India Our Country

 India – The Republic of India

India, officially known as the Republic of India, is a sovereign nation in South Asia. It ranks as the seventh-largest country in the world by land area and, since 2023, holds the title of the most populous country on Earth. Since gaining independence in 1947, India has also maintained its position as the largest democracy in the world, a distinction that reflects its enduring commitment to representative governance.

Geographically, India is strategically located and richly diverse. The Indian Ocean forms its southern boundary, while the Arabian Sea lies to the southwest and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast. India shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In addition, its proximity to Sri Lanka and the Maldives highlights its maritime importance, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands extend India’s reach to maritime borders with Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Historical Background

By 1200 BCE, an archaic form of Sanskrit, an Indo-European language, entered India through migrations from the northwest. Its earliest hymns, preserved in the Rigveda, represent the formative stages of Hindu religious traditions. Over time, Dravidian languages, which were indigenous to the subcontinent, were gradually replaced in much of northern India by Indo-Aryan languages.

By 400 BCE, the caste system had taken root within Hinduism, shaping India’s social fabric. This period also witnessed the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, which challenged hereditary hierarchies and offered alternative social and spiritual orders.