India: Country Background
The Republic of India, located in South Asia, is the second most populated country and represents the world’s largest democracy. India borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, and Bangladesh and most of its perimeter has access to the Indian Ocean. Its capital is New Delhi and its most populated city is Mumbai (Bombay). It has a population of 1.1 billion (UN, 2007) and an area of 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles) excluding Indian-administered Kashmir. Although, Hindi and English are the major languages, there are 16 other official languages.
Historical Background
After the British’ rule ended in 1947, India was declared an independent nation. Its first Prime Minister was Pandit Jawahartal Nehru, who dreamed of a socialist society. In 1950, the Republic of India was officially proclaimed and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India. In the late 1980s, India began to encourage economic reform and foreign investment and opened up to the world. Nowadays, India is one of the world’s leading economic and political power. Current President Pratibha Patil was elected India’s first female president in July 2007 and she leads the country along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, elected in 2004 after Sonia Gandhi turned down the position.
Although India experienced fast economic growth and is a leading country in nuclear research, growth has not yet reached everyone. India has large illiterate and impoverished populations, especially in rural areas, and it continues to live under the Hindu caste system that determines everyone one’s place in the social hierarchy
