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India
India's
population, numbering 1.080 billion as of
2005, resides mainly in rural areas with
India having a population density of about
305 people per square km.
Second
only to China in population size, India is
the home of 16 percent of the world's
population. The country accounts though
for only 2.42 percent of the total world
area.
Cultural
diversity is what makes up India, which is
evident with the many different states.
In spite of the cultural and ethnic
diversity, the physical characteristics of
the Indian people are essentially the same.
With
various shades of brown skin, straight black
hair and for the most part brown eyes, the
Indian people do not have specific physical
characteristics that differentiate them from
many of the other different ethnic groups.
Cultural
and Social Diversity
India's
cultural and social diversity is
all-pervading and yet a harmonious balance
permeates throughout the social fabric.
Social attitudes are often based on
traditional beliefs, religious adherence and
through interaction with modern social and
political concepts
India
is a secular country. Hindus form the
largest community followed by the Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and
Parsis. Seventy percent of the Indian people
live in villages with agriculture or
agro-based small industry providing the
major occupation. With the large industrial
cities and urban centres coming up, a new
middle class and a new working class have
emerged where the social and cultural order
is different and pluralistic.
In
India as elsewhere, certain customs are
observed in social matters. When people are
introduced to each other they usually say
"Namaste," which is the most
common form of greeting. The same form is
used at parting as well. Both the hands are
joined and raised in greeting. Some people
also shake hands and use the English form of
greeting like "Good Morning,"
"Good Afternoon" and "Good
Evening." Women do not generally shake
hands.
India's
Geography
India
covers 3,287,263 sq km, which extends from
the Himalayas, the world's highest
mountains, to the southern tropical rain
forests. It is the seventh largest
country in the world and the mountains and
sea that surround India separate it from
other parts of Asia. In the
shape of a triangle, India's topography is
greatly varied in that there although there
are deserts and rain forests, much of it's
land is comprised of fertile river plains
and high plateaus. Some of the main
rivers that flow through India are the
Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Indus.
These rivers start in the high mountains and
carry down rich alluvial soil to the plains
below, thus creating the fertile river
plains.
Wildlife
in India
India's
rich and abundant animal life is attributed
to it's diverse climate and geography.
There are 372 species of mammals in India,
some of which include the majestic elephant,
the Indian bison (gaur), rhinoceros,
wild Himalayan sheep, nilgai, and the
swamp deer. The most superb examples
of cats in India are the tiger and the lion,
but there are other types as well, the
clouded leopard, snow leopard and the
marbled cat are a few others found.
Several species of monkeys reside in India
as well.
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