2. Structure of the
presentation
•Some background facts and figures
•Challenges that India faces right now
•India’s diversity in spirituality
•Diversity in culture
3. Some interesting
facts
Regarded by historians as the "oldest living civilization of
Earth", the Indian tradition dates back to 8000 BC
7th largest country by geographical area
2nd most populous country with over 1.2 billion people.
Largest democracy in the world
• The birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism,
and Sikhism
• Median age for the UK:40 years. India: 26 years
• Home to Mohandas Gandhi and Nehru- leaders of non
violent resistance against British rule over India
4. •Also home to communal violence after the Independence in
1947, which split India into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
•Despite pressing problems such as significant overpopulation,
environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread
corruption, rapid economic development is fueling India's rise
on the world stage.
•In 2010, the Indian economy rebounded robustly from the
global financial crisis and growth exceeded 8% year-on-year in
real terms.
•Long term challenges: widespread poverty, inadequate
physical and social infrastructure, limited non-agricultural
employment opportunities, insufficient access to quality basic
and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban
migration.
5. A short video by
Incredible India
group
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIWs-38t2-
o&feature=related
6.
7. Diversity in Religion
•Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other
1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bahá'í Faith are
also influential but their numbers are smaller.
•Despite the strong role of religion in Indian
life, atheism and agnostics also have visible influence along with
a self-ascribed tolerance to other people.
9. Diversity in festivals
Popular religious
Within hinduism:
festivals:
the Hindu festivals Sri Ramakrishna, a
of Diwali, Ganesh prominent Hindu saint once
Chaturthi, Holi, Dussehra wrote, "There can be as
, many Hindu Gods as there
are devotees to suit the
moods, feelings, emotions
Islamic festivals of Eid ul- and social backgrounds of
Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid the devotees." So in some
an-Nabī ways Hinduism is a
polytheistic religion.
Christian festivals of
Christmas and days of Similarly, the festivals
observances such range from orthodox Diwali
as Good Friday are celebration
observed throughout the
country.
12. Diversity in Language
• The principal official language is Hindi.
• English is the secondary official language.
•
•Several hundred mother tongues in India
•30 main languages with at least 1 million speakers
• 122 languages with 10,000 speakers.
•
The Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. India's languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food and customs differ from place to place within the country, but nevertheless possess a commonality. The culture of India is an amalgamation of these diverse sub-cultures spread all over the Indian subcontinent and traditions that are several millennia old.
India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion still plays a central and definitive role in the life of many of its people.
