People
India is made up of a large variety of ethnic groups, making the population diverse. This, coupled with the fact that the speed of life varies greatly between the fast-paced life of the densely populated cities and relaxed lifestyle of rural villages, results in very different lifestyles in urban and rural settings. Even so, family is important to Indians from all walks of life; it is common for family members of several generations to live together (Alam and Wolpert). This creates extremely close-knit families. Another commonality between Indians across varying regions of India is the cuisine; rice and legumes are a staple, along with meat and yogurt if one can afford this (Alam and Wolpert). In the city, Indians often buy these at vendors and markets while in rural settings, farmers grow their own food. Additionally, Indians of all backgrounds value holidays. Whether they are throwing colored powder at each other on Holi or lighting lamps for Diwali, Indians recognize these days as a time to embody their heritage and express pride for their country.
India is made up of a large variety of ethnic groups, making the population diverse. This, coupled with the fact that the speed of life varies greatly between the fast-paced life of the densely populated cities and relaxed lifestyle of rural villages, results in very different lifestyles in urban and rural settings. Even so, family is important to Indians from all walks of life; it is common for family members of several generations to live together (Alam and Wolpert). This creates extremely close-knit families. Another commonality between Indians across varying regions of India is the cuisine; rice and legumes are a staple, along with meat and yogurt if one can afford this (Alam and Wolpert). In the city, Indians often buy these at vendors and markets while in rural settings, farmers grow their own food. Additionally, Indians of all backgrounds value holidays. Whether they are throwing colored powder at each other on Holi or lighting lamps for Diwali, Indians recognize these days as a time to embody their heritage and express pride for their country.
Beauty
India has a fascinating history, as it originated as the Indus River Valley Civilization thousands of years ago. The true beauty of the nation emerges through this heritage, as well as its iconic tourist attractions and awe-inspiring geography. Deemed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal attracts over six million tourists a year with its quintessentially Indian architecture and unique building materials (Mattioli et al). It has also been chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Ellora Caves, another life-changing tourist destination. The Ellora Caves span nearly two kilometers and feature dazzlingly intricate temples carved into the faces of cliffs ("Ellora Caves"). Not only are striking man-made structures present in India, but natural beauty also predominates the nation; the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan Mountains can be seen in northern India. Although these are only a few of the many splendid attractions in India, they showcase the rich heritage and beautiful geography that make India a wonderful place to visit.
India has a fascinating history, as it originated as the Indus River Valley Civilization thousands of years ago. The true beauty of the nation emerges through this heritage, as well as its iconic tourist attractions and awe-inspiring geography. Deemed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal attracts over six million tourists a year with its quintessentially Indian architecture and unique building materials (Mattioli et al). It has also been chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Ellora Caves, another life-changing tourist destination. The Ellora Caves span nearly two kilometers and feature dazzlingly intricate temples carved into the faces of cliffs ("Ellora Caves"). Not only are striking man-made structures present in India, but natural beauty also predominates the nation; the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan Mountains can be seen in northern India. Although these are only a few of the many splendid attractions in India, they showcase the rich heritage and beautiful geography that make India a wonderful place to visit.
Challenges
India has recently been faced with a variety of issues. One such struggle is its toxic levels of pollution, primarily from factories, vehicles, and the burning of crops. The pollution level in New Delhi has reached an all-time high, achieving "levels nearly 30 times what the World Health Organization considers safe," according to an NY Times article detailing the dangers of the toxic air (Gettleman et al). This is extremely hazardous to breathe; citizens often feel sick or nauseated as a result of the toxins. The issue has become so severe that children have been spotted throwing up from school bus windows in the region (Gettleman et al). To protect students from further exposure, the government closed schools all across India for a week. Even so, children were still exposed to the poisonous air; indoors it seeps in "through air-conditioner vents, open windows, and cracks in doors" (Gettleman et al). The smog is inescapable; it not only causes sickness and disease but also inhibits visibility. As a result of particulates in the air, drivers are unable to see other cars on the road. This causes major accidents and "highway pileups" (Gettleman et al). Another challenge that India has encountered recently is increasingly severe weather, primarily stemming from climate change. In 2015, India faced a disastrous heat wave; temperatures reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit, killing over 1800 people and melting roads, according to National Geographic authors Weber and Brink in an article detailing the infamous heat wave. Furthermore, in August 2017, catastrophic flooding struck South Asia, killing thousands and displacing millions. According to The Diplomat in an article examining major flooding events in India, 30% of Bengaluru's rainfall and 15% of Mumbai's rain average fell over the course of one day (Borpujari). India is also dealing with the problem of gender inequality. In the nation, men have a higher literacy rate than women, are present in almost all of India's leadership roles, and make up a larger portion of the population than females. This originates from India's "cultural preference for boys," remarks Chatterjee of The Huffington Post. Since the participation of women in the workforce is rare in India, most women do not contribute to their family's income, causing them to be viewed as the less desirable gender.
India has recently been faced with a variety of issues. One such struggle is its toxic levels of pollution, primarily from factories, vehicles, and the burning of crops. The pollution level in New Delhi has reached an all-time high, achieving "levels nearly 30 times what the World Health Organization considers safe," according to an NY Times article detailing the dangers of the toxic air (Gettleman et al). This is extremely hazardous to breathe; citizens often feel sick or nauseated as a result of the toxins. The issue has become so severe that children have been spotted throwing up from school bus windows in the region (Gettleman et al). To protect students from further exposure, the government closed schools all across India for a week. Even so, children were still exposed to the poisonous air; indoors it seeps in "through air-conditioner vents, open windows, and cracks in doors" (Gettleman et al). The smog is inescapable; it not only causes sickness and disease but also inhibits visibility. As a result of particulates in the air, drivers are unable to see other cars on the road. This causes major accidents and "highway pileups" (Gettleman et al). Another challenge that India has encountered recently is increasingly severe weather, primarily stemming from climate change. In 2015, India faced a disastrous heat wave; temperatures reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit, killing over 1800 people and melting roads, according to National Geographic authors Weber and Brink in an article detailing the infamous heat wave. Furthermore, in August 2017, catastrophic flooding struck South Asia, killing thousands and displacing millions. According to The Diplomat in an article examining major flooding events in India, 30% of Bengaluru's rainfall and 15% of Mumbai's rain average fell over the course of one day (Borpujari). India is also dealing with the problem of gender inequality. In the nation, men have a higher literacy rate than women, are present in almost all of India's leadership roles, and make up a larger portion of the population than females. This originates from India's "cultural preference for boys," remarks Chatterjee of The Huffington Post. Since the participation of women in the workforce is rare in India, most women do not contribute to their family's income, causing them to be viewed as the less desirable gender.
Work Cited
Alam, Muzaffar, and Stanley Wolpert. “India.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 Sept. 2017, www.britannica.com/. Accessed 07 Jan.
2018.
Borpujari, Priyanka. "Floods, Droughts, and India's Uncertain Climate Future." The Diplomat, The Diplomat, 24 Nov. 2017, thediplomat.com/. Accessed 08
Jan. 2018.
Brink, Susan, and Greta Weber. “India's Heat Wave: How Extreme Heat Ravages the Body.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 29 May 2015,
news.nationalgeographic.com/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
Chatterjee, Siddharth. “Gender Equality Is The Missing Link For India's Progress.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Mar.
2017, thehuffingtonpost.com/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
“Ellora Caves.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO, whc.unesco.org/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
Gettleman, Jeffrey, et al. "In India, Air So Dirty Your Head Hurts." The New York Times, The New York Times, 08 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/. Accessed
08 Jan. 2018.
Mattioli, Gugliemlo, et al. "The 'New Seven Wonders of the World.'" The New York Times, The New York Times, 01 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/.
Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
Alam, Muzaffar, and Stanley Wolpert. “India.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 Sept. 2017, www.britannica.com/. Accessed 07 Jan.
2018.
Borpujari, Priyanka. "Floods, Droughts, and India's Uncertain Climate Future." The Diplomat, The Diplomat, 24 Nov. 2017, thediplomat.com/. Accessed 08
Jan. 2018.
Brink, Susan, and Greta Weber. “India's Heat Wave: How Extreme Heat Ravages the Body.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 29 May 2015,
news.nationalgeographic.com/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
Chatterjee, Siddharth. “Gender Equality Is The Missing Link For India's Progress.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Mar.
2017, thehuffingtonpost.com/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
“Ellora Caves.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO, whc.unesco.org/. Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
Gettleman, Jeffrey, et al. "In India, Air So Dirty Your Head Hurts." The New York Times, The New York Times, 08 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/. Accessed
08 Jan. 2018.
Mattioli, Gugliemlo, et al. "The 'New Seven Wonders of the World.'" The New York Times, The New York Times, 01 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/.
Accessed 08 Jan. 2018.
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