Land of extremes

A continent in microcosm

Weather culturally, linguistically, economically, religiously, or in any other way; India is at least as diverse as any continent. Some states are bigger than many countries and there are such huge differences even between the states that would easily qualify them as separate nations. Fortunately that hasn’t happened as a feeling of being Indian still runs deeper than any religious, ethnic or state identity.

History of India

India is a large country located in South Asia. It is the oldest continuously inhabited place on the planet after Africa. The earliest traces of humans in the subcontinent date back to more than 70,000 years. Signs of a civilisation first appear around 7,000 BC in Mehrgarh, Balochistan (Pakistan). This Stone Age civilisation thrives in the region before the famous cities of Harrapa and Mohenjo-daro rise around 3,300 BC.

The Aryans’ coming to India around 2,000 BC marks the end of Bronze Age and the beginning of Vedic civilisation. This is also the era when the Sanskrit epics are composed. The world’s oldest known book, Rig-Veda, is written in this period. The birth of Buddha and rise of Buddhism around 500 BC closes this chapter of Indian history.
T he Asokan pillar at Vaishali

Chandragupta Maurya founds the great Mauryan Empire in 321-320 BC. At its zenith, the empire stretches from the deep south to as far as Afghanistan in the North. The greatest king of this dynasty is Ashoka the Great. During his reign, the Mauryans strengthen diplomatic contacts with the Romans in the west and Chinese in the east. The emperor renounces war, becomes a pacifist, converts to Buddhism and sends missionaries to far-off countries to promote peace and Buddhism. His successors prove weak and the kingdom comes to an end around 184 BC.

A confederation of small Greek kingdoms springs up around the same time. Collectively known as the Indo-Greek Kingdom, the Hellenistic kings remain in power from 180 BC – 10 AD. Several kingdoms come to power after the fall of Indo-Greeks. Most of them hold influence in a small territory and are short lived.

Two centuries later in 320 AD a powerful king Maharaja Sri Gupta comes to power and founds the Gupta dynasty. Much of the subcontinent remains unified under the Guptas until the dynasty comes to an end in 550 AD. In the absence of a power centre, the country is once again divided into smaller kingdoms.

Muhammad Bin Qasim becomes the first Muslim to establish a kingdom in South Asia in 8th century. The next three centuries witness continuous attempts by Muslim kings to conquer India. In 1206 AD, Qutb-ud-din Aibak establishes Slave dynasty. It lasts for merely 84 years and is succeeded by Khilji dynasty (1290–1320). This trend of short lived dynasties continues until descendants of heroic warrior Genghis Khan found the Mughal Empire in 15th century.

Red Fort in Delhi built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

Under the Mughals, India becomes one of the most powerful and wealthy countries on the planet but at the same time, the Hindu religion had to face severe oppression. The empire, however, comes to an end in 1857 when the British East India Company defeats a hodgepodge group of Indian nationalists. The year 1857 also marks the beginning of brutal colonisation by the British who would rule the subcontinent for 90 years.

The British rule ends on 15 August 1947 and India becomes a Dominion in the British Empire. Three years later, the constitution is written and India becomes a federal republic.

The Kingdom of Sikkim joins the India in 1971 and becomes a state. After four decades of unsuccessful government management of economy, major economic reforms are introduced in 1991 and since then India has been a rapidly growing country.