India: Heritage, Culture, & Customs Few Words @ the Beginning About

Few Words @ the Beginning

• We are thankful for the India: Heritage, Culture, & opportunity Customs • Glad that many of you came • We are neither professional India in Transition speakers nor experts • Talk is based on our personal observations • Errors and mistakes are •We are from Southeastern Thayumanasamy & our own India Gnanabhanu Somasundaram • Thanks to FSU •We speak a language Tallahassee, FL 32317 International Center called Tamil • Part of Global Ambassador •Purple links give credit to Program original sources

About the Speakers Which India: Rural or Urban?

• Thayumanasamy • Gnanabhanu • Rural/Urban: 70/30 (US 30/70) Somasundaram [Soma] Somasundaram [Gina] • Father of India • FSU Assoc Research • Leon County Library • Mohandas Karamchand • In the US since 1989 • In the US since 1992 Gandhi (Gandhiji) “India does not live in her • Born in Urban India • Born in Rural India cities, … … she lives in her • Raised in India till 30 • Raised in India till 25 villages” – M.K. Gandhi, • Engineer 1931. • Ph.D in Chemistry Wikipedia • My Grandfather • Sardar A. Vedaratnam Pillai Firm believer in educating women. India can attain self- sufficiency only when rural women have education and economic status in free India. India Dept Post

India: Historic Time Line Which India: Poor or Rich? BCE: Before the Common Era CE: Common Era

3000 2000 1000 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 BCE BCE BCE CE CE CE CE CE CE CE CE CE

- Indus Valley -Chalukya -Gandiji -Kushan - Vedic Time -Md Gazini -Babur -Harappan -Khajuraho Civilization - Ancient India -Taj Mahal

-Buddha -Gupta - Medieval India lucianogiombini.it Born -Post-Medieval -Chola -Mahavir (South) (Jainism)

-British -Seashore -Classical Temple (South) Sanskrit -East India Co -Modern -Alexander -Tanjore Temple -Brit the Great (South) India War -Free -Tamil -India Grammar

1 National Symbols of India Geographic Features of India

•India (Bharat) •South Asia •One of the Oldest Civilizations •2nd Populace Country • ~1/3 US size • ~3 time more people • Himalayas in North • Indian Ocean (S), Bay of Bengal (E) & Arabic Sea Truth (W) Alone •Sri Lanka (S), Myanmar & Triumphs Bangladesh (E), Nepal, Bhutan, & China (N), & Pakistan & Afghanistan (W) www.india.gov.in www.worldatlas.com February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 7 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 8

Environment of India Government

•North: Himalayas • Gained Independence from British on August 15, 1947 • South, East, & West: Seas • Became a Democratic Republic on January 26, 1950 • Latitude: (E-W): 32°-10°N • Constitution of India adopted • Longitude: (N-S): 70-90°E • 395 Articles and 7 Schedules • Tallahassee (30°N; 84°W) • 93 Amendments • Summer: March to June • President Head of the State • Monsoon: June to October • Parliament • Winter: October to March •Prime Minister • Council of Ministers • Members of the Parliament • Based on British System

wikipedia.org

Government of India (Central) Government of India (State)

• Parliament • States are Semi- • Head of Nation: President Independent • Dr. A.P.J. Kalam • Head of State: Governor • Head of Government: • Head of Government: Chief Prime Minister Minister • Dr. Man Mohan Singh • Cabinet of Ministers • Cabinet of Ministers • Members of Legislative •Two Chambers Assembly (Elected) • Lokh Sabha (People’s • Members of Legislative House) Council (Appointed) • MP elected by people • Regional Parties (DMK, • Rajhya Sabha (State’s TD) House) • National Parties (Congress, • Appointed by States Janata Dal) www.tn.gov.in •Supreme Court www.india.gov.in February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 11 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 12

2 Economy of India Education in India

•Traditional • State is Responsible •Literacy Rate (A person •Legacy-System • Age 5-16 Free who can read and write in •Agrarian • Elementary 1-5 grades any language) • Textile • Middle 6-8 grades • Male: 75% (2001) • Raw Materials •High 9-12 • Female: 54% (2001) •Spices • State & Private •Sex Ratio • Jewelry • Local Language & English • 933 F / 1000 M (2001) •Modern • College •Population • Knowledge-Based • Taught in English (British • Information Technology Legacy) • 1.03 Billion (2001) • Out-Sourcing •Bachelors • 5.3 person/household • Customer Service (English •Masters helps!) • Professional • Manufacturing (Low cost • Doctoral qualified people) • Mostly Private www.india.gov.in

Religion in India Languages in India

• India is a Secular Country •Twenty-two (22) • No State Sponsored Religion • Official Languages: • Major Religions •Hindi •Hindu: 75% • Language of the State • Muslim: 12% • English • Christian: 6% • Languages Demarcate • Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, & States Jews: 7% •North India Tamil • Ironically religion is a uniting • Sanskrit (like Latin) feature • Indo-Iranian-Germanic • Hinduism is non Branch proselytizing • Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, •No preaching & Marathi • Most people are tolerant •South India •Very private • Dravidian Branch • Tamil, Malayalam, • Becoming less important Encarta Telugu, and Kannada February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 15 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 16

Health Care in India Family & Women

• Insurance is Rare < 8% •Private • Family is the Main Unit • Status of Women • Life Expectancy: 63 (M) | • Private Doctors & • Joint Families Improving Facilities 65 (F) (74 & 80 US) •Family Comes First • More are Educated • Pay for Service • Infant Mortality: 60/1000 • Individuals Less • More have Jobs • Reasonable Service live births (6/1000 US) Important • More Acceptance of • Middle Class & Rich • Public Health Services • Patriarchal System Working Women • Get Good Service • Covers 20% Population • Divorce Less Common • Economic Necessity • Qualified Physicians • 150,000 Centers • Social Factors • More Progress Expected • Attracting Foreigners • 23,000 Primary Care • Economic Factors Facilities • Average Folks • Children • Government Doctors & • Go only when sick Facilities • Avoid costly procedures •Waiting Lines • Indebtedness in rural • No Fees! areas • Pervasive Corruption • Lack of Amenities Encarta www.india.gov.in February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 17 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 18

3 Travel in India Tourism in India

• Mumbai (Bombay), New •North India Delhi, Chennai (Madras), •South India Kolkata (Calcutta), & •Coastal India Bangalore • Air travel on the rise • Many travel by trains • Local travel by bus • Hotels are okay • Food is mostly vegetarian • Food and water use caution • People in general are friendly • Little violent crime • But cautious of petty Indian Railways thieves February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 19 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 20

Monuments: All Religions Monuments: Temples & Sculptures

Lord Bahubali Halebid 11th Cent. 12th Cent. Jainism Sculptures

Church Our Lady of Health, 18th Cent. Church Our Lady of Health, 18th Cent. Sanchi, Buddhist, 3 BCE Temple 20th Cent. Hawa Mahal Zoroastrian 18th Cent. Palace

Kangaikonda Cholapuram Hindu Temple, 11th Cent Agra Fort, 16th Cent.

Customs and Traditions Customs and Traditions: Dress

• Food: •Traditions • Cotton, Silk, & Polyester • North India • North India • Traditional & Casual •Wheat • Influenced by many • Colorful & Ornamental •Tea cultures •South India • South India • Less traditional •Doti, Sari •Rice • Wide range in rural and urban • Coffee • Silk Shirts & Sari • South India •Dress • 22 Ct Gold Jewelry • Very little outside •Shirts & Pants Chennai Silks • North India influence •Kurtha • More traditional •North India • Pajama • More uniform •Kurtha, Pajamas • South India •Caste •Sari •Vaeshti • Based on Family Tradition • Salwar Kameez •Sari • Maintained in Family • Silk, Cotton, & Wool level • Gold & Silver Jewelry • Not in work place February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 23 February 15, 2007 ©2007 Thayumanasamy & Gnanabhanu Somasundaram 24

4 Customs and Traditions: Jewelry Customs and Traditions: Food

Tota Ram • Use of Spices, Lentil, & Herbs • Practicing Vegetarians •South India • Idli, Dosai, Vadai • Sambar, Chutney, Vegetables • Rice, Pickle, & Yogurt • Coffee (Milk + Sugar) •North India • Roti, Chapati • Lentils, Cheese • Sweets, Yogurt • Tea (Milk + Sugar) Rasi Silks

Entertainment: Movies Entertainment: Television & Radio

• Largest producer of movies • Slowly Replacing Movies • About 1000 movies/year • Doordarshan (State owned) • Bombay (Bollywood) • National and Regional • Chennai •Other Television Stations •Kolkata •Private • Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, • Corporations Telugu, and others • Hindi, Tamil, English Doordarshan • Songs and dances are language programs important • News, Sports, Drama, Mini • Story line range from banal Series to serious • Regional (Sun TV) • Radio is loosing popularity •Urban Stations Popular • All India Radio Sunnetwork.tv

Entertainment: Dance Entertainment: Music

• Traditional (Natraj: Shiva) •Traditional Music •Bharata Natyam • Hindustani (N India) • Kuchi Pudi •Vocal • Katha Kali • Instrumental • Popular Dance • Carnatic (S India) • Vocal • Movie Dance • Instrumental • Western Rock & Roll •Popular Music •Spectators • Movies • Very Popular • Professionals • Western Pop Music • Urban Areas •Clubs

5 Conclusions Thanks

• India is in Transition • Thank You All for Attending • Middle Class is Gaining Economic Status • Questions? • There is a Widening Gap Between Rich and Poor •Comments? • Small Percentage is Very Rich • Social System may not be Ready • There is no Economic Safety Net • Young Entrepreneurs should Embrace Rural Folks • Grameen Bank of Bangladesh • Micro Lending • Technological Empowerment • Government Should Enforce Fair Distribution of Wealth