India

Population, language, government, history, culture &

celebrations

(Население, език, държавно управление, история, култура

и празници)

Population

India is the second most populous country, with 1,210,193,422

citizens in total. It is incredibly diverse, being a home to
thousands of small ethnic groups and tribes each with their own
different culture such as the Chakma, Jats, Rajput, Kashmiris etc.

Language

Due to its diversity India has no national language,

but there are 22 official commonly spoken languages
across the nation's provinces. English is taught in
schools and widely used across the country. Most
Indians are bililngual or multilingual.

Government

India is a federal republic with a parliamentary

system of government. Each of its states has its own
governor, and there are over 50 government agencies such as the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. There are 28
states and 8 union territories. 1

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_union_territories_of_India
(On the pictures – India’s national symbol & the new Parliament)

History

(Slide 1) India has been inhabited by people ever since

the Paleolithic era, as the Indus Valley was one of the
cradles of civilization along with Mesopotamia. Its
inhabitants were the Harappans.
(The civilisation is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multi-storeyed houses
and is thought to have had some kind of municipal organisation. Civilization also developed a Indus
script, which is presently undeciphered. This is the reason why Harappan language is not directly
attested, and its affiliation uncertain. A relationship or
membership of the Dravidian or Elamo-Dravidian language
family is proposed by some scholars. They had large or small
cities and would mass-produce pottery.)

(Slide 2) Throughout the Iron Age India was inhabited by two

societies – the Verdics and the Janapadas, which would
eventually dissolve. Many empires existed in this period such
as the Nanda empire, which not even Alexander the Great
would try to conquer. Dozens of dynasties and empires would
emerge and eventually collapse throughout the next
centuries, some of which would become economic
superpowers throughout the Early Modern Period (16 th – 19th
century)

(They had a vast army, consisting of 200,000 infantry, 20,000

cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3,000 war elephants (at the
lowest estimates). According to the Greek historian Plutarch,
the size of the Nanda army was even larger, numbering
200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 war chariots, and
6,000 war elephants.)

( Снимка – бойни слонове и кавалерия)

(Slide 3) During the

Age of Discovery,
many European
civilizations would
establish contact
with India. Internal
conflicts would give
plenty of
opportunity for
European colonial
powers to gain
influence, and the British managed to establish direct administration over India in 1858, forming the The
British Raj.

(Nalanda, an ancient university from the Golden Age of India)

(Territory of the British Raj)

Slide 4) After World War I, Mahatma Gandhi would launch several independence movements. He would
preach for reforms to help the socially disadvantaged and resistance through peaceful civil
disobedience. On 3 June 1947 British India would split into India and Pakistan.

(Gandhi was a lawyer and politician who would later inspire movements for civil rights and freedom
across the world. He had lived in South Africa for 21 years. It was there that Gandhi raised a family and
first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. In 1915, aged 45, he returned to India
and soon set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-
tax and discrimination. He was part of the Indian Civil congress in 1920 and would be regarded as a
 messiah among the population. Gandhi was sentenced in 1922
to six years in prison, but was released after serving two. On
the banks of the river Sabarmati, he established the newspaper
Young India, introducing a series of reforms aimed at the
socially disadvantaged within Hindu society — the rural poor,
and the untouchables; He would negotiate with the British
government in 1931. The British Government agreed to free all
political prisoners, in return for the suspension of the civil
disobedience movement. According to the pact, Gandhi was
invited to attend the Round Table Conference in London for
discussions and as the sole representative of the Indian
National Congress. During WWII he would campaign against
Indian involvement in the war.)

(On the picture - Raj Ghat has an eternal fire that never burns
out, and his last ceremonies
were carried out there. His
parting words, ‘Hey Ram’ are
engraved on the stone. When
visiting India, foreign dignitaries
honour Gandhi by placing
flowers on the platform. Along
with the prayer sessions
conducted on Gandhi's birth
and death anniversaries, a
commemoration event is held at
Raj Ghat every Friday. His death
was mourned worldwide.)

Culture & celebrations

India is rich in heritage and traditions which have been influenced by several cultures. The joint family
system was usually followed2, where extended members of a family live together. Arranged marriages
are the norm even today and the bride’s family usually provides a dowry to the groom. Weddings are
festive with many colors, decorations and costumes that depend on the preferences and religion/s of
the couple.

(Slide 2) Some festivals in India are celebrated by everyone despite their ethnic and religious diversity,
such as Independence day, Gandhi Jayanti and the Republic day. There’s also a New Year festival and
several harvest festivals like Sohrai or Hornbill, sometimes called the ‘festival of festivals’.

(On the pictures – Hornbill

festival celebration (1); Diwali
ritual – a festival of lights which
symbolizes the victory of light
over the darkness)

2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_family_system
Slide 3) Clothes

Indian clothes are incredibly diverse in terms of fibers, patterns and colors. Different regions vary in
folklore which influences the colors and embroidery. The saree and anarkali suit are some of the most
iconic traditional types of clothing.

(On the picture – Sari)

Interesting facts

- The decimal
numeral system
and the concept
of 0 was invented
in India during the
First Golden Age
- The dot on Indian
women’s
foreheads usually
symbolizes that
they’re married or
holds cultural
significance – it is believed the area between the
eyes is the sixth chakra, and represents the third
eye.