Hindu Literature
Hindu Literature
Hindu Literature
World’s 7th largest country located in South Asia
Second most populous country.
About 3000 km (1865 mi) wide, shoreline about 7000
km(4350 mi) along Bay of Bengal.
India and Bharat are both official names.
Derives from Indus river used by Greek
India civilization grew up in the Indus Valley 4000 to
2500 BC.
Divided into three Main
Topographic regions
Himalayan Mountain system on the North
• Hinduism-83%
• Jainism (and Islam)-11%
• Buddhism-less than 1%
• Sikhism
Indian Caste system-a major social system that
groups people according to birth
• Brahmins:priest, the highest caste
• Kshatriyas: warriors and kings
• Vaishyas: marchants
• Shudras: manual labourers
Caste system
Some people do not fall into any caste; these are
called dalits, or untouchables
Untouchables also known as Harijans
Dalits have traditionally been tasked with work
such as cleaning streets and working with human
and animal corpes and waste
Caste – based discrimination is now illegal in India, and
affirmative-action policies aim to improve standards of
living in lower caste, but inequalities persist
Education
1950 and 1988 – India literacy was doubled
Literacy is higher on man than woman
Free and open
8 years in primary
2 years in lower secondary
2 years in upper secondary
Compulsory in 6-14 years old.
University are large with cluster or affiliated
colleges.
Government
Federal system with parliamentary form of
government
Parliament consist of two houses
The Raiya Sabha (Council of states)
The Lok Sabha ( House of the People)
• Elected directly by eligible voters and sit 5 years
unless Parliament is dissolved
• Indian National Congress- party most identified
remained control of the central government
November 1989 election- Discontent with India’s
leadership caused Congress to lose it’s parliamentary