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"If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams
of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when
man began the dream of existence, it is India." - Romain Rolland
India is the largest democracy in the world, seventh largest
country and the second most populous. India is a picture of
diversity seen in its peoples, cultures, colorful festivals, dress
and costumes, religions, flora and fauna and varying landscapes.
its history dates back to the Indus Valley civilization of about
2500-1700 BC. India is, as Mark Twain intones "
the cradle of the
human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history,
grandmother of legend, and great grandmother of tradition. Our
most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man
are treasured up in India only." it gave the world the knowledge
of counting that transformed the scientific faculty of man.
India was and arguably is the spiritual seat of the world. India is
located in the Asia continent in northern hemisphere. The
Himalayan ranges crown the northern boundary of India. It is
bounded on the north by Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Bhutan; on
the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the
Bay of Bengal; on the south by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of
Mannar (which separates it from Sri Lanka) and the Indian Ocean;
and on the west by the Arabian Sea and Pakistan.
The country is divided into 28 states (three of which are recently
formed) and 7 Union Territories. New Delhi is the capital of India
and one of its largest cities.
Fast Facts on India
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Population |
1, 027, 015, 247 (2001 Census)
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Area |
3.3 million square kilometers
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Geographical location |
Lies between latitudes 8 ° 4' and 37 ° 6 ' north and longitudes 68 ° 7
' and 97° 25' east |
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Coastline length |
7600 km |
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Languages |
18 major languages, 844 dialects
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Major religions |
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism |
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National anthem |
Jan gana mana written by Rabindranath Tagore
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National Song |
Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji |
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National emblem |
Replica of the Lion Capital of Sarnath |
National flag
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Horizontal tricolor in equal proportion of deep saffron on the top, white
in the middle and dark green at the bottom. In the center of the white band
is a wheel in navy blue color |
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National animal |
Tiger (Panthera Tigris) |
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National bird |
Peacock |
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National flower |
Lotus |
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National tree |
Banyan |
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National fruit |
Mango |
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