Interesting facts about India

- Shreyas Kothari

M.Tech (CNIS)

140302003

Manipal Univesity Jaipur

India has the largest postal network in the world with over 1, 55,015 post offices. Asingle post office on an average serves a population of 7,175 people. The floatingpost office in Dal Lake, Srinagar, was inaugurated in August 2011[1].

The 2011 Kumbh Mela was the largest gathering of people with over 75 millionpilgrims. The gathering was so huge that the crowd was visible from space[2].

Bandra Worli Sealink has steel wires equal to the earth's circumference. It took atotal of 2,57,00,000 man hours for completion and also weighs as much as 50,000African elephants. A true engineering and architectural marvel[3].

India was the first country to develop extraction and purifying techniques of sugar.Many visitors from abroad learnt the refining and cultivation of sugar from us[4].

India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world. Be it because of religiousreasons or personal choices or both, around 20-40% of Indians are vegetarians,making it the largest vegetarian-friendly country in the world[5].

Shampooing is an Indian concept. Shampoo was invented in India, not thecommercial liquid ones but the method by use of herbs. The word 'shampoo' itselfhas been derived from the Sanskrit word “champu”, which means to massage[6].

A special polling station is set up for a lone voter in the middle of Gir Forest. MahantBharatdas Darshandas has been voting since 2004 and during every election since then, aspecial polling booth is set up exclusively for him as he is the only voter from Banej in Girforest[7].

The human calculator. Shakuntla Devi was given this title after she demonstratedthe calculation of two 13 digit numbers: 7,686,369,774,870 × 2,465,099,745,779which were picked at random. She answered correctly within 28 seconds[8].

Water on the moon was discovered by India. In September 2009, India's ISROChandrayaan- 1 using its Moon Mineralogy Mapper detected water on the moonfor the first time[9].

India has a spa just for elephants. Elephants receive baths, massages and evenfood at the Punnathoor Cotta Elephant Yard Rejuvenation Centre in Kerala. Nowthat's a BIG step for the country[10].

The world's biggest family: The man with 39 wives, 94 children and 33grandchildren. Total 166 members in a single family[11].

Dhyan Chand was offered German citizenship. After defeating Germany 8-1 in the 1936Berlin Olympics, Major Dhyan Chand, the wizard of hockey, was summoned by Hitler. Hewas promised German citizenship, a high post in the German military and the chance toplay for the German national side. Dhyan Chand however declined the offer[12].

The Indian national Kabaddi team has won all World Cups. India has won all 5 men'sKabaddi World Cups held till now and have been undefeated throughout thesetournaments. The Indian women's team has also won all Kabaddi World Cups held tilldate[13].

The highest cricket ground in the world. At an altitude of 2,444 meters, the ChailCricket Ground in Chail, Himachal Pradesh, is the highest in the world. It was builtin 1893 and is a part of the Chail Military School[14].

India is the world's second-largest English speaking country. India is second only to theUSA when it comes to speaking English with around 125 million people speaking thelanguage, which is only 10% of our population. This is expected to grow by quite a marginin the coming years[15].

References

1. http://jkpost.gov.in/faq_04_oct.pdf

2. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21443282

3. http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1926/bandra-worli-sea-link

4. http://www.sucrose.com/lhist.html

5. http://www.vegetarians.co.nz/articles/500-million-vegetarians-in-india

6. http://adrianasassoon.me/tag/history-of-shampoo/

7. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Indias-democracy-reaches-out-to-lone-voter-in-Gujarats-Gir-forest/articleshow/34009509.cms

References

8. http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2013/1104/Shakuntala-Devi-and-other-human-calculators

9. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/We-found-water-on-moon-courtesy-ISRO-NASA/articleshow/5052942.cms

10. http://nypost.com/2014/09/09/india-has-a-spa-for-elephants/

11. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358654/The-worlds-biggest-family-Ziona-Chan-39-wives-94-children-33-grandchildren.html

12. http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/granthalaya/legend/encounters/page1.htm

References

13. http://www.hindustantimes.com/bathinda/indian-teams-win-kabaddi-world-cup-2014/article1-1298684.aspx

14. http://iseeindia.com/2011/08/28/the-highest-cricket-ground-in-the-world

15. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20500312