What should everyone know about India?
Here are a few facts which I think everyone should know!
- It accounts to roughly 20% of the worlds population (120 crores or 1.2 billion) and 5.56% of world GDP.
- People love cricket and Sachin is their God (There are many exceptions to this but this applies to most of the Indians)
- There is lot of diversity in the country.
- In some parts of the country the names have 3 parts [Surname] [Name] [Caste] and people do not know what to fill in the Firstname and Lastname fields of many applications/online forms
- There are more than 200 languagesspoken in the country of which 21 languages have official status.
- Around 30% of the population cannot speak Hindi[1]
- The country is divided into states mostly on linguistic basis
- Caste System
- The caste system is deep rooted and even educated Indians are no exception to this. ( Inter-caste marriages are discouraged among many communities )
- There is a caste based reservation system for college admissions and Govt. Jobs. (http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Res...)
- India (one of the 2 official names of the country) was called so because of the Indus river. However, after partition of India only 5% of the Indus river basin is part of the country.
As shown in "Slumdog Millionaire" NOT every part of India is like this:
There is a lot more of Good side to India:
The Natural Beauty here is truly exhilarating:
Indian Culture is one of the most admired all over the world and it fascinates a lot of people
Unity in Diversity - India is probably the most diverse nation in the world
There is the world famous Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, the extremely diverse wild life and lots more to this beautiful nation. This country has also produced some of the most brilliant minds like Srinivasa Ramanujan,CV Raman,Aryabhatta, Jagadish Chandra Bose and many more exceptional people.So please dont judge India based on the film "Slumdog Millionaire".
- A Sincere Request on behalf of all Indians
There is a lot more of Good side to India:
The Natural Beauty here is truly exhilarating:
Indian Culture is one of the most admired all over the world and it fascinates a lot of people
Unity in Diversity - India is probably the most diverse nation in the world
There is the world famous Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, the extremely diverse wild life and lots more to this beautiful nation. This country has also produced some of the most brilliant minds like Srinivasa Ramanujan,CV Raman,Aryabhatta, Jagadish Chandra Bose and many more exceptional people.So please dont judge India based on the film "Slumdog Millionaire".
- A Sincere Request on behalf of all Indians
Anonymous
For many people writing about India, the common cliches of Delhi belly, lengthy traffic jams, bureaucracy, corruption and yoga retreats are the subjects that fill the column inches. Here are 10 other observations.
1. Hardly anyone pays tax
Only 3% of Indians pay tax, in a population of 1.2bn. One explanation for this is that agriculture is exempt and two-thirds of Indians live in rural areas. A large chunk of the economy is also informal, unorganised labour, for which it's harder to collect taxes. Many argue that some of the country's financial problems would be solved in one fell swoop, if this massive tax hole could be filled.
2. The rise of the 'wedding detective'
A friend of mine told me that, before his arranged marriage, he had a hunch his prospective in-laws had hired a private detective to check whether he'd had a girlfriend in the past. The answer was that he had, but the snoop (thankfully for my friend) failed to find out, and the wedding went ahead. The growth in companies offering the service is huge, with 15,000 operating. "It's not spying," says one woman who'd used the service to check out a prospective groom for her sister. "He told us he was from a good family, but we needed to ensure he was telling the truth."
3. Read all about it
While Western countries are mourning the demise of the newspaper, India's print industry is in fact booming. A growing literacy rate, relatively low internet use, and the large number of languages in the country, mean more people want to pick up their daily rag. It's also very cheap to buy a newspaper, which is widening newspaper readershipamong all social classes. Another reason why smaller, community newspapers are also on the rise, is because with a growing economy, more people are taking out classified ads, which helps to fund publications. What's also remarkable is the market in second-hand newspapers and magazines. You can sell your magazines to a man at a roadside stall, who will buy them off you and sell them again - there are people who are more than happy to read a year old copy of the economist, if it's more affordable than the current issue.
4. Horn noise = pneumatic drill
Painted on the back of almost all lorries and trucks are the words "Horn OK, please".Honking is encouraged in India for drivers who are coming up behind another vehicle. The problem is that they're not used sparingly.One rickshaw driver told me he honked his horn at least 150 times a day, a fairly conservative estimate, given that in heavy traffic they can be sounded at least once every 30 seconds. The average rickshaw horn produces a sound of around 93 decibels (close to that of a pneumatic drill), with the general sound of traffic equivalent to a jumbo jet taking off. A deafening sound, quite literally.
5. It's a young country
Young people in India are using music as a way to express self-confidence
India is a young nation. More than half of its 1.2 billion people is aged below 25, and two-thirds below 35. Many young Indians are feeling a sense of self confidence about their nation, no longer looking to the West. Mumbai has a hipster scene to rival Brooklyn's and home grown musical talent is flourishing, with many more shunning traditional professions and taking up a career in the arts. A music festival circuit has gigs held in fields and deserts, while major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai are becoming hubs for live concerts.
6. Everywhere you go, you see plastic chairs
7. They're piling on the pounds
"Oh you've put on weight," said my bank manager with a smile on her face. Initially aghast, I eventually got used to the fact that gaining a few pounds is considered a compliment, a sign that you're looking healthy. But what surprised me was that India is now on the brink of an obesity epidemic, (not just with humans but animals too). Stop at any service station and you'll see queues of Indians gorging on McDonalds or other processed foods. It's always been usual to see the older Indian man sporting a fat tummy (known lovingly as a paunch), and while large swathes of India still battle malnourishment, with millions starving every day, there is a general widening of waists in the cities.
8. The scourge of spit
Mumbai has introduced a "spit inspector" to fine those who share their saliva in public.Many people spit after they've had paan (a mix of betel nut and areca, and sometimes tobacco - which is chewed but not swallowed). This produces a reddish stain which can be seen on the side of many white walls. It's common to see "do not spit" signs in taxis, on the back of rickshaws and on the front of buildings. But there's concern the falling phlegm is responsible for the spread of tuberculosis. There's even an anti spit campaign in the country.
9. Roadside ear cleaners
Anyone who has been to India, even for a few days, will be well acquainted with the street-side economy which is a dominant part of life the country. The inventiveness and resourcefulness of people in the country is like no other - there are people who will sell or serve you in all kinds of ways. Broken an umbrella? There's a man who'll fix it. Need your shoes re-heeled? There's a man who will come to your house to do it. How about a haircut from a curbside cutter? Then there's the serious stuff - the roadside bone setters,who will repair fractures, plus the ear cleaners and the corn and bunion removal men. What's remarkable is how these centuries old traditions are still going strong. Some fear these traditions are under threat, with future generations choosing to pursue an education and a different path rather than follow the family business, and because some authorities are trying to move them off the pavements.
10. Don't wear new clothes on a Saturday
India might be home to some of the world's best scientists and engineers, but a lot of that rational thinking can go straight out of the window when it comes to observing ancient superstitions. Different people observe different things, such as - don't wear new clothes on a Saturday, don't clean the house at night for fear of scaring the Goddess Lakshmi away, it's bad luck to give or accept anything with your left hand. For so many in India - rich and poor - observing these customs is still part of today's society. Brand new cars have a floral garland hanging on the bonnet because it's considered good luck to get your new vehicle blessed before you drive it. Chilli and limes hang in cars or above front doors to ward off evil. A lot of planes don't have a row 13, to avoid any association with the unlucky number.
SOURCE: 10 things you might not know about India
1. Hardly anyone pays tax
Only 3% of Indians pay tax, in a population of 1.2bn. One explanation for this is that agriculture is exempt and two-thirds of Indians live in rural areas. A large chunk of the economy is also informal, unorganised labour, for which it's harder to collect taxes. Many argue that some of the country's financial problems would be solved in one fell swoop, if this massive tax hole could be filled.
2. The rise of the 'wedding detective'
A friend of mine told me that, before his arranged marriage, he had a hunch his prospective in-laws had hired a private detective to check whether he'd had a girlfriend in the past. The answer was that he had, but the snoop (thankfully for my friend) failed to find out, and the wedding went ahead. The growth in companies offering the service is huge, with 15,000 operating. "It's not spying," says one woman who'd used the service to check out a prospective groom for her sister. "He told us he was from a good family, but we needed to ensure he was telling the truth."
3. Read all about it
While Western countries are mourning the demise of the newspaper, India's print industry is in fact booming. A growing literacy rate, relatively low internet use, and the large number of languages in the country, mean more people want to pick up their daily rag. It's also very cheap to buy a newspaper, which is widening newspaper readershipamong all social classes. Another reason why smaller, community newspapers are also on the rise, is because with a growing economy, more people are taking out classified ads, which helps to fund publications. What's also remarkable is the market in second-hand newspapers and magazines. You can sell your magazines to a man at a roadside stall, who will buy them off you and sell them again - there are people who are more than happy to read a year old copy of the economist, if it's more affordable than the current issue.
4. Horn noise = pneumatic drill
Painted on the back of almost all lorries and trucks are the words "Horn OK, please".Honking is encouraged in India for drivers who are coming up behind another vehicle. The problem is that they're not used sparingly.One rickshaw driver told me he honked his horn at least 150 times a day, a fairly conservative estimate, given that in heavy traffic they can be sounded at least once every 30 seconds. The average rickshaw horn produces a sound of around 93 decibels (close to that of a pneumatic drill), with the general sound of traffic equivalent to a jumbo jet taking off. A deafening sound, quite literally.
5. It's a young country
India is a young nation. More than half of its 1.2 billion people is aged below 25, and two-thirds below 35. Many young Indians are feeling a sense of self confidence about their nation, no longer looking to the West. Mumbai has a hipster scene to rival Brooklyn's and home grown musical talent is flourishing, with many more shunning traditional professions and taking up a career in the arts. A music festival circuit has gigs held in fields and deserts, while major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai are becoming hubs for live concerts.
6. Everywhere you go, you see plastic chairs
7. They're piling on the pounds
"Oh you've put on weight," said my bank manager with a smile on her face. Initially aghast, I eventually got used to the fact that gaining a few pounds is considered a compliment, a sign that you're looking healthy. But what surprised me was that India is now on the brink of an obesity epidemic, (not just with humans but animals too). Stop at any service station and you'll see queues of Indians gorging on McDonalds or other processed foods. It's always been usual to see the older Indian man sporting a fat tummy (known lovingly as a paunch), and while large swathes of India still battle malnourishment, with millions starving every day, there is a general widening of waists in the cities.
8. The scourge of spit
Mumbai has introduced a "spit inspector" to fine those who share their saliva in public.Many people spit after they've had paan (a mix of betel nut and areca, and sometimes tobacco - which is chewed but not swallowed). This produces a reddish stain which can be seen on the side of many white walls. It's common to see "do not spit" signs in taxis, on the back of rickshaws and on the front of buildings. But there's concern the falling phlegm is responsible for the spread of tuberculosis. There's even an anti spit campaign in the country.
9. Roadside ear cleaners
10. Don't wear new clothes on a Saturday
India might be home to some of the world's best scientists and engineers, but a lot of that rational thinking can go straight out of the window when it comes to observing ancient superstitions. Different people observe different things, such as - don't wear new clothes on a Saturday, don't clean the house at night for fear of scaring the Goddess Lakshmi away, it's bad luck to give or accept anything with your left hand. For so many in India - rich and poor - observing these customs is still part of today's society. Brand new cars have a floral garland hanging on the bonnet because it's considered good luck to get your new vehicle blessed before you drive it. Chilli and limes hang in cars or above front doors to ward off evil. A lot of planes don't have a row 13, to avoid any association with the unlucky number.
SOURCE: 10 things you might not know about India
Here is the insider deal on what everyoneshould "know" about India, no amazing facts, no little tidbits, stuff commonplace enough, but that which would make you an "old India hand" in front of your Indian pals:
What we would like you to know: India is the world's largest democracy.
What you should also know: Corruption is rampant in India, hindering its democracy. Also, interestingly, even communists contest elections in India.
What we would like you to know: India has a living history for thousands for years.
What you should also know: The modern day concept of "India" however, is relatively recent, except for a few pan-Indian empires in the past, the place was pretty fragmented.
What we would like you to know: India is one the BRICS, one of the frontrunners in the emerging world, looked upon at the next destionation to be in by companies worldwide.
What you should also know: A lot of Indians at the same time live in crushing poverty, without basic access to health, sanitation and water.
What we would like you to know: India is the birthplace of Yoga, Kama-sutra, spirituality et al
What you should also know: Most Indians don't practice Yoga nor follow Kamasutra. A lot of the thingamajig that passes for Yoga/Tantric knowledge in the West would appear ludicrous to Indians.
What we would like you to know: India is incredibly diverse, perhaps the most diverse place on earth.
What you should also know: This diversity doesn't mean there is no notion of nationhood, its celebrated usually as "Unity in Diversity" (Bonus: Using this phrase generally makes Indians go all tingly with pleasure)
What we would like you to know: Indian food is the best.
What you should also know: Indian food is the best: eaten at places which appear satisfactory to your hygiene standards: no point blaming India after eating at aquestionable roadside stall and drinking water off a rusty tap.
What we would like you to know: Taj Mahal!
What you should also know: To not believe "guides" who describe sordid tales of Emperors cutting off the hands of the artisans after the Taj is finished so they can never build another. And please, if visiting between 11 am and 5 pm, do rent those cloth shoes peddled inside, even if it looks like a rip-off, lest you want your feet scalded by the hot marble.
What we would like you to know: India can be experienced in her trains.
What you should also know: A long distance (24 hours and above) journey is not for the faint-hearted especially in a sleeper class. Prefer a shorter trip, but do try it!
What we would like you to know: Indians are extremely hospitable, the saying goes "Guest is God".
What you should also know: Use your instinct, some of the most hospitable looking strangers on trains/ touristy places can also be the thieves/pickpockets. Mugging, though, is rare in India. Crime by deceit is more popular.
What we would like you to know: Bollywood comes from India!
What you should also know: Bollywood is notIndian cinema. Its "Hindi" cinema - of one language. There are other thriving, big film industries in India; Tollywood - Telugu, Kollywood - Tamil et al.
What we would like you to know: India is a cricket-mad nation.
What you should also know: But it is not India's national game, infact India has no national game. For more on this, see Aaditya Singhai's comment.
For more on stereotypes of India which aren't true, in case you are travelling to India, please see this: Harish Aditham's answer to What are some common stereotypes about Indians that are largely untrue?
What we would like you to know: India is the world's largest democracy.
What you should also know: Corruption is rampant in India, hindering its democracy. Also, interestingly, even communists contest elections in India.
What we would like you to know: India has a living history for thousands for years.
What you should also know: The modern day concept of "India" however, is relatively recent, except for a few pan-Indian empires in the past, the place was pretty fragmented.
What we would like you to know: India is one the BRICS, one of the frontrunners in the emerging world, looked upon at the next destionation to be in by companies worldwide.
What you should also know: A lot of Indians at the same time live in crushing poverty, without basic access to health, sanitation and water.
What we would like you to know: India is the birthplace of Yoga, Kama-sutra, spirituality et al
What you should also know: Most Indians don't practice Yoga nor follow Kamasutra. A lot of the thingamajig that passes for Yoga/Tantric knowledge in the West would appear ludicrous to Indians.
What we would like you to know: India is incredibly diverse, perhaps the most diverse place on earth.
What you should also know: This diversity doesn't mean there is no notion of nationhood, its celebrated usually as "Unity in Diversity" (Bonus: Using this phrase generally makes Indians go all tingly with pleasure)
What we would like you to know: Indian food is the best.
What you should also know: Indian food is the best: eaten at places which appear satisfactory to your hygiene standards: no point blaming India after eating at aquestionable roadside stall and drinking water off a rusty tap.
What we would like you to know: Taj Mahal!
What you should also know: To not believe "guides" who describe sordid tales of Emperors cutting off the hands of the artisans after the Taj is finished so they can never build another. And please, if visiting between 11 am and 5 pm, do rent those cloth shoes peddled inside, even if it looks like a rip-off, lest you want your feet scalded by the hot marble.
What we would like you to know: India can be experienced in her trains.
What you should also know: A long distance (24 hours and above) journey is not for the faint-hearted especially in a sleeper class. Prefer a shorter trip, but do try it!
What we would like you to know: Indians are extremely hospitable, the saying goes "Guest is God".
What you should also know: Use your instinct, some of the most hospitable looking strangers on trains/ touristy places can also be the thieves/pickpockets. Mugging, though, is rare in India. Crime by deceit is more popular.
What we would like you to know: Bollywood comes from India!
What you should also know: Bollywood is notIndian cinema. Its "Hindi" cinema - of one language. There are other thriving, big film industries in India; Tollywood - Telugu, Kollywood - Tamil et al.
What we would like you to know: India is a cricket-mad nation.
What you should also know: But it is not India's national game, infact India has no national game. For more on this, see Aaditya Singhai's comment.
For more on stereotypes of India which aren't true, in case you are travelling to India, please see this: Harish Aditham's answer to What are some common stereotypes about Indians that are largely untrue?
For 1850 years out of 2000 years, India was the richest country in the world and had the biggest economy in the world.
India was the leading economic power of the world from the 1st year of the first millennium till 1700 - with 32 per cent share of world’s GDP in the first 1000 years and 28 per cent to 24 per cent in the second millennium till 1700. India lost its economic might due to colonial conquests only.
Recommended - Boss, read the true history before speaking: Gurumurthy
India was the leading economic power of the world from the 1st year of the first millennium till 1700 - with 32 per cent share of world’s GDP in the first 1000 years and 28 per cent to 24 per cent in the second millennium till 1700. India lost its economic might due to colonial conquests only.
Recommended - Boss, read the true history before speaking: Gurumurthy
The description of the Game of Thrones' epic Valyrian steel is taken from Wootz steel, which is characterized by a pattern of bands of micro carbides within a tempered pearlite matrix. This unique steel matrix was developed in the sixth century BC in the Deccan Plateau, South India. The word wootzwas also derived from ukku(ఉక్కు) which means steel in Dravidian languages.
Source: Game of Thrones: Finding fact
some common facts:
- India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
- India is the world's Largest democracy.
- India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.
- India invented the number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
- When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)
- There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world
- Sanskrit is the mother of all the European Languages . Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software - a report in Forbes magzine July 1987.@
- Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
- India has the second largest pool of Scientist and Engineers in the World.
- India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.
- India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computerindeigenously.
- India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world
- One of the largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways , employing over a million people
- India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
- The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982
- The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimagedestination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
- Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
- Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
- Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
some intresting facts:
- The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
- The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name 'Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus
- Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.
- The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level
- Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father ofMedicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
- India exports software to 90 countries.
- Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.
- Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion.
- Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively
- Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.
source:http://www.facts-a
SOME SHAMEFUL FACTS RELATED TO INDIA.
1.We have a hybrid of Indian and Italian genes who does even possesses a good educational background ,was caught at Boston airport a few years back with his former girlfriend ,a daughter of notorious drug mafia with cash amount of millions of Dollars and he is going to be the next Prime- ministerial candidate for a party in 2014 general election just because he belongs to the Gandhi family which has indirectly or directly ruled at the center for most years post independence.
2. we have a tigress , who has been a CM of a state in past who wasted more than Rs 40000 crores on parks and elevating statues of elephants ,her party's symbol and herself and her idealistic BR AMBEDKAR.
3. THE GREAT DIVIDE.
we have millions of people with no homes,no clothes ,dying in hungers and struggling hard to manage even a single piece of bread,but the goverment do not gives a shit about them .On the other we have high towers,spacious bungalow with high cooling ACs and bodygaurds occupied by netas ,sea facing villas, luxirious cars like Ferrari, Bugatti etc to ride on.
4. We have a reservation policies based on caste and religion designed by netas to nurture every single vote of a particular caste in their favor.No matter how much poor you are ,if you are from forward caste u have no right to receive reservation benefits and if you are from some backward caste and even if you are the owner of some big estates,have high paying jobs, drive BMW and Skoda,you are entitled to get the reservation benefits .
Read this to get a more better insight of this menace .
Marks in IIT JEE = 180,
Category- General
Son of a poor farmer who lives on daily labor, lives in a shack.
Result: 'NOT QUALIFIED'
Marks in IIT JEE = 45,
Category- ST
Son of a Rich man who roams in Honda City, lives in a mansion and guy uses smart phone.
Result: 'PASSED'
Happens only in India! 'Incredible India'.
SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT INDIA.
< 1 > . We are proud to belong to a nation which has such a rich historical and cultural background, where the world oldest and most complex religion Hiduism exist, which has given birth to thousands of great saints and sages who attained enlightenments like Swami Vivekanand,Gautan buddha
inspiring millions of lives accross the world through their teachings and preachings .
< 2 > . We are proud to be a nation where people of hundreds religion reside together in harmony and unity worshiping their respective gods together ,where you will find a temple, a mosque , a church all located in the vicinity .
< 3 >. We are proud to be a nation where there are hundreds of regional languages and dialects are spoken and we still manage to communicate with each other, where we still manage to live together with unity and brotherhood.
< 4>. We are proud to be a nation which boasts about having some of the world oldest monuments ,structures and scriptures like The Taj Mahal, The Red Fort etc.
< 5>. We are proud to be a nation where the world first ever university was established in the form of the Nalanda University in Bihar built by one of the greatest king ever in the ancient history " Ashoka The Great".
< 6 >. We are proud to be a nation which has such a rich geography associated with it surrounded by both seas and mountains,which is regarded as a sub-continent ( enough to called a a seperate continent) owing to it's complex geographical feauters and where there are some of the worlds most beautiful places situated .
The Leh Of Ladakh.
The beautiful Kashmir valley( among the few heavens on the Earth).
The beautiful coastal regions in India.
1.We have a hybrid of Indian and Italian genes who does even possesses a good educational background ,was caught at Boston airport a few years back with his former girlfriend ,a daughter of notorious drug mafia with cash amount of millions of Dollars and he is going to be the next Prime- ministerial candidate for a party in 2014 general election just because he belongs to the Gandhi family which has indirectly or directly ruled at the center for most years post independence.
2. we have a tigress , who has been a CM of a state in past who wasted more than Rs 40000 crores on parks and elevating statues of elephants ,her party's symbol and herself and her idealistic BR AMBEDKAR.
3. THE GREAT DIVIDE.
we have millions of people with no homes,no clothes ,dying in hungers and struggling hard to manage even a single piece of bread,but the goverment do not gives a shit about them .On the other we have high towers,spacious bungalow with high cooling ACs and bodygaurds occupied by netas ,sea facing villas, luxirious cars like Ferrari, Bugatti etc to ride on.
4. We have a reservation policies based on caste and religion designed by netas to nurture every single vote of a particular caste in their favor.No matter how much poor you are ,if you are from forward caste u have no right to receive reservation benefits and if you are from some backward caste and even if you are the owner of some big estates,have high paying jobs, drive BMW and Skoda,you are entitled to get the reservation benefits .
Read this to get a more better insight of this menace .
Marks in IIT JEE = 180,
Category- General
Son of a poor farmer who lives on daily labor, lives in a shack.
Result: 'NOT QUALIFIED'
Marks in IIT JEE = 45,
Category- ST
Son of a Rich man who roams in Honda City, lives in a mansion and guy uses smart phone.
Result: 'PASSED'
Happens only in India! 'Incredible India'.
SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT INDIA.
< 1 > . We are proud to belong to a nation which has such a rich historical and cultural background, where the world oldest and most complex religion Hiduism exist, which has given birth to thousands of great saints and sages who attained enlightenments like Swami Vivekanand,Gautan buddha
inspiring millions of lives accross the world through their teachings and preachings .
< 2 > . We are proud to be a nation where people of hundreds religion reside together in harmony and unity worshiping their respective gods together ,where you will find a temple, a mosque , a church all located in the vicinity .
< 3 >. We are proud to be a nation where there are hundreds of regional languages and dialects are spoken and we still manage to communicate with each other, where we still manage to live together with unity and brotherhood.
< 4>. We are proud to be a nation which boasts about having some of the world oldest monuments ,structures and scriptures like The Taj Mahal, The Red Fort etc.
< 5>. We are proud to be a nation where the world first ever university was established in the form of the Nalanda University in Bihar built by one of the greatest king ever in the ancient history " Ashoka The Great".
< 6 >. We are proud to be a nation which has such a rich geography associated with it surrounded by both seas and mountains,which is regarded as a sub-continent ( enough to called a a seperate continent) owing to it's complex geographical feauters and where there are some of the worlds most beautiful places situated .
The Leh Of Ladakh.
The beautiful Kashmir valley( among the few heavens on the Earth).
The beautiful coastal regions in India.
INDIA.
1. We do have 330 million Hindu gods, that's almost 1 god for 4 Indians. (Next time you plan to attack us, be scared, be very scared)
2. All said, we hardly know 50 gods, Ok. may be 30. :-|
3. We do not have that accent that you see in so many Films and Television shows. We do shake our heads a lot though.
4. Living with one's parents is 'Normal' for Indian kids. Even when the Kids are 50. :-|
5. Yes, a majority of us still go for 'Arranged Marriages'. For those who aren't aware of the concept, you meet a girl/boy once and decide to get married to her/him. (Don't be surprised, its true)
6. We are as aware of international movies (Read Hollywood) and Music as anyone. Yes, many teenagers in India are crazy about Justin Bieber, including guys (Why god (all 330 million) why!!)
7. If a guy is not married at 30, there is definitely something 'wrong' with him, why else would he be unmarried at 30!!! :O
8. In regards to point no. 5, if your marriage was 'arranged', you are expected to give your parents the gift of a grandchild in maximum 1 year. "What else would you do if not produce babies!!?"
9. We think it is ok to ask you about your job, your education, your salary, your family, where you live, are you married, where is your wife from, what are your plans for your kids' future, etc.
10. We think everyone in the world watches Bollywood movies, and we EXPECT you to know who Amitabh Bacchan and Shahrukh Khan are! And also the name of the beautiful Indian lady who appears in Loreal ads
11. Yes, we eat very spicy food. Deal with it. (If you are visiting, make sure you specify how you want your food to be - Not 'very spicy', not 'medium spicy' say 'least spicy')
12. Ignore the bidet in the bathroom if you do not know what it is for. Its just a substitute to using one's hands. (If you are planning to stay in a low cost hotel, it is always advisable to check if they have European toilets, or practice squatting before coming) :-|
(Just meant for fun, no intention of hurting anybody here)
Edit: In regards to point one, its a popular misconception among Indians that 33 koti refers to 33 crores when it actually means types. But it is a very popular misconception and most people believe and quote that in day to day life. So just to clarify point one isn't factually correct but perception wise not wrong.
1. We do have 330 million Hindu gods, that's almost 1 god for 4 Indians. (Next time you plan to attack us, be scared, be very scared)
2. All said, we hardly know 50 gods, Ok. may be 30. :-|
3. We do not have that accent that you see in so many Films and Television shows. We do shake our heads a lot though.
4. Living with one's parents is 'Normal' for Indian kids. Even when the Kids are 50. :-|
5. Yes, a majority of us still go for 'Arranged Marriages'. For those who aren't aware of the concept, you meet a girl/boy once and decide to get married to her/him. (Don't be surprised, its true)
6. We are as aware of international movies (Read Hollywood) and Music as anyone. Yes, many teenagers in India are crazy about Justin Bieber, including guys (Why god (all 330 million) why!!)
7. If a guy is not married at 30, there is definitely something 'wrong' with him, why else would he be unmarried at 30!!! :O
8. In regards to point no. 5, if your marriage was 'arranged', you are expected to give your parents the gift of a grandchild in maximum 1 year. "What else would you do if not produce babies!!?"
9. We think it is ok to ask you about your job, your education, your salary, your family, where you live, are you married, where is your wife from, what are your plans for your kids' future, etc.
10. We think everyone in the world watches Bollywood movies, and we EXPECT you to know who Amitabh Bacchan and Shahrukh Khan are! And also the name of the beautiful Indian lady who appears in Loreal ads
11. Yes, we eat very spicy food. Deal with it. (If you are visiting, make sure you specify how you want your food to be - Not 'very spicy', not 'medium spicy' say 'least spicy')
12. Ignore the bidet in the bathroom if you do not know what it is for. Its just a substitute to using one's hands. (If you are planning to stay in a low cost hotel, it is always advisable to check if they have European toilets, or practice squatting before coming) :-|
(Just meant for fun, no intention of hurting anybody here)
Edit: In regards to point one, its a popular misconception among Indians that 33 koti refers to 33 crores when it actually means types. But it is a very popular misconception and most people believe and quote that in day to day life. So just to clarify point one isn't factually correct but perception wise not wrong.
That
Navi Mumbai is the biggest new planned city in the world!
It is spread over 344 sq. km. land, which includes a 150 km creek line. It was was developed in 1972 as a planned satellite township of Mumbai.
Asia's biggest wholesale market, APMC, is located here.
EDIT :
Roopkund Lake (Mystery Lake)
Roopkund Lake is a glacial lake located at about 5000 meters in the Himalayan ranges of Uttarakhand. In 1942, a forest guard stumbled upon hundreds of human skeletons on the banks of Roopkund.
Roopkund is known as a mystery lake and is surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains. The lake is about two metres deep and when the snow melts one can see hundreds of human skulls and skeletons lying around it.
Source: [1]Roopkund lake's skeleton mystery solved! Scientists reveal bones belong to 9th century people who died during heavy hail storm
Navi Mumbai is the biggest new planned city in the world!
It is spread over 344 sq. km. land, which includes a 150 km creek line. It was was developed in 1972 as a planned satellite township of Mumbai.
Asia's biggest wholesale market, APMC, is located here.
EDIT :
Roopkund Lake (Mystery Lake)
Roopkund Lake is a glacial lake located at about 5000 meters in the Himalayan ranges of Uttarakhand. In 1942, a forest guard stumbled upon hundreds of human skeletons on the banks of Roopkund.
Roopkund is known as a mystery lake and is surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains. The lake is about two metres deep and when the snow melts one can see hundreds of human skulls and skeletons lying around it.
Recently Scientists have concluded that the skeletons of about 200 people discovered near the frozen lake belonged to the people of a 9th century Indian tribe who died due to hail storm. [1]
Source: [1]Roopkund lake's skeleton mystery solved! Scientists reveal bones belong to 9th century people who died during heavy hail storm
As an Indian living here in Canada I had this question a lot,
Why you don't have that thing (turban) on your head as the other guys I've seen?
To all that people,
INDIA ,
A nation having 29 different states,
Each state has their own language, gods, festivals, cultural values, religions, languages, dressing, life style, cuisines, and so on.
Its like 29 completely different nations living under one name, still UNITED by hearts. We might have differences but we are still one.
1.2 billion people under one roof, all types of different individuals with their own perspective towards life and that is why I would say that India means for me;
I - Inseparable
N - Nation with
D - Different
I - Individuality and
A - Aspects of life.....
Why you don't have that thing (turban) on your head as the other guys I've seen?
To all that people,
INDIA ,
A nation having 29 different states,
Each state has their own language, gods, festivals, cultural values, religions, languages, dressing, life style, cuisines, and so on.
Its like 29 completely different nations living under one name, still UNITED by hearts. We might have differences but we are still one.
1.2 billion people under one roof, all types of different individuals with their own perspective towards life and that is why I would say that India means for me;
I - Inseparable
N - Nation with
D - Different
I - Individuality and
A - Aspects of life.....
India is the only country in the entire world where both Lions and Tigers are found in their natural habitat.
India is home to 411 lions out of the world population of around 14,000 lions.
Image: Asiatic Lion in Gir National Park.
Of the 3,500 tigers around the world, 1,400 are found in India.
Image: Tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park
India is home to 411 lions out of the world population of around 14,000 lions.
Image: Asiatic Lion in Gir National Park.
Of the 3,500 tigers around the world, 1,400 are found in India.
Image: Tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park
Some people are boasting about past and some are criticizing the present.
So let's just talk about future. I have seen people raising questions about the development our country is predicted to have in the next 2 decades. This answer is just for them.
Is India developing??
The answer is YES.
How??
I will give you just one example :
Ever heard of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project ?
It is a State-Sponsored Industrial Development Project of the Government of India. It is a $100 billion ambitious project aimed at developing Industrial zones spanning across six states in India which would spur economic development in the region and develop industries.
It would be the biggest infrastructure project India has ever attempted in its history. The project will see major expansion of Infrastructure and Industry – including smart cities, industrial clusters along with rail, road, port, air connectivity – in the states along the route of the Corridor. Many smart cities would be developed alongside, such as theDholera SIR in Gujarat, which is envisaged to be 6 times the size of Shanghai and 2 times the size of Delhi.
The backbone of the project would be theDedicated Freight Corridor that would cut the logistical costs of manufactured goods to make it the lowest in the world. India needs to employ over 100 million people within the next decade and so this project assumes vital importance to develop manufacturing centres that could employ millions.
The ambitious Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has received major boost with India and Japan inking an agreement to set up a project development fund. The initial size of the Fund will be 10 billion (US$157.0 million). Both the Japanese and Indian governments contribute equally. The work is already underway and progressing at a rapid pace, with the Dedicated Freight Corridor expected to be completed by 2017.
Few aspects of DMIC:
Employment:
Conceived as a global manufacturing and trading hub, the project is expected to double employment potential, triple industrial output and quadruple exports from the region in five years. The total employment to be generated from the project is 3 million, the bulk of which will be in the manufacturing/processing sectors. The availability of labour resource is at approximately 50+ million in the immediate influence zone and 250+ million across the states where this project passes through.
Infrastructure:
India has often lacked in building quality infrastructure to support the economy. This project aims to leapfrog India in building high quality Infrastructure to make businesses cost competitive in the global market by using advanced technologies and planning.
It will include a 4000 MW power plant, three seaports and six airport in addition to connectivity with the existing ports.
Cities:
Some of the big notable cities are already in various stages of development such as Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, Dholera SIRand a Knowledge city near Ujjain.
In pic: Proposed Gujarat International Finance Tech City(GIFT)
Ease of doing business:
A total of 24 special investment nodes are envisaged to be created by the government that would support manufacturing but any type of industry could be set up. The main role of these hubs are to facilitate businesses, set up their factories quickly without any hiccups in land acquisition and resources plus providing cheap, fast and efficient transportation to ports and the whole nation. The government would play a role as a facilitator to encourage businesses to invest more by providing a "stable environment".
This is the official website of DMIC Project :
Welcome to Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor :::
To all those who ask " Is India really moving forward." The answer is "YES."
But we don't really want to make a fuss about it. When people are busy mocking and criticizing India , It is busy leapfrogging into another level of development. Maybe it will take another 30 years , maybe more , but the vision for Development is certainly there. India will answer all those not by words but by actions ,through development.
Yours truly
Optimistic Indian.
If you have trouble reading long answers, do watch these videos.
Proposed DMIC Project
Proposed Dholera SIR
It is worthy to note that the current Govt. has proposed 100 more smart cities just like this one.
So let's just talk about future. I have seen people raising questions about the development our country is predicted to have in the next 2 decades. This answer is just for them.
Is India developing??
The answer is YES.
How??
I will give you just one example :
Ever heard of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project ?
It is a State-Sponsored Industrial Development Project of the Government of India. It is a $100 billion ambitious project aimed at developing Industrial zones spanning across six states in India which would spur economic development in the region and develop industries.
It would be the biggest infrastructure project India has ever attempted in its history. The project will see major expansion of Infrastructure and Industry – including smart cities, industrial clusters along with rail, road, port, air connectivity – in the states along the route of the Corridor. Many smart cities would be developed alongside, such as theDholera SIR in Gujarat, which is envisaged to be 6 times the size of Shanghai and 2 times the size of Delhi.
The backbone of the project would be theDedicated Freight Corridor that would cut the logistical costs of manufactured goods to make it the lowest in the world. India needs to employ over 100 million people within the next decade and so this project assumes vital importance to develop manufacturing centres that could employ millions.
Few aspects of DMIC:
Employment:
Conceived as a global manufacturing and trading hub, the project is expected to double employment potential, triple industrial output and quadruple exports from the region in five years. The total employment to be generated from the project is 3 million, the bulk of which will be in the manufacturing/processing sectors. The availability of labour resource is at approximately 50+ million in the immediate influence zone and 250+ million across the states where this project passes through.
Infrastructure:
India has often lacked in building quality infrastructure to support the economy. This project aims to leapfrog India in building high quality Infrastructure to make businesses cost competitive in the global market by using advanced technologies and planning.
It will include a 4000 MW power plant, three seaports and six airport in addition to connectivity with the existing ports.
Cities:
Some of the big notable cities are already in various stages of development such as Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, Dholera SIRand a Knowledge city near Ujjain.
Ease of doing business:
A total of 24 special investment nodes are envisaged to be created by the government that would support manufacturing but any type of industry could be set up. The main role of these hubs are to facilitate businesses, set up their factories quickly without any hiccups in land acquisition and resources plus providing cheap, fast and efficient transportation to ports and the whole nation. The government would play a role as a facilitator to encourage businesses to invest more by providing a "stable environment".
This is the official website of DMIC Project :
Welcome to Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor :::
To all those who ask " Is India really moving forward." The answer is "YES."
But we don't really want to make a fuss about it. When people are busy mocking and criticizing India , It is busy leapfrogging into another level of development. Maybe it will take another 30 years , maybe more , but the vision for Development is certainly there. India will answer all those not by words but by actions ,through development.
Yours truly
Optimistic Indian.
If you have trouble reading long answers, do watch these videos.
Proposed DMIC Project
Proposed Dholera SIR
It is worthy to note that the current Govt. has proposed 100 more smart cities just like this one.
We are not like this guy. Neither do we talk like him.
This is Kunal Nayyar's character Rajesh Koothrappali, from the Big Bang Theory, a popular TV show that airs all around the world.
His character gives off a wrong impression to people who do not know much about India.
Another such character is Apu, from The Simpsons.
Even though it's a humorous show, it influences people's thoughts about India. People begin to stereotype Indians in wrong ways.
There are jokes cracked about Indians being fit enough for being only 7/11 shop owners. Or really geeky/smart people with a remarkably strong accent. Or people who dress horribly ( As seen in this photo)
There are jokes cracked about Indians not knowing about family planning and end up having 8-9 kids !
Kunal's character has this one trait where he cannot speak to a girl unless he consumes alcohol. Indians aren't shy people.
These are just some of the many wrong stereotypes that exist among Westerners. So when curious people who want to know about India read this, they'll know not to stereotype Indians in such ways.
His character gives off a wrong impression to people who do not know much about India.
Another such character is Apu, from The Simpsons.
Even though it's a humorous show, it influences people's thoughts about India. People begin to stereotype Indians in wrong ways.
There are jokes cracked about Indians being fit enough for being only 7/11 shop owners. Or really geeky/smart people with a remarkably strong accent. Or people who dress horribly ( As seen in this photo)
There are jokes cracked about Indians not knowing about family planning and end up having 8-9 kids !
Kunal's character has this one trait where he cannot speak to a girl unless he consumes alcohol. Indians aren't shy people.
These are just some of the many wrong stereotypes that exist among Westerners. So when curious people who want to know about India read this, they'll know not to stereotype Indians in such ways.
This must be known to everyone about India
This is what Oliver Emberton has to say in his post about India.
Whilst the Taj was predictably spectacular, for me it took a backseat to Delhi’s Akshardham Hindu temple (above). I’m about as non-spiritual a person as you’ll ever find, but strolling through this ageless gem, lit by the setting sun, I was sincerely moved. Their musical fountain would shame the Bellagio. It’s a work of staggering, unique beauty and a ringing endorsement of what India can achieve; the 86,000 sq ft complex was built by 11,000 workers in under 5 years.
Whilst the Taj was predictably spectacular, for me it took a backseat to Delhi’s Akshardham Hindu temple (above). I’m about as non-spiritual a person as you’ll ever find, but strolling through this ageless gem, lit by the setting sun, I was sincerely moved. Their musical fountain would shame the Bellagio. It’s a work of staggering, unique beauty and a ringing endorsement of what India can achieve; the 86,000 sq ft complex was built by 11,000 workers in under 5 years.
Here are some random facts about India that might help you to understand it better (I'd like to point out that I've ordered them in a sequence of positive points vs. negative so that I may seem neither unpatriotic nor biased towards my country) :
● India is one of the most diverse places in the WORLD. Culturally, linguistically, religiously. It is full of colours, sights and sounds that cannot be found elsewhere.
○ Most urban cities have an outrageous traffic problem whereas a lot of villages don't have proper roads. It is quite common for a road to turn into slush with moderate rainfall. (Yesterday, someone's car got swept away by the rain.)
● You are bound to find some food in India that you will fall in love with. Sweets made with almonds and milk, chicken flavored with spices, kebabs with mint chutney, curries with fish, steamed rice pellets with spicy veggie and lentil soup (idli), some cheap locally made momos, types of Indian breads, in some parts you'll find pigeons, dogs and various street food ALL OVER. To name a few.
○ If you're caught drinking and driving and you encounter a cop asking for a huge fine and for you to show up in court, that's code for - 'give me a higher bribe'. And if you know someone important, he'll offer you his blessings and tell you to take care.
● India is fascinated with tourists. Some might try to rip you off. But don't worry, we still love you. Most tourists will get special treatment over the locals because our culture is to treat guests as Gods.
○ Even parts of highly developed cities will be full of urchins and beggars. Most people don't entertain them, as they don't think the money actually goes to them. Poverty in India is much worse than meets the eye. It's not the beggars that are least fortunate.
● India ranges from very cheap hand crafted artifacts to high end luxury brands. (With the current dollar rate though, its probably more affordable to anyone but us)
○ Arrange marriage is very common, even with all that we have modernized, our parents choosing our spouse might still appeal to a lot of young Indians. (They might be in their late 20's) and for most Indians it is very common to live with parents after getting a job, getting engaged or even getting married. Which isn't considered weird or creepy, just plain ol' traditional.
Lastly, there is a homelike charm and a strangeness here that cant be found anywhere else. Undoubtedly, one gets to experience things they won't forget here. Needless to say, that's why some people can't stay here and some can't seem to leave.
Ps. I will keep editing till I find more things. I'm certain there will be plenty. Namastey!
● India is one of the most diverse places in the WORLD. Culturally, linguistically, religiously. It is full of colours, sights and sounds that cannot be found elsewhere.
○ Most urban cities have an outrageous traffic problem whereas a lot of villages don't have proper roads. It is quite common for a road to turn into slush with moderate rainfall. (Yesterday, someone's car got swept away by the rain.)
● You are bound to find some food in India that you will fall in love with. Sweets made with almonds and milk, chicken flavored with spices, kebabs with mint chutney, curries with fish, steamed rice pellets with spicy veggie and lentil soup (idli), some cheap locally made momos, types of Indian breads, in some parts you'll find pigeons, dogs and various street food ALL OVER. To name a few.
○ If you're caught drinking and driving and you encounter a cop asking for a huge fine and for you to show up in court, that's code for - 'give me a higher bribe'. And if you know someone important, he'll offer you his blessings and tell you to take care.
● India is fascinated with tourists. Some might try to rip you off. But don't worry, we still love you. Most tourists will get special treatment over the locals because our culture is to treat guests as Gods.
○ Even parts of highly developed cities will be full of urchins and beggars. Most people don't entertain them, as they don't think the money actually goes to them. Poverty in India is much worse than meets the eye. It's not the beggars that are least fortunate.
● India ranges from very cheap hand crafted artifacts to high end luxury brands. (With the current dollar rate though, its probably more affordable to anyone but us)
○ Arrange marriage is very common, even with all that we have modernized, our parents choosing our spouse might still appeal to a lot of young Indians. (They might be in their late 20's) and for most Indians it is very common to live with parents after getting a job, getting engaged or even getting married. Which isn't considered weird or creepy, just plain ol' traditional.
Lastly, there is a homelike charm and a strangeness here that cant be found anywhere else. Undoubtedly, one gets to experience things they won't forget here. Needless to say, that's why some people can't stay here and some can't seem to leave.
Ps. I will keep editing till I find more things. I'm certain there will be plenty. Namastey!
Anand has won the World Chess Championship five times(2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), and has been the undisputed World Champion since 2007. Anand was the FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion in 2003, and is widely considered the strongest rapidplayer of his generation(Which he showed in 2012 by defeating gelfand in rapid round).
No comments:
Post a Comment