ISC Notes on Indian Culture & History PDF

# The Early Muslim Period (1200-1526) - The early Muslim period is the first Muslim raid in the sub-continent, made by Arabs on the western coast and Sindh during the 7th and 8th centuries. - There had been Muslim trading communities in India since that time. ## The Delhi Sultanate - The declin...

# The Early Muslim Period (1200-1526) - The early Muslim period is the first Muslim raid in the sub-continent, made by Arabs on the western coast and Sindh during the 7th and 8th centuries. - There had been Muslim trading communities in India since that time. ## The Delhi Sultanate - The decline of the Ghaznavids after eleven hundred (1100) was accentuated by the Sack of Ghazna by the royal Ghurid Shansabanis of Ghur in (1150-1151). - They grew to power during the last half of the 12th century that resulted from the westward movement of the non-Muslim Qara Khilai Turks into the area dominated by the Seljuk Turks, who had been the principal power in Tran and parts of Afghanistan during the previous 50 years. ## The Culture of India - Indian culture is a collection of social norms, ethical values, traditional beliefs, belief systems, political systems, artifacts, and technologies that are all originated with the various ethnolinguistically varied Indian sub-continent. - India is a huge country with a wide range of physical and social situations. People speak different languages, follow different religions, and worship in various religions. - The food preferences and clothing style differ. The dance form and music also differed from one state to another. ### Indian Tradition - People's mindsets and behavior patterns are referred to as cultural beliefs, values, standards of conduct, and patterns of social, political, and economical organization. - It includes the clothes we wear, food we consume, the language we speak, and the gods we worship. - These are passed down from generation to generation through both formal and informal means. - the oldest culture on the planet is Indian culture: despite many ups and downs, Indian cultural shines with all of its richness and splendors. - The ancient cultures of Greece, Egypt, Rome, and other were destroyed by time, and only their ruins remain. However, Indian culture is still alive and well today. - Its core concepts are the same as they were in antiquity. ### The Teachings of Lord Krishna, Mahavir, and Buddha - The teachings of Lord Krishna, Mahavira, and Buddha are still relevant and inspiring today. - The principle of Karma, spirituality, non-violence, praying, reincarnation, truth, and so on continue to inspire the people of India today. ## Characteristics of Indian Culture - Indian culture encourages moral qualities as well as attitudes of charity, simplicity, and frugality. - The joint family arrangement is a prevalent institution in India. - It occurs when extended family members—parents, children, children's spouses, and their offspring—live together. - The oldest male member of the family is usually the head of the joint family and makes all the major decisions. ## Arranged Marriage - In Indian society, arranged weddings have long been the standard. - Even today, the vast majority of Indian weddings are done by their parents and other respected family members. - Weddings are the biggest family celebrations, with elaborate decorations, clothing, music, food, and more. ## Festivals - India is a multicultural, multi-ethnic civilization that celebrates religious festivals, independence day, republic day, and Gandhi Jayanti, which are India’s three national holidays. - Everyone celebrates with joy and enthusiasm. - Different Indian states and religions have their own traditions and festivals that they observe: - **Religious:** Navratri, Durga Puja, Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Makar Sankranti, Ugadi, Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Rath Yatra, Onam, Basant Panchami - **Others:** other religious holidays were famous ## The Clothing in India - Traditional dress in India differs by region. - Each state has its own unique attire that is inspired by local culture, geography, and climate. - Draped clothing like saris for women and dhotis for men are prominent dress types. ## Cuisine and Food - Indian cuisine is as diverse as India itself. - It employs a diverse range of food preparation approaches, cooking techniques, and culinary presentation. - Indian cuisine is generally compartmentalized from appetizers through main course meals, snacks, and sweets. ## Literature and Languages - India has 22 official languages, with 15 of them being in India’s constitution. - Sanskrit is the oldest language used by Indians, and numerous ancient scriptures and manuscripts have been discovered written in Sanskrit. - Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India. - Other popular Hindu languages include Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, and others. - People from this region speak a variety of local languages depending on where they live. ## Indian Culture - From the Stone Age to Now - Indian culture can be described as an enriched culture with a past that lives on even today. - Relics of the Stone Age, such as Harappa and Mohenjodaro, have been discovered. - This indicates the cultural progress that occurred in India over time. - Our forefathers learned a lot from their forefathers, and as time passed, they added value to it with their own embrace. - As ideas bloomed, we turned to new thoughts and ideas to further those who already existed. ## Population and Growth Trends - According to the World Population Prospects 2019 published by the population division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2027. - The global population is projected to increase by another two billion people by 2050. ### Population Dynamics - A recently released UN. report said that India is expected to add 273 million people by 2050. - According to the recent report released in 2019, India has an estimated population of 1.73 billion, and China, 1.43 billion by the year 2027. - As per details from the 2011 Census, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has a population of 199 million, and Meghalaya, 2.9 million. - The figures from the 2001 Census were 166 million and 2.3 million, respectively. ### Population Density - Population density refers to the total number of people per unit of area - It is largely dependent on the geographical location and geological factors. - Therefore, states like Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and other hilly terrains have a lower density of population. - While the northern plains and coastal areas like Kerala, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have a very high population density. ## Registral General of India 1. The Registral General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 2. It arranges, conducts, and analyzes the results of the demographic surveys of India, including the Census of India and the Linguistic Survey of India. 3. The position of Registral General is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of a Joint Secretary. ## Factors Influencing the Distribution of Population - **Geographical factors**: - Availability of water in addition to these areas where fresh water is easily available for drinking, bathing, cooking, for cattle, crops, industries, and navigation. These river valleys are densely populated. The Nile, Amazon, and Ganges River Systems support rich civilizations on their banks. - Areas with heavy rainfall and harsh climates have low population. - **Example:** Mediterranean Sea region. - Fertile soils are important for agricultural activities. So, areas with fertile soils have dense populations. - **Example:** Northern plains of India. - The alluvial regions, deltas, and coastal regions of India support high population densities. - Natural disasters discourage population concentration. Frequent storms, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires discourage the formation of settlement as people migrate to safer places. - **Socioeconomic factors**: - Areas with mineral deposits attract industries and therefore generate employment. - Skilled and semi-skilled workers move to these areas, making them densely populated. - **Examples:** Zambia Copper Belt in Africa; Jharkhand and the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the adjoining areas of Odisha are largely populated due to the availability of minerals. - Cities offer better employment opportunities, better educational and medical facilities, better means of transport and communication, and good civic amenities, which attract more population. - Social organization of communities encourages the movement of people and settling in new lands. Man is a social animal, and it becomes essential for him to form a community, creating a familiar environment. - People gather together due to religious and cultural significance.