The term "Indian" generally refers to individuals originating from the country of India, which is located in South Asia. India is the world's seventh-largest country by land area and the second-most populous country, with over 1.3 billion people. This diverse nation is famed for its rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and religions. India has 22 officially recognized languages, with Hindi and English being the most commonly used for federal administrative purposes. The country's constitution recognizes the special status of 21 other languages, referred to as scheduled languages.
India's history dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, established around 2500 BCE, one of the world's earliest urban cultures. It is also the birthplace of four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Throughout centuries, the region has seen various powerful empires, including the Maurya, Gupta, and the Mughal Empire, each contributing uniquely to the cultural and historical context of the nation. The architectural legacies of these times, such as the TajMahal and the ancient city of Varanasi, are prominent UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
In modern times, India has made significant strides in various sectors, including information technology, which has become a major part of its economy. Cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad are known as the IT hubs of India, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India." The country is also a major player in space technology and has its own space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is notable for its cost-effective space missions. The Mangalyaan mission, for instance, marked India as the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first in the world to do so on its first attempt.
Culturally, India is renowned for its classical and folk music, dance forms, and its wide array of culinary flavors. Indian cuisine, characterized by its sophisticated use of spices and herbs, is celebrated worldwide. Bollywood, based in Mumbai, is a massive film industry that produces a large number of films annually, influencing popular culture far beyond India's borders. The colorful festival of Holi, the elegance of Indian traditional attire like the Sari, and the intricate practice of Rangoli (art form created on the floor using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, or flower petals) are all integral parts of India's cultural identity. These cultural elements underscore the depth and vibrancy of the Indian way of life, which continues to fascinate and attract global attention.