This is a list of
Selected Article that appear on the
main page of the portal, numbered according to their position in the selection queue.
NO
ARTICLE SUMMARY
1
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, was an undersea
earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53
UTC (07:58:53 local time) on December 26, 2004. The earthquake triggered a series of lethal
tsunamis that spread throughout the Indian Ocean, killing large numbers of people and devastating coastal communities across South and South East
Asia, including parts of
Indonesia,
Sri Lanka,
India,
Thailand and elsewhere. The number of casualties were 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing, for a total of 229,866 affected. This catastrophe is one of the deadliest disasters in
modern history and is known in
Asia and in the international media as the Asian Tsunami, and also called the Boxing Day Tsunami. The
magnitude of the earthquake has been upgraded to between 9.1 and 9.3 on the
Richter scale. This earthquake was also reported to be the longest duration of faulting ever observed, lasting between 500 and 600 seconds, and it was large enough that it caused the entire planet to vibrate at least half an inch, or over a centimetre. The earthquake originated in the
Indian Ocean just north of
Simeulue island, off the western coast of northern
Sumatra,
Indonesia. The plight of the many
affected people and countries prompted a widespread
humanitarian response, with more than US$7 billion donated in aid for those affected. (
more...)
2
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Adi Shankara, also known as Ādi Śaṅkarācārya ("the first Shankara in his lineage"), c.
788 –
820CE, was the first philosopher to consolidate the doctrine of
Advaita Vedanta, a sub-school of
Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the
soul and
God, in which God is viewed as simultaneously
personal and
attributeless. In the
Smārta tradition, Adi Shankara is regarded as an incarnation of
Shiva.
Adi Shankara toured
India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other philosophers. He founded four mathas ("abbeys") which played a key role in the historical development and spread of
Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara was the founder of the
Dashanami monastic order and the
Shanmata tradition of worship. His works in
Sanskrit, all of which are extant today, concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of Advaita (
Sanskrit, "Non-dualism"). Adi Shankara quotes extensively from the
Upanishads and other
Hindu scriptures in forming his teachings. He also includes
polemics against opposing schools of thought like
Samkhya and
Buddhism in his works. (
more...)
3
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Ahmedabad is the largest city of the Indian state of
Gujarat and seventh largest of India with a population of 5.2 million. Ahmedabad is located in north-central Gujarat on the banks of River Sabarmati. It once served as the capital of Gujarat and now is the administrative center of Ahmedabad district. Founded by
Sultan Ahmed Shah of the
Muzaffarid dynasty, Ahmedabad has been under the control of the
Mughals,
Marathas and then the
British. Ahmeadabad was at the forefront of the
Independence movement with the famous
Dandi March led by
Mahatma Gandhi starting from the city. The
textile industry is the main industry of Ahmedabad due to which it was once called the
Manchester of India. Recently endowed with the official title of "mega-city", Ahmedabad is one of the fastest growing cities of India. The various mosques built in the
Indo-Saracenic style are a major attraction of the city. (
more...)
4
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Bengali or Bangla (বাংলা, Bengali pronunciation:[ˈbaŋla]) is an
Indo-Aryanlanguage of East
South Asia, evolved from
Prakrit,
Pāli and
Sanskrit. Bengali is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as
Bengal, which comprises present day
Bangladesh and the
Indian state of
West Bengal. With nearly 200 million
native speakers, Bengali is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world (it is ranked between fourth and seventh). Bengali is the main language spoken in Bangladesh; in India, Bengali is ranked as either the second or third most spoken language. Along with
Assamese, it is geographically the most eastern of the
Indo-European languages. (
more...)
6
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The BEST (
Marathi: बेस्ट) or the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport is
Mumbai's
public transport service and
electricity provider. The government-owned organisation, which was set up in 1873, operates one of
India's largest fleet of buses. Originally setup as a
tramway company, it branched out into supplying electricity to the city in 1905, and later into operating buses in 1926. The BEST is run by the
city's municipality as an autonomous body.
The bus transport service covers the entire city and also extends its operations outside city limits into neighbouring
Navi Mumbai,
Thane and
Mira-
Bhayandar. In addition to buses, it also operates a ferry service in the northern reaches of the city. The electricity division of the organisation is also one of the few electricity departments in India to garner an annual net profit.
Until 1995, BEST stood for Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport. After the name of the city was formally changed from
Bombay to Mumbai, this was also reflected with the adjustment to Brihanmumbai, which means "Greater Mumbai". (
more...)
7
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Bhagat Singh (
Punjabi: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ) (September 28, 1907–March 23, 1931) was an
Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most famous
revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. For this reason, he is often referred to as Shaheed Bhagat Singh (the word shaheed means "martyr"). He is also believed by many to be one of the earliest
Marxists in India and has been labeled so by the
Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was one of the leaders and founders of the
Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
Born to a family which had earlier been involved in
revolutionary activities against the
British Raj in India, Bhagat Singh, as a teenager, began approaching the
socialist way of thought and became involved in numerous revolutionary organizations. He quickly rose in the ranks of the
Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and became one of its leaders, converting it to the HSRA. Singh gained support when he underwent a 116 day fast in jail, demanding equal rights for Indian and British political prisoners. He was hanged for shooting a police officer in response to the killing of veteran social activist
Lala Lajpat Rai. His legacy prompted youth in India to begin fighting for Indian independence and also increased the rise of socialism in India. (
more...)
8
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Black pepper is a
floweringvine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a
spice and
seasoning. Black pepper is native to southern
India and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. The fruit is a small
drupe five millimetres in diameter, dark red when fully mature, containing a single
seed. Dried and ground pepper is one of the most common spices in European
cuisine and its descendants, having been known and prized since antiquity for both its flavour and its use as a
medicine. The spiciness of black pepper is due to the
chemicalpiperine. Ground black peppercorn, usually referred to simply as "pepper", may be found on nearly every dinner table in some parts of the world, often alongside its frequent companion,
table salt. (
more...)
9
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The British East India Company was founded by a
Royal Charter of Queen
Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600. Over the next 250 years, it became one of the most powerful commercial enterprises of its time. The British East India Company's business was centered on
India, where it also acquired auxiliary governmental and military functions which came to overshadow its commercial activities. India was often referred to as the Jewel in the Crown. (
more...)
10
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Buddhist art, defined as the figurative arts and
decorative arts linked to the
Buddhist religion, originated in the
Indian subcontinent in the centuries following the life of the historical
Gautama Buddha in the
6th to
5th century BCE, before evolving through its contact with other cultures and its diffusion through the rest of
Asia and the world. A first, essentially
Indian, aniconic phase (avoiding direct representations of the Buddha), was followed from around the
1st century CE by an iconic phase (with direct representations of the Buddha). From that time, Buddhist art diversified and evolved as it adapted to the new countries where the faith was expanding. It developed to the north through
Central Asia and into
Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as
South-East Asia to form the Southern Branch of Buddhist art. In India, the land of its birth, Buddhist art flourished and even influenced the development of
Hindu art, until Buddhism almost disappeared around the
10th century with the expansion of Hinduism and
Islam. (
more...)
11
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital of the
state of
Tamil Nadu and is
India's fourth largest metropolitan city. It is located on the
Coromandel Coast of the
Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 6.90 million, the 367-year-old city is the
31st largestmetropolitan area in the world. The city is a large commercial and industrial centre, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture. The city is the
automobile capital of India, with around forty percent of the automobile industry having a base there. The 12 kilometre long
Marina Beach forms the city's east coast and is one of the longest beaches in the world. The city is also known for its sport venues and hosts India's only
ATPtennis event, the
Chennai Open. Chennai is located on a flat coastal plain known as the
Eastern Coastal Plains. The city has an average elevation of 6 metres, its highest point being 60 m. City is governed by the
Corporation of Chennai, which consists of a
Mayor and 155 Councillors representing the 155 Wards. Chennai's culture reflects its diverse population. The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. (more...)
12
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Chalukya dynasty (
Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು, Kannada pronunciation:[tʃaːɭukjə]) was an
Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of
southern and
central India between the
6th and the
12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three closely related, but individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty is known as the Badami Chalukyas who ruled from their capital
Badami from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the
Kadamba kingdom of
Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of
Pulakesi II. The other two later dynasties were the
Eastern Chalukyas who ruled from
Vengi and
Western Chalukyas who ruled from
Basavakalyan. The rise of the Chalukyas marks an important milestone in the history of South India and a golden age in the history of
Karnataka. This period saw the birth of efficient administration, rise in overseas trade and commerce and the development of new style of architecture called
Vesara. Around the 9th century, it also saw the growth of
Kannada as a language of literature in the
JainaPuranas,
VeerashaivaVachanas and
Brahminical traditions. The 11th century saw the birth of
Telugu literature under the patronage of the Eastern Chalukyas. (more...)
13
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Chola dynasty (
Tamil:
சோழர் குலம்) was a
Tamildynasty that ruled primarily in
southern India until the 13th century
CE. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the
Kaveri River. Territories under their domain stretched from the islands of
Maldives in the south to as far north as the banks of the river
Ganges in
Bengal. The dynasty was at the height of its power during the tenth and the eleventh centuries. Under
Rajaraja Chola I (Rajaraja the Great) and his son
Rajendra Chola, the dynasty rose as a military, economic and cultural power in
Asia. The legacy of Chola rule has lasted in the region through modern times. Their patronage of
Tamil literature and their zeal in building temples have resulted in some great works of Tamil architecture and poetry. The Chola kings were avid builders and envisioned the temples in their kingdoms not only as places of worship, but also as centres of economic activity, benefiting their entire community. They pioneered a centralised form of
government and established a disciplined bureaucracy. (
more...)
14
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Cricket is a
team sport. The game, sometimes referred to as the "gentleman's game", originated in its formal form in
England, and is popular mainly in the countries of the
Commonwealth. In the countries of
South Asia, including
India and
Pakistan, cricket is by far the most popular participatory and spectator sport. It is also the national sport of
Australia, and it is the major
summer sport in
New Zealand,
South Africa, and the
United Kingdom. The rich
jargon of cricket can often leave those unfamiliar with the game confused; the rules are of similar complexity to those of its cousin
baseball. Cricket fosters die-hard
aficionados, for whom matches provide passionate
entertainment. Occasionally, rival nations have lampooned each other over cricket matches, provoking
diplomatic outrage. (
more...)
15
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
For thousands of years, crushing by elephant was a common method of execution for those
condemned to death, mainly throughout
south and
southeast Asia, and particularly in
India.
Elephants employed in this manner were used to crush, dismember, or torture captives in public
executions. The use of elephants to execute captives often attracted the horrified interest of European travellers, and was recorded in numerous contemporary journals and accounts of life in Asia. The practice was eventually suppressed by the European empires that colonised the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. (more...)
16
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The city of
Thiruvananthapuram has been the centre of cultural activities of
Kerala from the time it was made capital of
Travancore in 1745. The capital city is a major intellectual and artistic center. The Thiruvananthapuram Museum and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo were started during the reign of
Swathi Thirunal(1813–1847) and are one of the oldest of their kind in India. The city's libraries include the British Library and Thiruvananthapuram
Public library, which was started in 1829. The 'Swathi Thirunal College of Music' and 'College of fine arts' are the leading institutions related to music and arts. The people of Thiruvananthapuram are sometimes referred to as "Trivandrumites". (more...)
17
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Darjeeling is a
hill station (a hill town) in the
Indian state of
West Bengal. It is the headquarters of
Darjeeling district, situated in the
Shiwalik Hills (or Lower
Himalaya) at an average elevation of 2,134 m above
sea level. Once ruled by the Kingdom of
Sikkim, the Darjeeling region was converted into a hill station by the
British East India Company in the 1800s, and came to be known as the "Queen of the Hills." It remained as a part of the state of West Bengal in independent India. The name Darjeeling is a composition of two
Tibetan words – Dorje ("thunderbolt") and ling ("place"). Hence, darjeeling translates as "Land of the Thunderbolt".
Darjeeling is famous for its
tea industry, which produces blends considered among the world's finest. Once used as a sanitarium for British troops and administrators, the town is now a popular tourist destination. The
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connecting the town with the plains was declared a
UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1999. Darjeeling is noted for several western-style
public schools attracting students from all over India and neighbouring countries. The town was a major centre of
Gorkhaland separatism in the 1980s, resulting in a decrease in tourism-related commerce. Darjeeling has continued to grow in the recent years and the region's fragile ecology is threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources stemming from growing tourist traffic and rapid urbanisation. (
more...)
18
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Krishna Kumar Dinesh Karthik (born 1 June 1985 in
Thiruchendur,
Tamil Nadu,
India) is a
wicketkeeper-
batsman in the
Indian cricket team. He was a batsman in his junior career, but turned to wicket-keeping in order to improve his future prospects. Making his international debut in late
2004 in both
ODI and
Test cricket, he was the regular wicket-keeper in Tests, making rare appearances in ODIs. He was replaced as Test wicketkeeper by
Mahendra Singh Dhoni in late
2005. After donning the mantle of an opener for his
domestic cricket team, he was recalled to the national squad as a batsman in late 2006 after injuries and form slumps hit other batsmen, playing occasional matches in both forms of cricket on the tour to South Africa. (
more...)
19
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines to the central and state governments of India, to be kept in mind while framing laws and policies. These provisions, contained in Part IV of the
Constitution of India, are not enforceable by any court, but the principles laid down therein are considered fundamental in the governance of the country, making it the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws to establish a just society in the country. The principles have been inspired by the
Directive Principles given in the Constitution of Ireland and also by the principles of
Gandhism; and relate to
social justice,
economic welfare,
foreign policy, and legal and administrative matters.
They aim at achieving social and economic democracy for establishing a welfare state. Directive Principles are classified under the following categories:
Gandhian, economic and socialistic, political and administrative, justice and legal, environmental, protection of monuments and peace and security. (
more...)
20
21
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The economy of India is the fourth-largest in the world as measured by
purchasing power parity (PPP), with a
GDP of $3.3
trillion. When measured in
USDexchange rates it is the tenth largest in the world, with a GDP of $691.8 billion. However
India's huge population results in a relatively low
per capita income ($3,100 at PPP). Services are the major source of economic growth in India today, though two-thirds of Indian workforce earn their livelihood directly or indirectly through agriculture. In recent times, India has also capitalised on its large number of highly-educated populace fluent in the
English language to become a major exporter of
software services,
financial services and
software engineers. For most of India's independent history, a
socialist inspired approach was adhered to, with strict government control and regulation on
private sector participation,
foreign trade and
foreign direct investment. Since the early 1990s, India has gradually opened up its markets through
economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment. The socio-economic problems India faces are the burgeoning population, growing
inequality, lack of
infrastructure, growing
unemployment and growing
poverty. (more...)
22
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Flag of India, sometimes also known as the Tiranga, which means
tricolour in
Hindi, was adopted as the
national flag of the
Republic of India on July 22, 1947, during an
ad hoc meeting of the
Constituent Assembly just before India's independence on August 15 1947. In India, the term "tricolour" almost always refers to the Indian national flag. The flag is a horizontal tricolour of
saffron at the top,
white in the middle and
green at the bottom. In the centre is a
navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka
Chakra, taken from the
Ashoka pillar at
Sarnath. The flag is also the
Indian army's
war flag, hoisted daily on military installations. The Indian National Flag was designed by
Pingali Venkayya. Official flag specification requires that the flag be made only of
khadi–a special type of hand-spun yarn. The display and use of the flag are strictly enforced by the
Indian Flag Code. A few days before India gained its freedom in August 1947, the
Constituent Assembly set up an
ad hoc committee headed by
Rajendra Prasad. The Flag Committee was constituted on 1947-06-23 and after three weeks they came to a decision on 1947-07-14, being that the flag of the
Indian National Congress should be adopted as the National Flag of India with suitable modifications. The "Dharma Chakra" which appears on the abacus of
Sarnath was adopted in the place of the "Charkha". (
more...).
23
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Fundamental Rights in India enshrined in the
Constitution of India guarantee
civil liberties such that all Indians can lead their lives in peace and harmony as citizens of India. These include individual rights common to most
liberal democracies, such as equality before law,
freedom of speech and
expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, freedom to practice religion, and the right to constitutional remedies for the protection of civil rights by means of
writs such as
habeas corpus. The punishment for encroaching on these rights is upon the discretion of the
judiciary and the punishments laid out in the
Indian Penal Code.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties are important parts of the
Constitution of India. The Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties of the
citizens of India address
freedom and
democracy in the country, and the Directive Principles guide the
Government in making laws and policies. The Fundamental Rights are basic
human freedoms which every citizen of
India has the right to enjoy for a proper and harmonious development of his personality. These rights, set out in Part III of the Constitution of India, universally apply to all citizens, irrespective of
race, place of birth,
religion,
caste,
creed,
colour or
sex. The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines that the Government should use while framing laws and policies. These provisions, contained in Part IV of the Constitution, relate to
social justice,
economic welfare, legal and administrative matters, and
foreign policy. The Fundamental Duties are
moral obligations on all citizens of India which help promote a spirit of
patriotism and uphold the unity,
integrity and
sovereignty of India. These duties, given in Part IV–A of the Constitution of India, concern the self, the
environment, the State and
society. and the Nation. (
more...)
25
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Gangtok is the
capital and largest
town of the
Indian state of
Sikkim. It is situated in the lower
Himalayas. Known for its clean surroundings and temperate
climate, this
hill station of about fifty thousand people is the centre of Sikkim's tourist industry. Gangtok was a small hamlet until the construction of the
Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. It became a major stopover between
Tibet and British India at the end of the 19th century. Following
India's independence in 1947, Sikkim became a
nation-state with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975 the monarchy was abrogated and Sikkim became India's twenty-second state, with Gangtok remaining as its capital. City is also a centre of
Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with numerous
monasteries and religious educational institutions. Gangtok is connected to the rest of India by an all-weather metalled highway, NH-31A, which links Gangtok to
Siliguri. The civic infrastructure of Gangtok is overseen by the local municipal corporation whose councillors are directly elected by the people. The rural roads around Gangtok however, are maintained by the
Border Roads Organisation, which is a part of the
Indian army. (more...)
26
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Goa is
India's smallest
state in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population after
Sikkim. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the
Konkan, and is bounded by the state of
Maharashtra to the north, and
Karnataka to the east and south. The
Arabian Sea makes up the state's west coast.
Panaji is the state's capital, and
Margao the largest town. A former
colony of
Portugal, Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for almost 450 years until
1961, when it was forcibly taken, after demands for a merger with India failed. Internationally renowned for its
beaches, Goa is visited by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists each year. Besides beaches, Goa is also known for its
world heritage architecture including the
Bom Jesus Basilica. Goa also has rich
flora and
fauna, owing to its location on the
Western Ghats range, which are classified as a
biodiversity hotspot, one of only three among the
ecoregions of India. (
more...).
28
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Governor-General of India was the head of the
British administration in
India. The office was created in
1773, with the title of
Governor-General of the Presidency of
Fort William. The officer had direct control only over Fort William, but supervised other
British East India Company officials in India. Complete authority over all of British India was granted in
1833, and the official became known as the Governor-General of India. In
1858, India came under the direct control of the
British Crown, and the Governor-General acted as the Sovereign's representative. To reflect this role, the term "Viceroy" was informally applied; the title was abandoned when India became independent in
1947. The office of Governor-General continued to exist until India adopted a constitution in
1950. Governors-General served five-year terms, but could be removed earlier. After the conclusion of a term, a provisional Governor-General was sometimes appointed until a new holder of the office could be chosen. Provisional Governors General were often chosen from among the provincial Governors. (
more...)
29
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Hindi, an
Indo-European language spoken mainly in
North,
Central, and
Western India, is one of the
national languages of
India. It is part of a
dialect continuum of the
Indo-Aryan family. Hindi also refers to a standardized register of
Hindustani that was made one of the official languages of India. The grammatical description in this article concerns standard Hindi. It evolved from
Sanskrit, by way of the
Middle Indo-AryanPrakrit languages and
Apabhramsha of the
Middle Ages. As a standardised register of
India, it became the national language of India on January 26, 1950. Hindi is often contrasted with
Urdū. The primary differences between the two are that Standard Hindi is written in
Devanāgarī which is written from left to right. The
Devanagari script represents the sounds of spoken Hindi very closely, so that a person who knows the Devanagari letters can sound out a written Hindī text comprehensibly, even without knowing what the words mean and has supplemented some of its
Persian and
Arabic vocabulary, with words from
Sanskrit; while Urdu is written in
nastaliq script, a variant of the
Persio-Arabic script, and draws heavily on Persian and Arabic vocabulary. (
more...)
31
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Hinduism is a religion or philosophy that originated from the
Indian subcontinent and nearby surrounding areas. The term Hinduism is
heterogeneous, as Hinduism consists of several schools of thought. It encompasses many religious rituals that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. Many
Hindus, influenced by
Advaita philosophy, venerate an array of deities, considering them manifestations of the one supreme
monistic Cosmic Spirit, Brahman, while many others focus on a singular concept of Brahman (God), as in
Vaishnavism,
Saivism and
Shaktism.
Hinduism is the
third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million adherents (
2005 figure), of whom approximately 890 million live in
India. It is also the oldest known
religion in the world today. Unlike many other religions, Hinduism has no main founder, and no main holy city. It also has no single holy book — its original scriptures were the four Vedas, but as time has passed, many other scriptures have also emerged. (
more...)
32
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The history of Buddhism spans from the
6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha
Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest
religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original
Indian foundation
Hellenistic as well as
Central Asian,
East Asian and
Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the
Theravada,
Mahayana and
Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat. (
more...)
33
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The region of
Tamil Nadu has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times and the history of Tamil Nadu and the civilisation of the
Tamil people are among the oldest in the world. Throughout its history, spanning from the early
Palaeolithic age to the modern time, this region has coexisted with various external cultures. The ancient Tamil dynasties of
Chera,
Chola and
Pandya ruled over this land with a unique culture and language, contributing to the growth of some of the oldest extant
literature in the world. They had extensive maritime trade contacts with the
Roman empire. Invasion by the
Kalabhras during the third century disturbed the traditional order of the land by displacing the three ruling dynasties. These occupiers were overthrown by the resurgence of the Pandyas and the
Pallavas, who restored the traditional kingdoms. The Cholas, who re-emerged from obscurity in the ninth century by defeating the Pallavas and the Pandyas, rose to become a great power and extended their empire over the entire southern peninsula.
With the decline of the three ancient dynasties during the fourteenth century, the
Tamil country became part of the
Vijayanagara Empire. Under this empire, the
Nayak governors ruled Tamil Nadu. The
European trading companies began to appear during the seventeenth century and eventually assumed greater sway over the indigenous rulers of the land. The
Madras Presidency, comprising most of southern India, was created in the eighteenth century and was ruled directly by the
British East India Company. After the
independence of India, the Tamil Nadu state was created based on linguistic boundaries. (more...)
34
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Hoysala Empire was a prominent
South Indian empire that ruled most of the modern day state of
Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the empire was initially based at
Belur but was later moved to
Halebidu.
The Hoysala rulers were originally hill peoples of
Malnad Karnataka, an elevated region in the
Western Ghats range. In the 12th century, taking advantage of the internecine warfare between the then ruling
Western Chalukyas and
Kalachuri kingdoms, they annexed areas of present day Karnataka and the fertile areas north of the
Kaveri River delta in present day
Tamil Nadu. By the 13th century, they governed most of present-day Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of western
Andhra Pradesh in
Deccan India.
The Hoysala era was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in
South India. The empire is remembered today primarily for its temple
architecture. Over a hundred surviving temples are scattered across Karnataka, including the well known
Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the
Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the
Kesava Temple at Somanathapura. The Hoysala rulers also patronised the fine arts. This patronage encouraged literature to flourish in
Kannada and
Sanskrit. (
more...)
35
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (commonly known as IIT Kharagpur or IIT KGP) is an autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institute of higher education established by the
Government of India. Located in
Kharagpur, it was the first of the seven
IITs, established in 1951. Officially recognised as an Institute of National Importance, IIT Kharagpur is widely regarded as one of the best engineering institutions in
Asia.
IIT Kharagpur was established to train scientists and engineers after India
attained independence from
British rule in 1947. It is linked to the other IITs in its organisational structure as well as its admission process (
IIT-JEE). The students and alumni of IIT Kharagpur are referred to as ‘‘KGPians’’. IIT Kharagpur has the largest campus (2,100 acres (8.5 km2)), maximum student enrollment, maximum number of departments, and the largest library among all IITs. IIT Kharagpur is particularly famous for Illumination and Rangoli festival, in addition to
Spring Fest (social and cultural festival) and
Kshitij (technology festival). (
more...)
37
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (
Hindi: भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान), or IITs, are a group of seven autonomous engineering and technology-oriented
institutes of higher education established and declared as Institutes of National Importance by the
Government of India. These institutes were created to train scientists and engineers to develop a skilled workforce with the aim of bolstering
India's economic and social development after independence in 1947. The students and alumni of IITs are colloquially referred to as IITians. The first IIT was established at
Kharagpur in 1951, followed by similar establishments at
Mumbai,
Chennai,
Kanpur,
Delhi,
Guwahati and
Roorkee. Although each IIT is an autonomous university, they are linked through a common IIT Council to oversee their administration. They have a common admission process, using the Joint Entrance Examination (popularly known as IIT-JEE) to select around 4,000 candidates. About 15,500
undergraduate and 12,000
graduate students study in the seven IITs in addition to research scholars. Many IITians have achieved success in a variety of professions, resulting in the establishment of the widely recognised IIT Brand. The success of the IITs has led to the creation of similar institutes in other fields, such as the
National Institutes of Technology, the
Indian Institutes of Management and the
Indian Institute of Information Technology. (
more...)
38
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Indian Railways is the
state-ownedrailway company of
India; it has a complete
monopoly over the country's rail transport. Indian Railways (IR) has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 5
billion passengers and over 350 million
tonnes of
freight annually. IR is also the world's largest commercial or utility
employer, having more than 1.6 million regular employees on its payroll. Railways were first introduced to India in
1853, and by
1947, the year of
India's independence, it had grown to forty-two rail systems. In
1951 the systems were
nationalised as one unit, to become one of the largest networks in the world. Indian Railways operates both long distance, as well as suburban rail systems. It operates 8,702 passenger trains and transports around five billion annually across twenty-seven states and three
union territories (
Delhi,
Puducherry and
Chandigarh).
Sikkim is the only state not connected. The Railway Budget deals with the induction and improvement of existing trains and routes, the modernisation and most importantly the tariff for freight and passenger travel. (more...)
39
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Greco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern
Indian subcontinent from 180 BCE to around 10 CE, and was ruled by a succession of more than thirty Greek kings, often in conflict with each other. The kingdom was founded when the
Greco-Bactrian king
Demetrius invaded India in 180 BCE, ultimately creating an entity which seceded from the powerful
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom centered in
Bactria (today's northern
Afghanistan).
During the two centuries of their rule, the Indo-Greek kings combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins, and blended
Ancient Greek,
Hindu and
Buddhist religious practices, as seen in the archaeological remains of their cities and in the indications of their support of Buddhism. The Indo-Greek kings seem to have achieved a level of cultural syncretism with no equivalent in history, the consequences of which are still felt today, particularly through the diffusion and influence of
Greco-Buddhist art.
The Indo-Greeks ultimately disappeared as a political entity around 10 CE following the invasions of the
Indo-Scythian,
Indo-Parthian and
Kushans, although pockets of Greek populations probably remained for several centuries longer. (
more...)
41
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, also known as the Second Kashmir War, was the culmination of a series of
skirmishes that occurred between April 1965 and September 1965 between
India and
Pakistan. The war was the second fought between India and Pakistan over the region of
Kashmir, the first having been fought in
1947. The war lasted five weeks, resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides and ended in a
United Nations (UN) mandated
ceasefire. It is generally accepted that the war began following the failure of Pakistan's "
Operation Gibraltar" which was designed to infiltrate and invade
Jammu and Kashmir.
Much of the war was fought by the countries' land forces in the region of Kashmir and along the
International Border (IB) between India and Pakistan. The war also involved a limited participation from the countries' respective air forces. This war saw the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir, a number that was overshadowed only during the
2001-2002 military standoff between India and Pakistan. Most of the war was fought on land by each country's
infantry and
armored units, with substantial backing from their air forces. Many details of this war, like those of most
Indo-Pakistani Wars, remain unclear and riddled with
media biases. (
more...)
42
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Irfan Khan Pathan (born October 27, 1984 in
Baroda,
Gujarat,
India) is an Indian
cricketer who has been a member of the
Indian national cricket team since late 2003. Beginning his career as a left-arm fast-medium
swing bowler who evoked comparisons to Pakistan's
Wasim Akram, Pathan eventually improved his left-hand batting to become a bowling allrounder, even opening the batting on occasions. The improvement in his batting also coincided in a steady loss of pace and bowling form, and after finding himself occasionally opening both the batting and bowling in late 2005 and early 2006, Pathan has since found himself dropped from the team in both
Test and
ODI forms of the game. (
more...)
43
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra was a
1959Indiancourt case involving Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, who was tried for shooting dead Prem Ahuja, his wife Sylvia's
paramour. The incident shocked the nation, got unprecedented media coverage and inspired several books and movies. The case was not only the last
jury trial held in India, but also a direct cause for the abolition of jury trials.
In the historic case, Nanavati, a Naval Officer, was put up on trial under section 302 and 304 Part I of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) for alleged murder of his wife's paramour. The High Court dismissed the earlier acquittal by a Jury Trial and convicted the accused to life imprisonment under Sec. 302 of IPC. (
more...)
44
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
In India, where the office of the President is largely
ceremonial without
executive powers, Narayanan was regarded as an independent and assertive President who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of the highest constitutional office. He described himself as a "working President" who worked "within the four corners of the Constitution"; something midway between an "executive President" who has direct power and a "rubber-stamp President" who endorses government decisions without question or deliberation. He used his
discretionary powers as a President and deviated from
conventions and
precedents in many a situation including but not limited to— the appointment of the
Prime Minister in a
hung Parliament situation, in dismissing a
state government and imposition of President's rule there at the suggestion of the Union
Cabinet, and the
Kargil conflict. He set a new precent in the country's
general election of 1998 by becoming the first Indian President to vote. (
more...)
45
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an
armed conflict between
India and
Pakistan that took place between April and June 1999 in
Kashmir. The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri
militants into positions on the Indian side of the
Line of Control, which serves as the
de facto border between the two nations. Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely on independent Kashmiri insurgents; however, documents left behind by
casualties and later statements by Pakistan's Prime Minister and
Army Chief showed involvement of Pakistani paramilitary forces. The
Indian Army, supported by the
air force, attacked the Pakistani positions and, with international
diplomatic support, eventually forced a Pakistani withdrawal across the Line of Control (LoC).
The war is one of the most recent examples of
high altitude warfare, in mountainous terrain, and posed significant
logistics problems for the combating sides. This was the first ground war between any two
nuclear armed countries. (India and Pakistan both test-detonated
fission devices in May 1998, though
the first Indian nuclear test was conducted in 1974.) The conflict led to heightened tensions between the two nations and increased defense spending on the part of India. In Pakistan, the aftermath caused instability to the government and the economy, and on October 13, 1999, a
coup d'etat by the military, placed army chief
Pervez Musharraf in power. (
more...)
47
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Kerala is a
state on the southwestern tropical
Malabar Coast of
India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders
Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka; to its west and south lie the
Indian Ocean islands of
Lakshadweep and the
Maldives, respectively. Kerala also envelops
Mahé, a coastal exclave of the
Union Territory of
Puducherry. In prehistory, Kerala's rainforests and wetlands — then thick with malaria-bearing mosquitoes and man-eating
tigers — were largely avoided by
Neolithic humans. More than a millennium of overseas contact and trade culminated in four centuries of struggle between and among multiple
colonial powers and native Keralite states. Kerala was
granted statehood on November 1, 1956. Radical social reforms begun in the 19th century by the kingdoms of
Kochi and
Travancore — and spurred by such leaders as
Narayana Guru and
Chattampi Swamikal — were continued by post-
Independence governments, making Kerala among the
Third World's longest-lived, healthiest, and most literate regions. Kerala's 31.8 million people now live under a stable
democratic socialist political system and exhibit unusually equitable gender relations. (
more...)
48
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The history of Buddhism spans from the
6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha
Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest
religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original
Indian foundation
Hellenistic as well as
Central Asian,
East Asian and
Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the
Theravada,
Mahayana and
Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat. (
more...)
49
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Kolkata is the capital of the
Indian state of
West Bengal and was capital of
British India until
1912. The city's name was
officially changed from Calcutta to Kolkata in January
2001. The urban agglomeration of Kolkata covers several municipal corporations, municipalities, city boards and villages and is the third largest urban agglomeration in India after
Mumbai and
Delhi. As per the census of 2001, the urban agglomeration's population was 13,216,546 while that of the city was 4,580,544. Kolkata city's population growth has been pretty low in the last decade. The city is situated on the banks of the
Hoogli River (a
distributary of the
Ganges). Some of the renowned engineering marvels associated with Kolkata include the bridges like,
Howrah Bridge,
Vivekananda Setu and
Vidyasagar Setu. Kolkata is the main business, commercial and financial hub of
eastern India. The city's economic fortunes turned the tide as the early nineties economic liberalization in India reached Kolkata's shores during late nineties. (
more...)
50
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Ladakh, a word which means "land of high passes", is a region in the
state of
Jammu and Kashmir of
Northern India sandwiched between the
Karakoram mountain range to the north and the
Himalayas to the south. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India. Historically, the region included the
Indus Valley, the remote
Zanskar to the south, and
Nubra valleys to the north over
Khardung La in the Ladakh mountain range. Ladakh borders
Tibet to the east, the
Lahul and Spiti to the south,
Kashmir to the west, and
Central Asia to the north.
Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and
Buddhist culture which was established as early as the 2nd century. This has given rise to the appellation "Little Tibet", as it has strongly been influenced by the
culture of Tibet. In the past, Ladakh gained from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders into Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960, international trade has dwindled. Since 1974, the
Indian Government encouraged tourism in Ladakh. The largest town of Ladakh is
Leh. A majority of Ladakhis are
Tibetan Buddhist, with most of the rest being
Shia Muslims. The people of Ladakh have in recent times called for the creation of a new Indian
union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with predominantly Muslim Kashmir.
51
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
In this movie, Munna Bhai (a bhai or a Tapori, a leader in the
Mumbai underworld) meets the ghost of
Mahatma Gandhi who teaches him the principles of Gandhian philosophy. Inspired by these ideals, he and his
sidekick,
Circuit are start promoting
Gandhism, which Munna Bhai calls "
Gandhigiri". This particular use of an underlying moral is a tradmark of
Vidhu Vinod Chopra and has distinguished it from other
Bollywood films. The movie was a major hit in India and was ranked #1 on the box office for a period of eight weeks since its release. (
more...)
52
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient
Indus Valley Civilization. Located in the state of
Gujarat in
India, it was discovered in 1954, and its existence dates from 2400 BCE. Lothal's
dock—the world's earliest—made the city a vital centre of trade between
Harappan cities,
West Asia and
Africa. The dock, its
wharf, lock-gate system, and sophisticated
drainage system are unusual marvels of engineering. Lothal yielded the most important Indus-era antiquities in modern India. Its scientists divided the
horizon and
sky into 8–12 whole parts, pioneering the study of stars and advanced navigation. (
more...)
53
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Mahabharata is one of the two major ancient
Sanskritepics of
India, the other being the Ramayana. Traditionally ascribed to
Vyasa, it is the longest literary
epic poem in the world. The title may be translated as "History of the Great India" or, more accurately, "the Great Bharata Dynasty" . The work is part of the Hindu itihaasas, literally "that which happened", along with the Puranas. The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of
Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the
Kuru clan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the
Kauravas and the
Pandavas. The struggle culminates leading to the
Great battle of Kurukshetra, and the
Pandavas are ultimately victorious. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu age of
Kali (
Kali Yuga), where the great values and noble ideas have crumbled, and man is speedily heading toward the complete dissolution of right action, morality and virtue. Some of the most noble and revered figures in the Mahabharat end up fighting on the side of the Kauravas, due to allegiances formed prior to the conflict. (
more...)
54
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Mahatma Gandhi(Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી; Hindi: मोहनदास करमचंद गांधी was the charismatic intellectual and mass-movement leader who brought the cause of independence for
British colonial India to world attention. His ideas, especially the satyagraha model of non-violent protest, have influenced both nationalist and internal movements throughout the world. By means of non-violent
civil disobedience, Gandhi helped bring about India's independence from British rule, inspiring other colonial peoples to work for their own independence and ultimately dismantle the
British Empire and replace it with the
Commonwealth of Nations. Gandhi's principle of satyagraha ('"truth force"), often roughly translated as "way of truth" or "pursuit of truth," has inspired other democratic activists, including
Martin Luther King Jr. and
Nelson Mandela. He often stated his values were simple, drawn from traditional
Hindu beliefs:
truth (satya), and
non-violence (ahimsa). (
more...)
55
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Malwa (
Malvi:माळवा) is a
region in western
India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin in the western part of
Madhya Pradeshstate and the south-eastern part of
Rajasthan. The region had been a separate political unit from the time of the
Aryan tribe of Malavas until 1947. The plateau that forms a large part of the region is named the Malwa Plateau, after the region. Most of the region is drained by the
Chambal River and its tributaries; the western part is drained by the
Mahi River.
Ujjain was the capital in ancient times, and
Indore is presently the largest city. The culture of the region has had influences from
Gujarati,
Rajasthani and
Marathi cultures. Malvi is the most commonly used language, especially in rural areas, while
Hindi is widely understood in cities. The first significant kingdom in the region was Avanti, an important power in western India by around
500 BCE, when it was annexed by the
Maurya empire. The
fifth-centuryGupta period was a golden age in the history of Malwa. The region has given the world prominent leaders in the arts and sciences, including the poet
Kalidasa and the
polymath king
Bhoj. (
more...)
56
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was an
IndianMuslimpolitician and
statesman who led the
All India Muslim League and founded
Pakistan, serving as its first
Governor-General. While celebrated as a great leader in Pakistan, Jinnah remains a controversial figure, provoking intense criticism for his role in the
partition of India. As a student and young lawyer, Jinnah rose to prominence in the
Indian National Congress, expounded
Hindu-
Muslim unity, shaped the 1916
Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League, and was a key leader in the
All India Home Rule League. Differences with
Mohandas Gandhi led Jinnah to quit the Congress; he then took charge of the Muslim League and proposed a fourteen-point constitutional reform plan to safeguard the political rights of Muslim in a self-governing India. Disillusioned by the failure of his efforts and the League's disunity, Jinnah would live in
London for many years. Several Muslim leaders persuaded Jinnah to return to India in 1934 and re-organise the League. Disillusioned by the failure to build coalitions with the Congress, Jinnah embraced the goal of creating a separate state for Muslims as in the
Lahore Resolution. The failure of the Congress-League coalition to govern the country prompted both parties and the British to agree to partition. (
more...)
57
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Muhammad Iqbal was an
Indianpoet,
philosopher and
politician, whose poetry in
Persian and
Urdu is regarded as one of the greatest in modern times. Also famous for his work on religious and political philosophy in
Islam, he is credited with first proposing the idea of an independent state for Indian Muslims, which would inspire the creation of
Pakistan. After studying in
England and
Germany, Iqbal established a law practise, but he primarily concentrated on religious and philosophical subjects, writing scholarly works on politics, economics, history, philosophy and religion. He is best known for his poetic works, which include the Asrar-e-Khudi, in honour of which he was
knighted by the British government. Scholars have hailed his poetry in Persian as some of the best in modern times. Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across the world, but specifically in India. He is commemorated as the
national poet of Pakistan. (
more...)
58
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) is the capital of the
Indianstate of
Maharashtra and the most populous
Indian city. Mumbai is located on an
island off the
west coast of India. The city, which has a deep natural
harbour, is also the largest port in western India, handling over half of India's passenger traffic. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, and houses important financial institutions such as the
Reserve Bank of India, the
Bombay Stock Exchange and the corporate headquarters of many
Indian companies. Owing to the immense business opportunities available in Mumbai and relatively high
standard of living, it has attracted migrants from all over India and
South Asia, making the city a
potpourri of various communities and
cultures. Within Mumbai is located
Bollywood, the epicentre of the country's
Hindifilm and television industry, producing the world's highest number of films annually. Mumbai is also one of the rare cities to accommodate
a National Park within its municipal limits. (
more...)
59
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Nathu La is one of the three trading border posts shared between China and India. Closed after the 1962
Sino-Indian War, the pass was re-opened in 2006 following numerous bilateral trade agreements. The opening bolstered the economy of the region and is expected to play key role in the Sino-Indian trade. The pass is used for export of 29 goods from Indian side and 15 goods from Chinese side. The opening of the pass also shortens the travel distance to important
Hindu and
Buddhist pilgrimage sites. (
more...)
60
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Norman Borlaug is an
Americanagricultural scientist,
humanitarian,
Nobel laureate, and the father of the
Green Revolution. During the mid-20th century, Borlaug led the introduction of his
grain and modern agricultural production techniques to
Mexico,
Pakistan, and
India. As a result, Mexico became a net exporter of wheat by 1963. Between 1965 and 1970, wheat yields nearly doubled in Pakistan and India, greatly improving the
food security in those nations. These collective increases in yield have been labeled the Green Revolution, and Borlaug is often credited with saving over a billion people from
starvation. He was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 in recognition of his contributions to
world peace through increasing food supply. More recently, he has helped apply these methods of increasing food production to
Asia and
Africa. Borlaug has continually advocated the use of his methods and
biotechnology to decrease world
famine; although his work has faced environmental and
socioeconomic criticisms, he has repudiated most of those accusations. In 1986, he established the
World Food Prize to recognize individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food around the globe. (
more...)
61
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The political integration of India established a united nation for the first time in
thousands of years from a plethora of princely states, colonial provinces and possessions. Despite
partition, a new
India arose above demographic distinctions to unite peoples of various geographic, economic, ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. India was transformed after independence through political upheaval and ethnic discontent, and continues to evolve as a
federal republic natural to its diversity. The process is defined by sensitive religious conflicts between
Hindus and
Muslims, diverse ethnic populations, as well as by geo-political rivalry and military conflicts with
Pakistan and
China. When the
Indian independence movement succeeded in ending
British Raj on August 15, 1947, India's leaders faced the prospect of inheriting a nation fragmented between medieval-era kingdoms and provinces organized by colonial powers. Under the leadership of
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of India's most respected freedom fighters and the
Minister of Home Affairs, the new
Government of India employed frank political negotiations backed with the option of military action to weld a nation. (
more...)
62
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
A
CalcuttanPirali Brahmin by birth, Tagore began writing poems at the age of eight; he published his first substantial poetry — using the
pseudonym "Bhānusiṃha" ("Sun Lion") — in 1877 and wrote his first short stories and dramas at age sixteen. His home schooling, life in
Shelidah, and extensive travels made Tagore an
iconoclastic pragmatist; however, growing disillusionment with the
British Raj caused the internationalist Tagore to back the
Indian Independence Movement and befriend
Mahatma Gandhi. Despite the loss of virtually his entire family and his regrets regarding Bengal's decline, his life's work —
Visva-Bharati University — endured. (
more...)
63
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Rail transport is the most commonly used mode of long distance
transportation in
India. Rail operations throughout the country are run by the state-owned company,
Indian Railways. The rail network traverses through the length and breadth of the country, covering a total length of 63,140 km (39,200 miles). It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 5
billion passengers and over 350 million
tonnes of
freight annually. Its operations covers
twenty-seven states and three Union territories and also links the neighbouring countries of
Nepal,
Bangladesh and
Pakistan.
Railways were first introduced to India in 1837, passenger services started in 1853 and by 1909, it was fourth largest railway network in the world. In 1951 the systems were
nationalised as one unit and in 1984 rapid transit services were started. (
more...)
64
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Ramayana (
Devanagari: रामायण) is an ancient
Sanskritepic attributed to the poet
Valmiki and is an important part of the
Hindu canon (smṛti). The name Ramayana is a
tatpurusha compound of Rama and ayana "going, advancing", translating to "the travels of Rama". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven cantos (kandas) and tells the story of a prince,
Rama of
Ayodhya, whose wife
Sita is abducted by the demon (Rakshasa) king of
Lanka,
Ravana. The Ramayana had an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry, primarily through its establishment of the
Sloka meter.
One of the most important literary works on ancient India, the Ramayana has had a profound impact on art and culture in the
Indian subcontinent. Starting from the 8th century, the colonisation of
Southeast Asia by Indians began. Because of this, the Ramayana became popular in Southeast Asia and manifested itself in text, temple architecture and performance, particularly in
Indonesia (
Java,
Sumatra and
Borneo),
Thailand,
Cambodia,
Malaysia,
Vietnam and
Laos. (more...)
65
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Red rain in Kerala was a phenomenon observed sporadically from 25 July to 23 September 2001 in the southern
Indian state of
Kerala. Heavy downpours occurred in which the
rain was primarily red, staining clothes and appearing like blood. Yellow, green, and black rains were also reported.
It was initially suspected that the rains were coloured by fallout from a hypothetical meteor burst, but the
Government of India commissioned a study which found the rains had been coloured by spores from a locally prolific aerial
algae. Then in early 2006, the coloured rains of Kerala suddenly rose to worldwide attention after media reports of an extraordinary theory that the coloured particles are
extraterrestrial cells, proposed by
Godfrey Louis and Santhosh Kumar of the
Mahatma Gandhi University in
Kottayam. (more...)
67
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter, senior political leader and statesman. Inspired by the work of
Mohandas Gandhi, Patel organized the peasants of
Kheda and
Bardoli in
Gujarat in
non-violent mass
civil disobedience against the oppressive tax policies imposed by the
British Raj. He served as the President of the
Indian National Congress in
1931, and rose to the forefront of rebellions and political events — helping lead Indians into the
Salt Satyagraha and the
Quit India movement. Becoming the first
Home Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from a plethora of semi-independent
princely states, colonial provinces and possessions. Patel employed an iron fist in a velvet glove diplomacy — frank political negotiations backed with the option (and the use) of military action to weld a nation that could emancipate its people without the prospect of divisions or civil conflict. His leadership obtained the peaceful and swift
integration of all 565 princely states into the
Republic of India. Patel's initiatives spread
democracy extensively across India, and re-organized the states to help transform India into a modern
federal republic with states autonomy. He was also well known as Iron Man of India. (
more...)
68
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Satyajit Ray (May 2, 1921 – April 23, 1992) was an Indian
film director, regarded as one of the greatest
auteurs of twentieth century cinema for his subtle, austere and lyrical style of film-making. Born in a prominent
Bengali family of arts and letters, Ray studied in
Kolkata and at the
Visva-Bharati University,
Shantiniketan. After completing his education, Ray took up visual design, before turning to film direction. Ray's cinematic debut, Pather Panchali (1955) is a milestone of
humanist filmmaking and changed the course of
Bengali and
Indian cinema. Ray directed thirty-seven films, comprising features, documentaries and shorts. Apart from being a film-maker, he was also a
fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, graphic designer and film
critic. Ray received many major film and movie awards in his career, including an
Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 1991 shortly before his death in Kolkata. (
more...)
69
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Sikhism is a religion that found its genesis in sixteenth century
Northern India with the teachings of
Nānak and nine successive
Gurus. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the teachings of the Gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the
Punjabi word sikkh. Sikkh comes from its
Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction", via the equivalent
Pāli word sikkhā.
The principal belief in Sikhism is faith in one God —
Vahigurū — represented using the sacred symbol of
ik ōaṅkār. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of
the Ten Sikh Gurus and the select works of fifteen earlier
bhagats as scripted in the
Gurū Granth Sahib. The text was decreed by
Gōbind Siṅgh as the final guru of the
Ḵẖālsā Panth. A
dharmic religion, Sikhism advocates the pursual of
salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. The religion shares its philosophy with that of the
Bhakti movement and
Sūfīsm. Some consider Sikhism to be a
syncretic religion, although this is not a widespread belief held by Sikhs; the Sikh gurus maintained that their message had been revealed directly by God. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the
Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (Students or Disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Sikh scriptures are written in the
Punjabi language, and the most sacred institutions are located in the Punjab region now divided between India and Pakistan. (
more...)
70
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Sikkim is a
landlocked Indian state nestled in the
Himalayas. It is the least populous state in India, and the second smallest. Sikkim was an independent state ruled by the
Chogyalmonarchy until
1975, when a referendum to make it India's twenty-second state succeeded. The thumb-shaped state borders
Nepal in the west,
Tibet to the north and east, and
Bhutan in the south-east. The Indian state of
West Bengal borders Sikkim to its south. The official language is
Nepali, and the predominant religions are
Hinduism and
Vajrayana Buddhism.
Gangtok is the capital and largest town. Despite its small size, Sikkim is geographically diverse, owing to its location at the Himalayan foothills. Terrain ranges from
tropical in the south to
tundra in the north.
Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, is located in Sikkim, straddling its northern border with
Nepal. Sikkim has become one of India's most visited states owing to its reputation for untouched scenic beauty and political stability. (
more...)
71
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
South India is a region of India that traditionally includes the entire
Indian Peninsula, south of the
Vindhya ranges. The
Narmada and
Mahanadi rivers form the northern boundaries of the region, while the
Arabian Sea,
Indian Ocean and the
Bay of Bengal form the region's western, southern and eastern boundaries respectively. The southernmost point of the region, and therefore of mainland India, is
Kanyakumari. South India as a
cultural and
linguistic entity, comprises the four southern states of
Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka,
Kerala and
Tamil Nadu and the
Union Territory of
Puducherry, whose inhabitants are referred to as South Indians.
Ethnically, South Indians are primarily linked by the
Dravidian origin of their languages, although some communities such as the
Konkani-speaking population of Karnataka retain distinct identities.
South India is a geographically diverse region, encompassing two mountain ranges — the
Western Ghats and
Eastern Ghats and a
plateau heartland. The
Tungabhadra,
Kaveri,
Krishna and
Godavari rivers are important non-
perennial sources of water.
Historically, a number of dynasties including the
Cholas,
Pandyas,
Cheras,
Hoysalas and
Vijayanagara ruled over different parts of South India prior to the
British conquest of India. Agriculture is the single largest contributor to the regional
net domestic product.
Information technology (IT) is a rapidly growing industry in South India, whose main cities constitute some of India’s major IT hubs. South India's diverse culture varies from the cultures of other parts of India.
Politically, South India is dominated by regional
political parties rather than by the larger national political parties. (
more...)
72
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Tamil is a
classical language and one of the major languages belonging to the
Dravidian language family. It is predominantly spoken in
South India and
Sri Lanka, with smaller
communities of speakers in many other countries. As of 1996, it was the 18th most spoken language in the world with over 74 million speakers worldwide.
As one of the few living
classical languages, Tamil has an unbroken literary tradition of over two millennia. The written language has changed little during this period, with the result that classical literature is as much a part of everyday Tamil as modern literature. Tamil schoolchildren, for example, are still taught the alphabet using the átticúdi, an
alphabet rhyme written around the first century CE.
The name 'Tamil' is an anglicised form of the native name தமிழ் (
IPA/tæmɪɻ/). The final letter of the name, usually transcribed as the lowercase l or zh, is a retroflex r believed to only exist in Tamil and
Malayalam. In phonetic transcriptions, it is usually represented by the
retroflex approximant. (
more...)
73
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Tamil people are an
ethnic group from
South Asia with a recorded history going back almost two millennia. The oldest Tamil communities are those of southern
India and north-eastern
Sri Lanka. Unlike many
ethnic groups, the Tamils have at no time been governed by a single political entity; Tamil̲akam, the traditional name for the Tamil lands, has always been under the rule of more than one kingdom or state. Despite this, the Tamil
cultural identity has always been strong. Historically, this identity has been primarily
linguistic, with Tamils being those whose
first language was
Tamil. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to also include emigrants of Tamil descent who maintain Tamil traditions, even when they no longer speak the language. Tamils are ethnically, linguistically and culturally related to the other
Dravidian peoples of
South Asia. There are an estimated 74 million Tamils around the world. Most Indian Tamils live in the state of
Tamil Nadu, which includes the major part of the former
Madras Presidency. Morover, Tamils are in a clear majority in the
union territory of
Puducherry, a former
French colony which is a
subnational enclave situated geographically within Tamil Nadu. (
more...).
74
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Technopark Kerala, located at
Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum),
India, is India's first and largest
industrial park dedicated to
electronics,
software, and other
Information Technology (IT) ventures.
Started in 1990, the park currently has 3.2 million square feet (310,000 square meters) of built-up space. The park is home to over 110 companies, which employ more than 15,000 professionals. The companies include one
CMMI level 5 and
PCMM level 5 company, four
CMM Level 5, two CMM Level 3 and several
ISO 9001 certified companies.
Technopark is promoted by the Government of
Kerala, with a mandate to promote
entrepreneurship and employment in the region. The policy of
economic liberalisation initiated by the
Government of India in 1991 and the rapid growth of the global software industry during the 1990s has substantially contributed to the growth of Technopark. Over 70% of Kerala's IT exports are from Technopark.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Thiruvananthapuram (
Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം),
formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the
Indian state of
Kerala and the headquarters of
Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of
India near the extreme south of the mainland.It is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills with wide, clean roads and busy commercial alleys. India's Father of Nation
Mahatma Gandhi had referred and designated this lovely beach side city built on hills as the "Ever Green City of India".
With almost 745,000 inhabitants at the 2001 census, the city itself is the largest and most populous city in Kerala; the wider urban agglomeration has a population of about one million.
The city is the State Capital and houses several Central and State Government offices, organizations and companies. Apart from being the political nerve center of
Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several premier educational institutions including the
Kerala University, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The city also has the first
Information technology park of its kind and first
Biotechnology Center, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) of its kind in India. Situated near Kazhakoottam,
Technopark is home to many of the world's leading technology companies. (
more...)
76
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
West Bengal (
Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Poshchimbôŋgo) is a
state in eastern
India. With
Bangladesh, which lies on its eastern border, the state forms the ethno-linguistic region of
Bengal. To its northeast lie the states of
Assam and
Sikkim and the country
Bhutan, and to its southwest, the state of
Orissa. To the west it borders the state of
Jharkhand and
Bihar, and to the northwest,
Nepal.
The region that is now West Bengal was a part of a number of empires and kingdoms during the past two millennia. The
British East India Company cemented their hold on the region following the
Battle of Plassey in 1757 CE, and the city of
Kolkata, then Calcutta, served for many years as the capital of
British India. A hotbed of the
Indian independence movement through the early 20th century,
Bengal was
divided in 1947 into two separate entities, West Bengal - a state of India, and
East Pakistan belonging to the new nation of
Pakistan.
Following India's independence in 1947, West Bengal's economic and political theatres were dominated for many decades by intellectual
Marxism,
Naxalite movements and
trade unionism. From late 1990s, economic rejuvenation led to a spurt in the state's economic and industrial growth. An agriculture-dependent state, West Bengal occupies only 2.7% of the India's land area, though it supports over 7.8% of Indian population, and is the most densely populated state in India. West Bengal has been ruled by the
CPI(M)-led
Left Front for three decades, making it the world's longest-running democratically-elected
communist government. Many notable poets, writers, artists and performers are native to West Bengal. (
more...)
77
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Harbhajan made his
Test and
One-Day International (ODI) debuts in early 1998. His career was initially beset by investigations into the
legality of his bowling action and disciplinary incidents that raised the ire of cricket authorities. However in 2001, with leading
leg spinnerAnil Kumble injured, Harbhajan's career was resuscitated after
Indian captainSourav Ganguly called for his inclusion in the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy team. In that series victory over
Australia, Harbhajan established himself as the team's leading spinner by taking 32
wickets and becoming the first Indian bowler to take a
hat trick in Test cricket.
A finger injury in mid 2003 sidelined him for much of the following year, allowing Kumble to regain his position as the first choice
spinner. Harbhajan reclaimed a regular position in the team upon his return in late 2004, but often found himself watching from the sidelines in Test matches outside the
Indian subcontinent with typically only one spinner, Kumble, being used. Despite unremarkable Test performances in 2006, which led to speculation about his lack of loop and his waning value as a strike bowler, he remains India's first-choice ODI spinner. (
more...)
78
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Vijayanagara Empire was a
South Indian empire based in the
Deccan. Established in 1336 by
Harihara I and his brother
Bukka Raya I, it lasted until 1646 although its power declined after a major military defeat in 1565 by the
Deccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital city of
Vijayanagara, whose impressive ruins surround modern
Hampi, now a
World Heritage Site in modern
Karnataka,
India. The writings of medieval European travelers such as
Domingo Paes,
Fernao Nuniz and
Niccolò Da Conti and the literature in local vernaculars provide crucial information about its history. Archaeological excavations at Vijayanagara have revealed the empire's power and wealth.
The empire's legacy includes many monuments spread over South India, the best known being the group at
Hampi. The previous temple building traditions in South India came together in the
Vijayanagara Architecture style. The mingling of all faiths and vernaculars inspired architectural innovation of
Hindu temple construction, first in the Deccan and later in the
Dravidian idioms using the local
granite. Secular royal structures show the influence of the
Northern Deccan Sultanate architecture. Efficient administration and vigorous overseas trade brought new technologies like water management systems for irrigation. The empire's patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights in the languages of
Kannada,
Telugu,
Tamil and
Sanskrit, while
Carnatic music evolved into its current form. The Vijayanagara Empire created an epoch in South Indian history that transcended regionalism by promoting
Hinduism as a unifying factor. (
more...)
79
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Kazi Nazrul Islam (b. May 25, 1899 — d. August 29, 1976) was a
Bengalipoet,
musician,
revolutionary and
philosopher who is best known for pioneering works of
Bengali poetry. He is popularly known as the Bidrohi Kobi — Rebel Poet — as many of his works showcase an intense rebellion against oppression of humans through slavery, hatred and tradition. He is officially recognised as the
national poet of
Bangladesh and commemorated in
India.
Born in a poor
Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a
muezzin at a local
mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After a stint in the
Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in
Kolkata (then Calcutta). He assailed the
British Raj and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" ("The Rebel") and "Bhangar Gaan" ("The Song of Destruction"), as well as his publication "Dhumketu" ("The Comet"). While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi" ("Deposition of a Political Prisoner"), intensifying his criticism of
imperialism. Nazrul condemned Muslim religious fundamentalism and explored the lives of downtrodden masses in India. He remained active in political organisations and literary, art, and music societies.
Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. His impassioned patriotic stance (during
British India) often earned him prison time. He wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best-known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali
ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 3000 songs which are collectively known as
Nazrul Sangeet (Nazrul songs) and widely popular today. At the age of 43 (in 1942) he began showing the signs of an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. Suffering from
Pick's Disease, as later diagnosed by Dr. Hans Hoff in Austria (Vienna), Nazrul gradually yielded to incurable mental illness, which forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the
Government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to
Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later. (
more...)
80
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Born into
Mughal nobility, Sir Syed earned a reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the
British East India Company. Personally affected by the turmoil of the
Indian rebellion of 1857, he penned the booklet Asbab-e-Bhaghawath-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Mutiny) — a daring critique, at the time, of
British policies that he blamed for causing the revolt. Believing that the future of Muslims was threatened by their orthodox nature and outlook, Sir Syed began promoting Western-style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals and organising Muslim intellectuals. Inspired by the functioning of
British colleges, Sir Syed founded the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 with the aim of promoting social and economic development of Indian Muslims.
One of the most influential Muslim politicians of his time, Sir Syed was suspicious of the
Indian independence movement and called upon Muslims to loyally serve the
British Raj. He denounced nationalist organisations such as the
Indian National Congress, instead forming organisations to promote Muslim unity and pro-British attitudes and activities. Sir Syed promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims, and mentored a rising generation of Muslim politicians and intellectuals. Although hailed as a great Muslim leader and social reformer, Sir Syed remains the subject of controversy for his views on
Hindu-Muslim issues. (
more...)
81
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of
South Asia. Today it is mainly divided between the independent nation of
Bangladesh (
East Bengal), and the
Indian federal republic's constitutive state of
West Bengal, although some regions of the previous kingdoms of Bengal (during local monarchial regimes and British rule) are now part of the neighboring Indian states of
Bihar,
Tripura and
Orissa. The majority of Bengal is inhabited by
Bengali people who speak the
Bengali language.
The region of Bengal is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with population density exceeding 900/km². Most of the Bengal region lies in the low-lying
Ganges–
Brahmaputra River Delta or
Ganges Delta, the world's largest delta. In the southern part of the delta lies
Sundarbans— world's largest mangrove forest and home to the famed
Bengal tiger. Though the population of the region is mostly rural and agrararian, two
megacities,
Kolkata (previously Calcutta) and
Dhaka, are located in Bengal. The Bengal region is notable for its contribution to the socio-cultural uplift of Indian society in the form of
Bengal Renaissance, and
revolutionary activities during the
Indian independence movement. (
more...)
83
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad, commonly known as Bābur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530), was a
Muslim Emperor from
Central Asia who founded the
Mughal dynasty of
India. He was a direct descendant of
Timur, and believed himself to be a descendant also of
Genghis Khan through his mother. Following a series of set-backs he succeeded in laying the basis for the
Mughal Empire. (
more...)
84
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The climate of India comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a vast geographic scale and varied topography, making generalisations difficult. Based on the
Köppen system,
India hosts six major climatic subtypes, ranging from arid desert in the west, alpine tundra and glaciers in the north, and humid tropical regions supporting rainforests in the southwest and the island territories. Many regions have starkly different
microclimates. The nation has four seasons: winter (January and February), summer (March to May), a
monsoon (rainy) season (June–September), and a post-monsoon period (October–December).
India's
unique geography and
geology strongly influence its climate; this is particularly true of the
Himalayas in the north and the
Thar Desert in the northwest. The Himalayas act as a barrier to the frigid
katabatic winds flowing down from
Central Asia. Thus,
North India is kept warm or only mildly cooled during winter; in summer, the same phenomenon makes India relatively hot. Although the
Tropic of Cancer—the boundary between the tropics and subtropics—passes through the middle of India, the whole country is considered to be tropical.
As in much of the tropics, monsoonal and other weather conditions in India are unstable: major droughts, floods, cyclones and other natural disasters are sporadic, but have killed or displaced millions. India's long-term climatic stability is further threatened by
global warming. Climatic diversity in India makes the analysis of these issues complex. (
more...)
86
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The political history of medieval Karnataka spans the 4th to the 16th centuries CE, when the empires that evolved in the
Karnataka region of
India made a lasting impact on the subcontinent. Before this, alien empires held sway over the region, and the nucleus of power was outside modern Karnataka. The medieval era can be broadly divided into several periods. The earliest native kingdoms and imperialism; the successful domination of the Gangetic plains in northern India and rivalry with the empires of
Tamilakam over the
Vengi region; and the domination of the southern Deccan and consolidation against Muslim invasion. The origins of the rise of the Karnataka region as an independent power date back to the fourth-century birth of the
Kadamba Dynasty of
Banavasi, the earliest of the native rulers to conduct administration in the native language of
Kannada in addition to the official
Sanskrit. This is the historical starting point in studying the development of the region as an enduring geopolitical entity and of Kannada as an important regional language.
In the southern regions of Karnataka, the
Western Gangas of
Talakad were contemporaries of the Kadambas. The Kadambas and Gangas were followed by the imperial dynasties of the
Badami Chalukyas, the
Rashtrakuta Dynasty, the
Western Chalukya Empire, the
Hoysala Empire and the
Vijayanagara Empire, all patronising the ancient Indic religions while showing tolerance to the new cultures arriving from the west of the subcontinent. The Muslim invasion of the Deccan resulted in the breaking away of the feudatory Sultanates in the 14th century. The rule of the
Bahamani Sultanate of
Bidar and the
Bijapur Sultanate from the northern Deccan region caused a mingling of the ancient Hindu traditions with the nascent Islamic culture in the region. The hereditary ruling families and clans ably served the large empires and upheld the local culture and traditions. The fall of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 brought about a slow disintegration of Kannada-speaking regions into minor kingdoms that struggled to maintain autonomy in an age dominated by foreigners until unification and independence in 1947. (
more...)
87
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Rashtrakuta Dynasty was a royal Indian dynasty ruling large parts of southern, central and northern India between the sixth and the thirteenth centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. The earliest known Rashtrakuta
inscription is a seventh century
copper plate grant that mentions their rule from Manpur in the
Malwa region of modern
Madhya Pradesh. Other ruling Rashtrakuta clans from the same period mentioned in inscriptions were the kings of
Achalapur (formerly, Elichpur,
British India) in
Maharashtra and the rulers of
Kannauj. Several controversies exist regarding the origin of these early Rashtrakutas, their native home and their language.
The clan that ruled from Elichpur was a feudatory of the
Badami Chalukyas and during the rule of
Dantidurga, it overthrew Chalukya
Kirtivarman II and went on to build an impressive empire with the
Gulbarga region in modern
Karnataka as its base. This clan came to be known as the Rashtrakutas of
Manyakheta, rising to power in South India in 753. At the same time the
Pala Dynasty of Bengal and the
Prathihara dynasty of Gujarat were gaining force in eastern and northwestern India respectively.
This period, between the eight and the tenth centuries, saw a tripartite struggle for the resources of the rich
Gangetic plains, each of these three empires annexing the seat of power at Kannauj for short periods of time. At their peak the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta ruled a vast empire stretching from the
Ganga River and
Yamuna Riverdoab in the north to
Cape Comorin in the south, a fruitful time of political expansion, architectural achievements and famous literary contributions. The early kings of this dynasty were Hindu but the later kings were strongly influenced by Jainism. (
more...)
88
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the
western deccan,
South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's
Basavakalyan in
Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical relationship to the sixth century
Chalukya dynasty of
Badami. The dynasty is called Western Chalukyas to differentiate from the contemporaneous
Eastern Chalukyas of
Vengi, a separate dynasty. Prior to the rise of these Chalukyas, the
Rashtrakuta empire of
Manyakheta controlled most of deccan and central India for over two centuries. In 973, seeing confusion in the Rashtrakuta empire after a successful invasion of their capital by the
Paramara of
Malwa,
Tailapa II a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta ruling from
Bijapur[disambiguation needed] region defeated his overlords and made Manyakheta his capital. The dynasty quickly rose to power and grew into an empire under
Somesvara I who moved the capital to Kalyani.
For over a century, the two empires of southern India, the Western Chalukyas and the
Chola dynasty of
Tanjore fought many fierce wars to control the fertile region of
Vengi. During these conflicts, the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, distant cousins of the Western Chalukyas but related to the Cholas by marriage took sides with the Cholas further complicating the situation. It was only during the rule of
Vikramaditya VI in the late eleventh century that the Western Chalukya empire convincingly eclipsed the Cholas and reached its peak with territories spreading over most of the deccan. Vast areas between the
Narmada River in the north and
Kaveri River in the south came under Chalukya control. During this period the other major ruling families of the Deccan, the
Hoysalas, the
Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri, the
Kakatiya dynasty and the Southern
Kalachuri, were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas and gained their independence only when the power of the Chalukya waned during the later half of the twelfth century. (
more...)
89
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Ganesha also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar is one of the best-known and most-worshipped
deities in the
Hindupantheon; his image is found throughout
India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of other affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends
to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.
Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara), patron of arts and sciences, and the
deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. Several texts relate
mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.
Ganesha emerged as a distinct deity in clearly-recognizable form in the 4th and 5th centuries
CE, during the
Gupta Period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors. His popularity rose quickly, and he was formally included among the five primary deities of
Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya, who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, arose during this period. The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. (
More...)
91
Vithoba is a
Hindu god, worshipped predominantly in the Indian states of
Maharashtra,
Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh. While generally considered a manifestation of the Hindu god
Vishnu or his
avatarKrishna, he is sometimes associated with the god
Shiva, the
Buddha or both. Vithoba is often depicted as a dark young boy, standing arms-akimbo on a brick, sometimes accompanied by his main consort Rakhumai (
Rukmini). Vithoba is the focus of the monotheistic, non-
brahminicalVarkari sect of Maharashtra and the
Haridasa sect of Karnataka. Vithoba's
main temple stands at
Pandharpur in Maharashtra, close to the Karnataka border. Vithoba legends revolve around his devotee
Pundalik, who is credited with bringing the deity to Pandharpur, and around Vithoba's role as a saviour to the poet-saints of the Varkari faith. The Varkari poet-saints are known for their unique genre of devotional lyric, the abhanga, dedicated to Vithoba and composed in Marathi. Other devotional literature dedicated to Vithoba includes the Kannada hymns of the Haridasa, and Marathi versions of the generic Hindu arati songs, associated with rituals of offering light to the deity. Though the origins of both his cult and his main temple remain subjects of debate, there is clear evidence that they already existed by the 13th century. (more...)
92
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Mangalore is the chief port city of the
Indian state of
Karnataka. Bound by the
Arabian Sea and the
Western Ghat mountain ranges, Mangalore is the administrative headquarters of the
Dakshina Kannada (formerly South Canara) district in southwestern Karnataka. Mangalore developed as a port on the Arabian Sea – remaining, to this day, a major port of India. Lying on the backwaters of the
Netravati and
Gurupura rivers, Mangalore is often used as a staging point for sea traffic along the
Malabar Coast. The city has a
tropical climate and lies on the path of the Arabian Sea branch of the
South-West monsoons. Mangalore's port handles 75% of India's coffee exports and the bulk of the nation's cashew exports. Mangalore is demographically diverse with several languages, including
Tulu,
Konkani,
Kannada, and
Beary commonly spoken, and is the largest city of
Tulu Nadu region. The city's landscape is characterized by rolling hills, coconut palms, freshwater streams, and hard red-clay tiled-roof buildings. (
more...)
93
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
village pump.
Ram Narayan (born 1927) is an
Indian musician who popularized the bowed instrument sarangi as a solo concert instrument in
Hindustani classical music and became the first internationally successful sarangi player. Narayan was born in
Udaipur and learned to play the sarangi at an early age. He studied under sarangi players and singers and, as a teenager, worked as a music teacher and traveling musician.
All India Radio,
Lahore, hired Narayan as an accompanist for vocalists in 1944. He moved to
Delhi following the
partition of India in 1947, but wishing to go beyond accompaniment and frustrated with his supporting role, Narayan moved to
Mumbai in 1949 to work in
Indian cinema. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1954, Narayan became a concert solo artist in 1956, and later gave up accompaniment. He recorded solo albums and began to tour America and Europe in the 1960s. Narayan taught Indian and foreign students and performed, frequently outside of India, into the 2000s. He was awarded India's second highest civilian honor, the
Padma Vibhushan, in 2005. (
more...)
94
Iravan (Aravan) is a minor character from the
Hinduepic of
Mahabharata. The son of
Pandava prince
Arjuna (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the
Naga princess
Ulupi, Iravan is the central god of the cult of Kuttantavar and plays a major role in the cult of
Draupadi. Both these cults are of
South Indian origin, from a region of the country where he is worshipped as a
village deity. The Mahabharata portrays Iravan as dying a heroic death in the 18-day
Kurukshetra War, the epic's main subject. However, the South Indian cults have a supplementary tradition of honouring Iravan's self-sacrifice to the goddess
Kali to ensure her favour and the victory of the Pandavas in the war. The South Indian cult focus on three boons granted to Iravan by the god
Krishna in honour of this self-sacrifice. Iravan is also a patron god of well-known Indian
transgender communities called Ali. In
Koovagam,
Tamil Nadu, an 18-day festival holds a ceremonial marriage of Iravan to Alis and male villagers and followed then by their "widowhood" after ritual re-enactment of Iravan's sacrifice. Iravan is also known in Indonesia. Independent
Javanese traditions present a dramatic marriage of Irawan to Titisari, daughter of Krishna, and a death resulting from a case of mistaken identity. (more...)