India
India is the world's largest democracy and second most populous country. It has become a major power after a period of foreign rule and several decades during which its economy was virtually closed to external investments.
In spite of being one of the few "nuclear" powers, it is still struggling with huge social, economic and environmental problems.
The vast and diverse Indian sub-continent was subject to foreign rule from the early 1800s until the demise of the British Raj in 1947. With the partitioning of the sub-continent came a series of three wars between India and its archrival Pakistan. Two of these conflicts have involved the disputed territory of Kashmir. A peace process, which started in 2004, has achieved a fragile peace.
Communal, caste and regional tensions continue to haunt Indian politics, sometimes threatening its long-standing democratic and secular philosophy. In 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards after ordering troops to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Hindu-Muslim violence has continued to this day.
India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, dreamed of a socialist society and created a vast public infrastructure, much of which became a burden on the state.
From the late 1980s India began to open up to the outside world, encouraging economic reform and foreign investment. It is now courted by the world's leading economic and political powers, including its one-time foe China. The country has a growing urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for international companies seeking to outsource work.
The vast mass of the rural population, however, remains illiterate and impoverished. Their lives continue to be dominated by the ancient Hindu caste system, which assigns each person a fixed place in the social hierarchy.
Source: BBC News
- Fact Sheet…basic info about the country
- CLWR's Involvement…a description of CLWR's program
- Projects…information about specific projects
- Photo Gallery…photos from CLWR program locations and the country in general
- Donate to India…direct link to online donation
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