Convention.[103]
Economy
Main article: Economy of India
See also: Economic history of India, Economic development in India, and Transport in India
View from ground of a modern 30-story building.
The Bombay Stock Exchange, in Mumbai, is Asia's oldest and India's largest stock exchange by market capitalisation.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, India followed socialist-inspired policies. The economy was shackled by extensive regulation, protectionism, and public ownership, leading to pervasive corruption and slow growth.[104][105][106][107] In 1991, the nation liberalised its economy and has since moved towards a market-based system.[105][106] The policy change in 1991 came after an acute balance of payments crisis, and the emphasis since then has been to use foreign trade and foreign investment as integral parts of India's economy.[108]

With an average annual GDP growth rate of 5.8% for the past two decades, the economy is among the fastest growing in the world.[109] In 2009, India's nominal GDP stood at US$1.243 trillion, which makes it the twelfth-largest economy in the world.[110] India's nominal per capita income US$1,068 is ranked 128th in the world. If PPP is taken into account, India's economy is the fourth largest in the world at US$3.548 trillion[111] corresponding to a per capita income of US$3,100.[112]
The Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car.[113] India's annual small-car exports have surged fivefold in the past five years.[114]

In the late 2000s, India's economic growth has averaged 7.5% a year, which will double the average income in a decade.[105] Despite India's impressive economic growth over recent decades, it still contains the largest concentration of poor people in the world, and has a higher rate of malnutrition among children under the age of three (46% in year 2007) than any other country in the world.[115][116] The percentage of people living below the World Bank's international poverty line of $1.25 a day (PPP, in nominal terms Rs. 21.6 a day in urban areas and Rs 14.3 in rural areas in 2005) decreased from 60% in 1981 to 42% in 2005.[117] Even though India has avoided famines in recent decades, half of children are underweight, one of the highest rates in the world and nearly double the rate of Sub-Saharan Africa.[118]

A 2007 Goldman Sachs report projected that "from 2007 to 2020, India’s GDP per capita will quadruple," and that the Indian GDP will surpass that of the United States before 2050, but India "will remain a low-income country for several decades, with per capita incomes well below its other BRIC peers."[107] Although the Indian economy has grown steadily over the last two decades; its growth has been uneven when comparing different social groups, economic groups, geographic regions, and rural and urban areas.[119] World Bank suggests that the most important priorities should be public sector reform, infrastructure, agricultural and rural development, removal of labor regulations, reforms in lagging states, and combating HIV/AIDS.[120]

India has the world's second largest labour force, with 516.3 million people. In terms of output, the agricultural sector accounts for 28% of GDP; the service and industrial sectors make up 54% and 18% respectively. Major agricultural products include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish.[58] Major industries include textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transport equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software.[58] India's trade has reached a relatively moderate share of 24% of GDP in 2006, up from 6% in 1985.[105] In 2008, India's share of world trade was about 1.68%.[121] Major exports include petroleum products, textile goods, gems and jewelry, software, engineering goods, chemicals, and leather manufactures.[58] Major imports include crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals.[58]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of India
See also: Religion in India, Languages of India, and Ethnic groups of South Asia
Map of India. High population density areas (above 1000 persons per square kilometer) are the Lakshadweep Islands, Kolkata and other parts of the Ganga (Ganges) river basin, Mumbai, Bangalore, and the southwest coast. Low density areas (below 100) include the western desert, east Kashmir, and the eastern frontier.
Population density map of India.

With an estimated population of 1.2 billion,[10] India is the world's second most populous country. The last 50 years have seen a rapid increase in population due to medical advances and massive increase in agricultural productivity made by the green revolution.[122][123] India's urban population increased 11-fold during the twentieth century and is increasingly concentrated in large cities. By 2001 there were 35 million-plus population cities in India, with the largest cities, with a population of over 10 million each, being Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. However, as of 2001, more than 70% of India's population continues to reside in rural areas.[124][125]

India is the world's most culturally, linguistically and genetically diverse geographical entity after the African continent.[58] India is home to two major linguistic families: Indo-Aryan (spoken by about 74% of the population) and Dravidian (spoken by about 24%). Other languages spoken in India come from the Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman linguistic families. Neither the Constitution of India, nor any Indian law defines any national language.[8] Hindi, with the largest number of speakers,[126] is the official language of the union.[127] English is used extensively in business and administration and has the status of a 'subsidiary official language;'[128] it is also important in education, especially as a medium of higher education. However, except Hindi no language is spoken by more than 10% of the population of the country. In addition, every state and union territory has its own official languages, and the constitution also recognises in particular 21 "scheduled languages".

As per the 2001 census, over 800 million Indians (80.5%) were Hindu. Other religious groups include Muslims (13.4%), Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians and Bahá'ís.[129] Tribals constitute 8.1% of the population.[130] India has the third-highest Muslim population in the world and has the highest population of Muslims for a non-Muslim majority country.

India's literacy rate is 64.8% (53.7% for females and 75.3% for males).[37] The state of Kerala has the highest literacy rate at 91% while Bihar has the lowest at 47%.[131][132] The national human sex ratio is 944 females per 1,000 males. India's median age is 24.9, and the population growth rate of 1.38% per annum; there are 22.01 births per 1,000 people per year.[37] According to the World Health Organization 900,000 Indians die each year from drinking contaminated water and breathing in polluted air.[133] Malaria is endemic in India.[134] Half of children in India are underweight, one of the highest rates in the world and nearly same as Sub-Saharan Africa.[118] Many women are malnourished, too. There are about 60 physicians per 100,000 people in India.[135]

Culture
Main article: Culture of India
The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by Shah Jahan as memorial to wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered to be of "outstanding universal value".[137]

India's culture is marked by a high degree of syncretism[138] and cultural pluralism.[139] It has managed to preserve established traditions while absorbing new customs, traditions, and ideas from invaders and immigrants and spreading its cultural influence to other parts of Asia, mainly South East and East Asia. Traditional Indian society is defined by relatively strict social hierarchy. The Indian caste system describes the social stratification and social restrictions in the Indian subcontinent, in which social classes are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups, often termed as jātis or castes.[140]

Traditional Indian family values are highly respected, and multi-generational patriarchal joint families have been the norm, although nuclear family are becoming common in urban areas.[104] An overwhelming majority of Indians have their marriages arranged by their parents and other respected family members, with the consent of the bride and groom.[141] Marriage is thought to be for life,[141] and the divorce rate is extremely low.[142] Child marriage is still a common practice, with half of women in India marrying before the legal age of 18.[143][144]

Indian cuisine is characterised by a wide variety of regional styles and sophisticated use of herbs and spices. The staple foods in the region are rice (especially in the south and the east) and wheat (predominantly in the north).[145] Spices such as black pepper that are now consumed world wide are originally native to the Indian subcontinent. Chili pepper, which was introduced by the Portuguese is also very much used within Indian Cuisine.[146]
The earliest form of the Buddha worshipped in India, the Sakyamuni Buddha depicts the moment he attained enlightenment.

Traditional Indian dress varies across the regions in its colours and styles and depends on various factors, including climate. Popular styles of dress include draped garments such as sari for women and dhoti or lungi for men; in addition, stitched clothes such as salwar kameez for women and kurta-pyjama and European-style trousers and shirts for men, are also popular.

Many Indian festivals are religious in origin, although several are celebrated irrespective of caste and creed. Some popular festivals are Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ugadi, Thai Pongal, Holi, Onam, Vijayadashami, Durga Puja, Eid ul-Fitr, Bakr-Id, Christmas, Buddha Jayanti and Vaisakhi.[147] India has three national holidays. Other sets of holidays, varying between nine and twelve, are officially observed in individual states. Religious practices are an integral part of everyday life and are a very public affair.

Indian architecture is one area that represents the diversity of Indian culture. Much of it, including notable monuments such as the Taj Mahal and other examples of Mughal architecture and South Indian architecture, comprises a blend of ancient and varied local traditions from several parts of the country and abroad. Vernacular architecture also displays notable regional variation.

Indian music covers a wide range of traditions and regional styles. Classical music largely encompasses the two genres – North Indian Hindustani, South Indian Carnatic traditions and their various offshoots in the form of regional folk music. Regionalised forms of popular music include filmi and folk music; the syncretic tradition of the bauls is a well-known form of the latter.

Indian dance too has diverse folk and classical forms. Among the well-known folk dances are the bhangra of the Punjab, the bihu of Assam, the chhau of West Bengal, Jharkhand and sambalpuri of Orissa and the ghoomar of Rajasthan. Eight dance forms, many with narrative forms and mythological elements, have been accorded classical dance status by India's National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama. These are: bharatanatyam of the state of Tamil Nadu, kathak of Uttar Pradesh, kathakali and mohiniyattam of Kerala, kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, manipuri of Manipur, odissi of Orissa and the sattriya of Assam.[148]

Theatre in India often incorporates music, dance, and improvised or written dialogue.[149] Often based on Hindu mythology, but also borrowing from medieval romances, and news of social and political events, Indian theatre includes the bhavai of state of Gujarat, the jatra of West Bengal, the nautanki and ramlila of North India, the tamasha of Maharashtra, the burrakatha of Andhra Pradesh, the terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu, and the yakshagana of Karnataka.[150]

The Indian film industry is the largest in the world.[151] Bollywood, based in Mumbai, makes commercial Hindi films and is the most prolific film industry in the world.[152] Established traditions also exist in Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu language cinemas.[153]

The earliest works of Indian literature were transmitted orally and only later written down.[154] These included works of Sanskrit literature – such as the early Vedas, the epics Mahābhārata and Ramayana, the drama Abhijñānaśākuntalam (The Recognition of Śakuntalā), and poetry such as the Mahākāvya[155] – and the Tamil language Sangam literature.[156] Among Indian writers of the modern era active in Indian languages or English, Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913.
Sports
Main article: Sports of India
Cricketers in a game in front of nearly-full stands.
A 2008 Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket match being played between the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders

India's official national sport is field hockey, administered by the Indian Hockey Federation. The Indian field hockey team won the 1975 Men's Hockey World Cup and 8 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Olympic games. However, cricket is the most popular sport; the India national cricket team won the 1983 Cricket World Cup and the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka. Cricket in India is administered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and domestic competitions include the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy, the Deodhar Trophy, the Irani Trophy and the Challenger Series. In addition Indian cricket league and Indian premier league organise Twenty20 competitions.

Tennis has become increasingly popular, owing to the victories of the India Davis Cup team. Association football is also a popular sport in northeast India, West Bengal, Goa and Kerala.[157] The Indian national football team has won the South Asian Football Federation Cup several times. Chess, commonly held to have originated in India, is also gaining popularity with the rise in the number of Indian Grandmasters.[158] Traditional sports include kabaddi, kho kho, and gilli-danda, which are played nationwide. India is also home to the ancient martial arts, Kalarippayattu and Varma Kalai.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award are India's highest awards for achievements in sports, while the Dronacharya Award is awarded for excellence in coaching. India hosted or co-hosted the 1951 and the 1982 Asian Games, the 1987 and 1996 Cricket World Cup. It is also scheduled to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

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