India
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Location:
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Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and
the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan |
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Background:
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The Indus Valley civilization, one of
the oldest in the world, goes 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 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. Nonviolent resistance to British
colonialism under Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal
NEHRU led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent
was divided into the secular 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. |
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Exchange rates:
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Indian rupees per US dollar - 48.336 (January
2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000), 43.055 (1999),
41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997) |
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India Travel Information and Hotel Discounts