India's History

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back to at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C. Their merger with the earlier inhabitants created classical Indian culture.

Four major religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam arrived in the first millennium AD and shaped the region's diverse culture.

Colonized by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread non-violent resistance.

The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.

Fundamental concerns include the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic strife, all this despite impressive gains in economic investment and output.

Statistics:

Capital: New Delhi
Population: 1.2 billion (estimated)
Languages: English (19%) is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language (66%). There are 18 official Languages with1652 total languages & dialects.
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)
GDP per capita: $3,100