This day in history

Year = 1957Key people involved = Arkansas Governor Orval

Faubus, President Dwight Eisenhower.Place = Little Rock, Arkansas.One more clue = Brown vs. Board of Education.

Arkansas troops prevents desegregation at Central High School, Little Rock.

Little Rock

Geography, history and people.

INDIA

Different uses of the word India

Geography of India

India is comprised of four major regions;

Himalayan mountainsGanga and Indus

valleys Highly populous

Deccan shield Extremely dry, sparse

populationThe coastal plains

High population – access to water; good levels of rainfall.

Mapping activity

On your blank map of India, locate and name the following: Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal. Rivers – Ganges, Krishna, Tungaghadra, Mahanadi,

Narmada, Indus, Chambal, Son, Brahmaputra. Neighbours - Pakistan, China, Nepal, Myanmar,

Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka. Physical features - Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern

Ghats, Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau.

The people of India

The people of India can be classified by……

Race – Aryans and Dravidians. Religion – Hindus and Muslims. Caste – Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and

Untouchables/Dalits.

These various classifications have often led to division and conflict.

The people of India

ARYANS Came to India in the 2nd

millennium BC from Persia (Iran).

Created “Indian culture.” Largely settled in the

north. Approximately 73% of

India’s population today identifies as Indo-Aryan.

DRAVIDIANS Racially and linguistically

separate from the Aryans. Live largely in the south of

India. Pre-dates the Aryan

invasion of India. The earliest civilisation in this region (the Indus Valley civilisation) is often considered to be Dravidian.

24% of the pop. identify as Dravidian.

Religion in India ISLAM Pre-independence, Muslims

were the majority in specific regions of India.

After independence, Pakistan was created as a land for Muslims, after clashes between Hindus and Muslims.

Strongly monotheistic (belief in one god).

One founder – Muhammed. Universal set of beliefs (the 5

pillars of Islam). 13.4% of India’s population

are Muslims. In contrast, Muslims make up

95% of Pakistan’s population.

HINDUISM

Developed in India over a period of more than 4000 years.

Intrinsically linked with being Indian.

No single set of beliefs, no single founder, no single god.

80.5% of Indians are Hindus.

Gandhi’s view on religion

“All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects, unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but Truth.”

Gandhi was a Hindu but believed that all religions were simply different paths to the same God.

Gandhi was vehemently opposed to the partition of India as he wanted co-operation and harmony between Hinduism and Islam (and other religions).

Caste in India

Read handouts on caste in Indian society.In small groups, you will be assigned a caste;

Your task is to explain the make-up of your caste; Explain your view on the caste system (in role); And be prepared to answer questions from the class

about your caste (in role).

Relevance of caste today in India

Newspaper ads from the Calcutta Telegraph Baidya groom, September '69, handsome, 35/180 groom B.E.

(Mech), pursuing PhD. Groom Company Secretary, Cum legal manager, joint venture MNC, annual salary 4 lakhs. Wanted post graduate (Eng medium) at least 160 cm tall, really beautiful, fair, homely, below 25, Baidya/Brahmin/Kulin Kayastha Bride. Correspond with biodata: time, month year and place of birth. No demand.

Match invited from professor/Dr/Engr. Highly placed well employed groom for Brahmin Shandilya Debagn, 27/160 M.Sc Physics., doing PhD, good-looking, well built, fair bride.

An industrialist, Hindu, upper caste, Bengal family of Calcutta, is looking for suitable groom for their daughter. Honors graduate, although convent educated, age 23+/5'3", very beautiful, well settled in her own industry. Groom must be from a respectable family, professionally qualified, preferably B.E. (mech) with MBA, settled in business or holding senior position in reputed company.