India

Background

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the ular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Fundamental concerns in India include the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife, all this despite impressive gains in economic investment and output.

People

Population:	1,065,070,607 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 31.7% (male 173,869,856; female 164,003,915) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 349,785,804; female 326,289,402) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 25,885,725; female 25,235,905) (2004 est.)
Median age:	total: 24.4 years male: 24.4 years female: 24.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:	1.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:	22.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:	8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:	-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female Direct Page Link Powered By TheLordsWay.com Click here to host your own church web site today!