The Story of India

Kerala

5. Boat building was an important part of India’s history. These boats enabled India’s trade. The Indians learned to make the boats by eye, without a sketch. They followed the Greek and Roman methods from 2000 years ago. They built the skin first, so the boats were tight and strong. It is thought that the Indians could have built ships for Alexander the Great.

Language

1. The connection between Sanskrit and other Indo-European languages imply that they sprung from a common source. Sanskrit is believed to have been brought to India by the Aryans. In the 18^th century, Sir William Jones, a language scholar and judge theorized that Sanskrit was linguistically linked to Greek and Latin. Jones’ research helped to increase European knowledge and awareness of India.

3. By limiting the repetitions of the sacred utterances, known as mantras, to the Brahmin priests, the caste system is perpetuated indefinitely. Members of this caste, known as the ritual specialists, are said to repeat the mantras as accurately as a recording. The oral preservation tradition continues even today. The 1000 hymns, which have been preserved since 1500 BC, continue to be exact in wording, intonation and pronunciation.

Indus Valley

1. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro societies left archaeological clues highlighting the modernity of their civilization. Their grid-like street systems were ahead of their time, as were their indoor plumbing and waste management systems. They also had highly developed drainage systems. Their advanced writing system and social and economic systems were also the first of their kind.

2. Monsoon winds bring the much needed rain to meet agricultural needs, while also providing the wind needed to move ships across the Arabian Sea. Unfortunately, heavy monsoon rains can cause problems such as flooding or landslides when the volume exceeds the needs or capacity of certain regions. This can lead to the destruction of crops and villages. Indian society is reliant on the monsoon season and can face serious drought and devastation in years that the monsoon fails to deliver the much-needed rains.

3. Climate change caused ancient Indus Valley cities to be abandoned. Modern climate changes could have similar effects in today’s societies as well. A recent multi-national debate over the ownership of a small island, New Moore Island in the Bay of Bengal, suddenly dissipated as water levels rose and caused the island to disappear back into the ocean. Coastal regions have the possibility to disappear as water levels rise, forcing abandonment similar to that of ancient Indus Valley cities.

Tamil Nadu

1. The British found this region to be very valuable because of the fertility of the land. It was the most fertile region of the British Empire, with three harvests per year. The rich soil and extensive irrigation system of this region allowed the British to harvest rich bounties of a variety of crops, from rice, to coconuts, mangos, bananas, coffee and sugarcane.

2. The Romans traded gold with the Tamil Nadu. The Indians had an insatiable desire for gold. The gold they received was generally in the form of coins and was turned into jewelry. The Romans also provided the Tamil Nadu region with their signature items of olive oil and wine. In exchange, the Romans received pepper, spices, pearls and textiles.

Agriculture

1. India’s society is strongly supported by agriculture. Monsoon winds bring the much needed rain to meet agricultural needs. It is believed that as much as 80% of India’s rain is supplied by the monsoons. The location of these rainfalls influenced the location of societies. The people needed the rain to survive; if the rain no longer fell, societies often had to uproot themselves to follow the rain. Indian society is reliant on the monsoon season and can face serious drought and devastation in years that the monsoon fails to deliver the much-needed rains.

2. The Anicut Dam provided much needed water to facilitate agricultural growth for a developing population. The 1000+ ft long structure diverted water to the delta and prevented water from flowing out to the sea. The Cholan Empire’s development of this dam was progressive and ingenious. They were an advanced society, well ahead of their time. This structure also showed a commitment to long-term population growth, showing that the Cholan Empire was poised to plan for the future. The booming population of India needed agriculture to survive and this dam provided hope and resources not only to the society under the Cholan rule, but for generations to come, as this dam is still in use.

Trade

1. India has been an important center of trade because of its prime central location and its resources. India served as the connection between such dominant empires as China and the Romans. They were the link between China’s silk, via the Silk Road, and the Romans’ gold, via the Arabian Sea. Overland and sea travel routes through and to India enabled their strong trade capabilities. The spices that grew like weeds in India were in such high demand that India became the fulcrum for the exchange of goods. Pepper and cinnamon were among the most common and desired of India’s spices. Culture and religion were also traded along this high traffic route, as is evidenced by the prevalence of India’s Buddhism throughout China.

Literature

1. Indians preserved their literature and customs over the centuries through oral tradition. From the Brahmins’ mantras to cultural histories, it was all passed on through story-telling and verbal sharing. The faithful memorization of stories and phrases enabled sharing through the generations. Scribes also memorialized stories through palm-leaf manuscripts. Since the 19^th century development of the printing press, the practice of oral and hand-written preservation has all but diminished. Literature and customs are printed and are more easily shared and stored remotely. The 20^th century development has changed the preservation methods yet again. In our contemporary society, we generally type stories on computers and preserve written memoirs digitally. Hard drives, flash drives and servers now ensure preservation. Society has put emphasis on these strong storage mechanisms and weighs digital storage failure to be less common than human memory failure.

Peshawar

3. Khyber Pass served as the main route through the Hindu Kush mountain range. This trail along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan is believed to be an important portion of Aryan migration path and the Silk Road. The Kushan arrived via the Khyber Pass and caused havoc in Indian history. They overran India and ruled dominantly during the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd century AD. Their dominance stretched from the Aral Sea to the Bay of Bengal.

Fine Arts

2. The Romans arrived in India with high desires for spice. They traded gold coins for such items as pepper, saffron and cinnamon. Because of the Indians’ obsession with gold, any gold that entered the country never exited, resulting in a net importation of this precious metal. They did not use the gold as currency; instead, they used the gold to adorn themselves. The Indians were known for incorporating the gold into fabric for saris and for ornate jewelry. The use of gold is abundant, from toe rings to bracelets to earrings and necklaces. It is also an important aspect of the dowries used in marriage.

Science and Math

1. Yoga is a physical and spiritual discipline that appeals to humans everywhere. Around the world, people appreciate and enjoy the practice of yoga to better connect their spirit, mind and body. Today’s society is so fast-paced, yoga is a great way to slow down and meditate and take time to focus on yourself, your breath, your strength and alignment, and concentration abilities. Some of its popularity stems from the physical sensations and challenges that users face, ultimately ending in improved cardiovascular health and physique. There is a combined benefit to its practitioners with the improvements in mental and spiritual health as well. Yoga is exercise, for the body and soul, and can also be incorporated into life as a form of alternative medicine. It can provide great physical therapies and is a much preferred emotional support option to anti-depressants!

2. “Ayurveda,” the science of life, developed in India 3000 years ago. The concept of maintaining health through good living is alive and well in American society. One of the basics of Ayurvedic medicine that most citizens accept as a good habit is hygiene. Bathing and taking care of/cleaning your teeth, skin and eyes is something most Americans partake in. We also see the popular acts of yoga, massage and herbal remedies pervading our society. Diet also plays an important role in Ayurvedic remedies. Deepak Chopra is a best-selling author and renowned medical figure in the USA who has helped to spread the word of the benefits of Ayurvedic medicine.

3. Citizens of India made amazing accomplishments in the field of mathematics. Without their developments, much of modern math as it exists today would not be possible. One of the most important advancements was the integration of two important numbers into our number system – zero and pi. Indians are also responsible for the decimal system. Many of the aspects of math taught in schools today originated in India, including such fundamentals as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

Taj Mahal

1. The Taj Mahal is a monument to love, built as a tomb for the empress Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Shah Jahan. It can be described as “heaven on earth.” It is a perfectly symmetrical structure, built to represent an earthly version of the Islamic garden of paradise. It is compared to a mystic map of a Sufi’s dream, with the pathways of the structure meant to represent the path to judgment day.

2. The main dome of the Taj Mahal is the most impressive architectural aspect. It is a symbol recognized around the world. The detail of the inverted lotus petals add to the magnificence of the sheer height of this onion-shaped dome. It is said that the circle of the dome represents perfection and unity. The patterns and textures of the pieces used to build the dome are eye-catching and gorgeous. It has been described as an architectural marvel “designed by giants and finished by jewelers.” This bulbous dome commands respect and symbolizes beauty.

Non-Violence

3. In order for the soul to break through the rebirth cycle and achieve Kaivalya, Jains must practice non-violence. Ahimsa, as it is known, requires that the Jains harm no living things. The smallest infraction can prevent Kaivalya. Extremes are taken to avoid harming living things such as wearing nets over their face to avoid the accidental inhalation of an insect. They also are known to sweep the streets with their clothes to avoid harming the smallest of creatures, including insects. There are four additional vows beyond ahimsa, including truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), chastity (brahmacharya), and non-possession or non-attachment (aparigraha).