India is my country and I am an Indian.

It is the seventh largest country in the

world and the second most populated country in the world. India is called by names
Bharat and Hindustan. It is a peninsula, surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the
east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south.
Tiger is the national animal of India and peacock the national bird. The lotus in
all its uniqueness is Indias national flower. The mango is the national fruit,
which is cultivated from time unmemorable. Tricolor saffron purity, white- peace
and green fertility with the Ashok Chakra in middle is the revered flag of India.
Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem sung with pride. Hockey is considered
officially the National Sport although people are drawn into cricket these days.
India is a country with many entities like many languages, castes, religions,
cultures and local histories but it is rich in unity in diversity, which makes it a
single democratic nation.
India is known as land of spirituality and philosophy. Ancient religions like
Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism molders of the country. There are other religions
like Sikhism, Islam and Christianity, Judaism that emerged later. In ancient India,
society was divided on the basis of caste system, which still persists in the
modern India as well.
In different parts of India, different languages are spoken. Most of the languages
of India belong to two families, Aryan and Dravidian. After Independence the
central government decided to keep Hindi as the official language. The different
states of India have different official languages, some of them not recognized by
the central government. Some states have more then one official language. Now the
second official language is English.
India is a land of agriculture and farming is done for decades till today. Villages
and agriculture form the backbone of the country. India produces its own food
grains and fruits. It has a rich source of minerals also. Today India has developed
in many different fields, and made a giant leap in the areas of science and
technology.
As a tourists paradise India attracts people all over the world. Rich in
monuments, historical buildings, tombs, churches, temples, museums, places of
architecture, scenic beauty, and wild life sanctuaries, it stands as a beautiful
haven for tourists and brings revenue as well.
Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, The Qutab and the Red Fort are a few of the many
wonders, which attract people from all over the world. Kashmir has been described
as a paradise on earth. The country of mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes is a
fit abode for the gods. Ooty, Nilgiris and the temples of South India, as also
Kajuraho, Ajanta and Ellora caves are the places one can boast of. These speak
volumes of the aesthetic tastes of the people and also about the rich architecture
that makes the country beautiful