About  INDIA

India is a land of socio-cultural diversity. It has an astonishing as well as marvelous experiences to offer. The name India is derived from the word ‘Indus’ which is taken from the Old Persian word ‘Hindu’. India also known as BHARAT is a sovereign country. Bounded by the great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the tropic of cancer tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and Arabian Sea on the west. As the seventh 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. India has a long coast line of 7516.6 kms (including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshdweep islands). It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq. kms, extending from the snow covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. It has the highest mountain chain of the world located in its north further south there are plateaus sandy deserts and palm fringed beaches.

More than 3000 years of its history, with the existence of several civilizations India is a country with rich multicultural extravaganza and world renowned heritage. The presence of variety of cultures epitomizes the nationality of the country. India is a secular country with the most populous liberal democracy. The great cultural diversity can be seen through out the subcontinent as a result of the coexistence of a number of religions and diverse traditions which ties up its people together into one unit. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam all exist within the country today. In addition to being a pluralistic, multi-lingual, and multi-ethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats and national parks. India is a place of infinite variety. Not only it is difficult but rather it is impossible to describe India into one word.

Today India stands out with a sophisticated urban jetsetter. India is mainly identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for which it is renowned all over the world. Industrial development has brought the country within top ten nations of the world. Its great natural wealth has lured a succession of traders foreign influences to it leaving their imprints here. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop of the world’s largest democracy. It is the best example of a pluralistic and a multilingual country. It is mixture of authenticity where one can see, fishermen along the country's coastline fashion simple fishing boats in a centuries old tradition while, a few miles away motor vehicles glide off conveyor belts in state-of-the-art factories.


Following is the national anthem of India which describes the authenticity India’s rich heritage:

JANA-GANA-MANA-ADHINAYAKA, JAYA HE BHARATA-BHAGYA-VIDHATA
PUNJABA-SINDHU-GUJARATA-MARATHA DRAVIDA-UTKALA-BANGA VINDHYA-HIMACHALA-YAMUNA-GANGA UCCHHALA-JALADHI TARANGA TAVA SUBHA NAME JAGE TAVA SUBHA ASHISHA MAGE GAHE TAVA JAYA GATHA. ANA-GANA-MANGALA DAYAKA, JAYA HE BHARATA-BHAGYA-VIDHATA, JAYA HE, JAYA HE, JAYA HE, JAYA JAYA JAYA, JAYA HE
 

The following is a translation of Rabindranath Tagore's rendering of the stanza:

Thou art the ruler OF the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny. The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal; it echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise. The salvation of all people is in thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, victory, victory to thee.