The Fast Facts About . . . The Republic of India

Second in population only to China, India is home to nearly 1.130 billion people (in comparison to the 303 million who live in the United States).

Once a nation torn by colonialism and regional warfare, India has rallied around a strong sense of nationalism, religion, and family centric values to become an economic powerhouse.  Today, an emerging middle class is creating abundant opportunities to export American (and Macomb) made products. 

Geography
India covers more than 1.2 million square miles and has a coastline of approximately 4,350 miles.  Some of the world’s most populated cities are in India as are the world’s highest mountains (the Himalayas).

Languages
The official language of India is Hindi but English was also given official governmental status.  Overall, 114 languages and 216 dialects are spoken in the county.

Society, Culture, and Religion
British control of India began in 1757 and did not end until the dissolution of the British regime (or Raj) in 1947.  Mahatma Gandhi is credited for leading this movement through passive resistance.  He was killed by a fanatic in 1948. 

Although officially outlawed by India’s Constitution in 1950, it has been a challenge for parts of India to relinquish the “caste system.”  Based on religious belief that position in society is inherited at birth and permanent, the caste system works well for those born to advantaged parents but can be quite miserable for those at the lowest level - the “untouchables” - whom are relegated to the most undesirable types of labor. 

Approximately 80 percent of the population is Hindu, 14 percent are Muslim.  Other religious groups include Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists.

Economy
There are vast differences between rural India and the urbanized cities.  More than a quarter of the entire population lives in primitive villages where agriculture dominates the economy.  In fact, farming and value-added manufacturing employs up to 70 percent