IndexAbstractAn Overview of IndiaThe History of IndiaThe Many Religions of IndiaVarious Languages ​​in IndiaFeatures of CommunicationStaveThe Role of FamilySocializationConclusionAbstractThis paper explores multiple aspects of India and the people of this ancient country. The document includes information on the history, religion, language, communication (verbal and non-verbal), as well as customs, family (including values ​​and identity formation), and socialization of the Indian people and their culture. There are many layers to the ancient culture of India, all of which cannot be covered in this article. Existing civilizations in India span more than 4000 years, making it one of the oldest in the world. The culture of India consists of numerous customs, traditions and beliefs that are the product of the country's rich culture and heritage. The nation has been transformed by its rich history and every Indian inherently has a sense of national pride. This article is a modest attempt to showcase the culture and pride behind this beautiful country. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay An Overview of India The History of India The history of India dates back to the beginning of human civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization, known as the Harappan Civilization, was the first population of the western part of South Asia, around 2500 BC This area is what we know today as Western India and Pakistan. Four of the largest ancient civilizations inhabited the Indus Valley, which belonged to Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. The Indus Valley Civilization, as modern and highly developed as their cities were at that time, posed no challenge to nature which ended this civilization, around 1500 BC, through recurring floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters . The first royal people of India were the Vedic, named after the Vedas of the early literature of the Hindu people. Hinduism is the religious and spiritual thought that arises from the Vedas. After the Vedic civilization, there was the Buddhist era (6th and 7th centuries BC), followed by the Kushanas and then the Gupta dynasty. For almost three centuries there was strong Islamic influence in India under the rule of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Pandyas, Rashtrakutras, Muslims and finally the Mughal Empire. The Mughal Empire united India's Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, and its millions of citizens, under one rule and became one of the largest empires to ever exist. Many came to India, some to try to conquer, others to plunder the country, and still others to trade. Immigrants to India included the Persians, followed by the Iranians, the Parsis, and then the Mughals. Chengis Khan invaded and plundered India on many occasions. Alexander the Great attempted to conquer India. Columbus also tried to go to India but landed in America instead. The Portuguese came to trade goods and the French came and established colonies in India. But those who came and ruled India, strengthening their political power for almost 200 years, were the British. The British conquest of India lasted from 1757 until its completion in 1856. In 1857, Indians rebelled in what is known as the First War of Indian Independence. But they were defeated within a year by the British powers. At the end of World War II, a new Prime Minister named Attlee came to power in Britain. Atlee stood in solidarity with the Indian people and their freedom. In 1946, an interim government was established to create a Constituent Assembly of members elected and nominated by the Indian states. The interim government was led by Jawaharlal Nehru, a follower of the MahatmaGandhi. The Muslim League was not satisfied with the Constituent Assembly and advocated making Pakistan a separate state. India was then divided separately into India and Pakistan due to the Muslim League's strong push. On August 14, 1947, India freed itself from British rule and Jawaharlal Nehru became its first Prime Minister. As the voice of the newly liberated nation, the Prime Minister said: “Many years ago we had a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will fulfill our promise, not entirely or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of midnight, when the world sleeps, India will awaken to life and freedom. There comes a moment, rare in history, when we move from the old to the new, when an era ends and the soul of a nation, long repressed, finds expression... Today we bring an end to a period of misfortune, and India rediscovers itself”. (Nehru, 1947)In 1949, the Constitution of India was created, and in 1950, India's first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, was elected by the people.The Many Religions of IndiaAs in many other countries, the economy and India's politics and culture have been greatly influenced by religion throughout history. India is full of sacred and holy spaces across the vast land. This is evident in the fact that many people pray publicly and often leave offerings in these spaces. What may seem like an old pile of clay and dust to the average Westerner may be a dilapidated temple to nearby villagers. From fruits to flowers to chalk drawings, people left prayers and offered pieces of their lives for some form of healing or spiritual blessing. India is very diverse in all its religions. They include Hinduism (the majority religion), Islam (Muslims constitute the largest religious minority), Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism, as well as many others. All these religions are tolerated and practiced in harmony with each other. Many different religions have many different holidays, all celebrated by people of different religions. India is a country of brotherhood and love and this is evident in the celebrations that unite everyone in neighborhoods, cities and villages across India. Hinduism. Hinduism is the oldest and third most widespread religion in the world. It is the majority religion in India with 84% of the population. It is also known as Sanatan Dharma (the eternal religion).Islam. Islam is practiced by approximately 12% of India's population but, as the country's second largest religion, it has a strong influence on Indian society. Islam has been part of India since the 8th century, after the fall of the province of Sindh. Buddhism. Buddhism was created from the philosophical teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, a royal prince of Kapilvastu, India. Buddhism originated between 563 and 483 BC. It spread from India through Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast and Central Asia, as well as Mongolia, China, Japan and Vietnam. There are approximately 25 million Christians in India. This was believed to have become a major religion of India due to British rule for almost 200 years. Sikhism. About 2% of the population is Sikh. The translation of Sikh is disciple. A true Sikh believes that they should remain detached from worldly possessions. Jainism. Less than 1% of India is Jain. In ancient times they were known as merchants and traders. The largest population of Jains resides in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Various Languages ​​in India As with India's multitude of religions, there are also many different languages ​​spoken throughout the country. The predominant language is Hindi. Most Indians speak Hindi, as it is taught in all schools in India. There are 23 languages(officially recognized), with over 720 dialects and 13 written scripts. It is believed that there are perhaps more than 1,600 different languages ​​or dialects in India alone. English is widely spoken throughout India and is becoming more common in large urban areas as American and European outsourcing moves into India's cities. Many of the Indian languages ​​use the Devanagari alphabet. It is the most popular form of writing in India. It was originally used to write Sanskrit, an ancient language native to northern India. Devanagari is written from left to right and each letter resembles a vowel or consonant. The major languages ​​of India are Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili and a small percentage divided among the other 8 or 9 major languages. Some languages ​​take similar names based on the area in which they are spoken. For example, Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu and Punjabi in Punjab. Language in India is regional, and dialects influence how languages ​​are spoken throughout India. Characteristics of Communication In India, it is customary to greet each other by saying "Namaste" and placing the hands together on the chest as if in prayer while giving a slight bow salute. Men usually shake hands when saying goodbye or leaving, but they don't usually shake hands with women. It is taboo for a man and a woman to touch each other. Indians use the right hand for greeting and touching things, including eating, but the left hand is reserved for bathing duties. There is a hierarchy in Indian culture, so elders are greeted first, and caste and social position influence all greetings. If you are not aware of the way Indians communicate, verbally or non-verbally, there may be a lot of misunderstandings during a conversation. This also changes depending on the region. There are many forms of non-verbal communication that Indians use to communicate. Like many other Asian cultures, Indians generally have a hard time saying no, especially to a stranger or a business associate. The word “no” seems offensive to them and they feel that it could damage the relationship, even between friends. Indians may appear vague or non-committal when faced with a disagreement. Vague answers like “I'll do my best” or “Yes, but it might prove challenging” could very well mean “no.” Indians may tell others what they think they want to hear so as not to appear confrontational if they are pressured into giving an answer they are not comfortable with. Indians are very family oriented. This means they involve the family in almost every decision and take the family's opinions to heart. Most decisions, even in business, surprisingly, are family decisions, even if the family doesn't appear to be physically involved or financially invested in the business. All families are financially invested in their family members' affairs because the family unit is so closely knit in India. Verbal communication. Indians tend to be indirect and compliant with those they don't feel comfortable with. This is to avoid clashes or conflicts. They would much rather exchange views or opinions in a way that feels more like a negotiation than a discussion. They are, however, direct communicators with those who are close relatives or someone they trust very much. Other times they may remain silent rather than argue or say no. This is the time when it is important to pay attention to nonverbal communication. The absence of an agreement is sometimes a disagreement. When asked a question, an Indian may say yes to show that he or she is listening and understanding, but not necessarily that he or she agrees. For themanswering no is a way to end the relationship, thus ending any negotiations. It is better to ask an Indian an open-ended question rather than a "yes" or "no" question. Asking what they think about something, rather than asking if they agree with you or your opinion, can eliminate any confusion or misunderstanding. Non-verbal communication. Indians generally prefer and respect personal space. He's not much different from most Westerners in that sense, but it also depends on the area. India can be very crowded in many areas and this causes crowds of Indians to be crowded together when queuing or on public transport. In most cases, when allowed, they give more space to the opposite sex than to someone of the same sex. Even among married Indians, you will most likely not see any physical touching such as kissing, hugging or holding hands. However, as with most things, the situation is changing among younger generations, especially in heavily populated urban areas. Indians tend to stare without any regard for whether they are rude or pushy. It is normal for them, as it is for Westerners, to smile at each other. Men tend to stare more than women who may avoid any eye contact altogether. Indians consider it accusatory to point the finger at someone, so they usually wave their hand with palm down to get someone's attention or to direct attention somewhere. Physical gestures are very common in India. The “head dance” in which the head is tilted from side to side is a way to show agreement or understanding. To a Westerner, "head shaking" may seem like they are showing that they don't care or that they are ignoring what is being said, and is how many Westerners react to these feelings. Indians may nod to show that they understand what is being said, but this does not always mean that they agree. In India the head is considered the most sacred part of the body and the feet the dirtiest. This plays a significant role in non-verbal communication. It is considered disrespectful to touch the top of someone's head, and showing the soles of your feet is considered rude. Customs India has many customs that vary depending on the region, religion, language, gender, age, among other variations. One of the most common traditions that we see almost immediately when we meet an Indian is tilak. The tilak is a ritual mark on the forehead usually placed as a blessing. Another custom we often see is the bindi. This is a different type of mark, sometimes a jewel, placed on the forehead of married Indian women. It is intended to be the symbol of the goddess Parvati. A customary greeting, to show respect, is to bow and touch the tops of the feet of elders, parents or teachers. The elders may then give a blessing by touching the top of the younger Indian's head. This is generally the only time it is acceptable to touch another's head or feet. Flower garlands are also a way to show respect and honor to someone. This is usually done for a guest or a deity (a statue of a deity in a temple). Other acts of devotion that are customary are the lighting of the Diya and also what is called Aarti. A Diya is a lamp that is lit every morning and evening in Indian homes to honor God. Aarti is a lamp that revolves around a deity, while songs of praise are sung, to worship that deity or God. Aarti, in Sanskrit, means “towards virtue”. Indians always remove their shoes before entering a holy or sacred place. As a visitor, you will always know when you will arrivein a sacred place by the piles of shoes outside the door. It is customary to dress modestly when visiting these holy places. Tourists should always have extra clothing to wear if traveling in summer to cover up. It is taboo to show skin in a sacred or holy place. Some social customs include names that Indians give to each other. Many carry a nickname given to them by family or close relatives. Older women are often called "aunt" by those they are close to. Younger males are referred to as "little brother." Surnames indicate the area or caste someone is from and may have a suffix indicating the type of business their ancestors operated in. Indians may also be given a religious name. Customary social etiquettes include bringing gifts to guests and their children during the visit. Take off your shoes before entering someone's home. Always accept a dinner invitation unless you have a good reason to decline the invitation. These are just a few of the many social and religious customs of India. The Role of Family Indians attach utmost importance to family. It is the core of their beliefs, values, loyalties, identity and life path. The interests of the family prevail over the interests of individuals. Decisions, such as career and marriage, are made collectively by the family. The family's reputation is always at the center of the most important decisions, including who will marry. Indians living abroad also maintain a close relationship with their family in India and rely on them for important life decisions. It is not uncommon for an Indian living in America to return to India to marry someone his family has chosen for him. Values. The ideals of Indian culture are born and grow from the bosom of the family. The ancient ideal of multigenerational families is still strong and widely practiced in Indian culture. As the family grows, families typically split into smaller units if only for the sake of comfortable living space. Today, many family members may move to find better jobs and send money home to their family. But regardless of the circumstances, Indians are loyal to their families and their economic security. Traditionally, in Indian culture families continue to live together. It works like this: sons stay with their families and daughters go to live with their husband's family once they get married. The father is usually the patriarch of the house and the mother is responsible for her daughters and daughters-in-law. If an Indian family has only daughters, the parents may have no one to care for them in old age. For this reason, much importance is given to having male children. There is a lot of inequality between the sexes in India. The status of men is respected much more than that of women. In fact, it is still traditional for many women in India to wear a veil when in the presence of other men, or not to leave the house without being accompanied by a man (usually a relative) or a family member such as the mother. legally. Gender inequality is constantly changing and never more so than today. Now boys and girls will generally receive the same education. This differs from village life to urban life. Many girls in the village are expected to stay at home and do housework with their mothers and not go to school. India now has affirmative action programs for women, and because of this, women are increasingly becoming empowered to pursue higher education and employment opportunities equal to those of men. Identity formation. Since India is primarily a collectivist society, there is very little identity.