93-472: Sir Monier Monier-Williams KCIE ( / ˈ m ɒ n i ər / ; né Williams ; 12 November 1819 – 11 April 1899) was a British scholar who was the second Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University , England. He studied, documented and taught Asian languages , especially Sanskrit , Persian and Hindustani . Monier Williams was born in Bombay , the son of Colonel Monier Williams, surveyor-general in
186-421: A 1966 study, Orenstein and Micklin analysed India's population data and family structure. Their studies suggest that Indian household sizes had remained similar over the 1911 to 1951 period. Thereafter, with urbanisation and economic development, India has witnessed a break up of traditional joint family into more nuclear-like families. Sinha, in his book, after summarising the numerous sociological studies done on
279-500: A Hindu wedding vary depending on the region of India, local adaptations, family resources and preferences of the bride and the groom. Nevertheless, there are a few key rituals common in Hindu weddings – Kanyadaan , Panigrahana , and Saptapadi ; these are respectively, gifting away of daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hand near the fire to signify impending union, and taking seven circles before firing with each circle including
372-455: A box. For me it still carries the taste of strangeness and confusion and wonder. According to Sanjeev Kapoor , a member of Singapore Airlines ' International Culinary Panel, Indian food has long been an expression of world cuisine. Kapoor claims, "if you looked back in India's history and study the food that our ancestors ate, you will notice how much attention was paid to the planning and cooking of
465-406: A bride could control throughout her life. Historically, in most families the inheritance of family estates passed down the male line. Since 1956, Indian laws treat males and females as equal in matters of inheritance without a legal will. Indians are increasingly using a legal will for inheritance and property succession, with about 20 percent using a legal will by 2004. In India, the divorce rate
558-712: A central and definitive role in the lives of many of its people. Although India is a secular Hindu-majority country, it has a large Muslim population. Except for Jammu and Kashmir , Punjab , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Mizoram and Lakshadweep , Hindus form the predominant population in all 28 states and 8 union territories. Muslims are present throughout India, with large populations in Uttar Pradesh , Bihar , Maharashtra , Kerala , Telangana , Andhra Pradesh , West Bengal and Assam ; while only Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep have majority Muslim populations. Christians are other significant minorities of India. Because of
651-518: A combination of several cultures, has been influenced by a history that is several millennia old, beginning with the Indus Valley Civilization and other early cultural areas. Many elements of Indian culture, such as Indian religions , mathematics , philosophy , cuisine , languages , dance , music , and movies have had a profound impact across the Indosphere , Greater India , and
744-798: A common festivals in India. For example, Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan is one of the world's largest markets of cattle and livestock. The women lift & carry other women at many festivals. Indian greetings are based on Añjali Mudrā , including Pranāma and Puja . Greetings include Namaste (Hindi,Sanskrit and Kannada) , Nômôskar in Odia , Khulumkha ( Tripuri ), Namaskar ( Marathi ), Namaskara (Kannada and Sanskrit), Paranaam ( Bhojpuri ), Namaskaram ( Telugu , Malayalam ), Vanakkam ( Tamil ), Nômôshkar ( Bengali ), Nomoskar ( Assamese ), Aadab ( Urdu ), and Sat Shri Akal ( Punjabi ). All these are commonly spoken greetings or salutations when people meet and are forms of farewell when they depart. Namaskar
837-562: A cross; the Order of the Indian Empire does not, in deference to India's non-Christian tradition. Members of all classes of the order were assigned positions in the order of precedence. Wives of members of all classes also featured on the order of precedence, as did sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of knights grand commander and knights commander. (See order of precedence in England and Wales for
930-535: A depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. Knights commander and companions were permitted to display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. The first two kings of Bhutan were presented with the KCIE: Other appointees include: Sir Kumarapuram Seshadri Iyer (1 June 1845 – 13 September 1901), who served as
1023-716: A fourth-class honours degree in Literae Humaniores in 1844. He married Julia Grantham in 1848. They had six sons and one daughter. He died, aged 79, in Cannes , France . In 1874 he bought and lived in Enfield House, Ventnor , on the Isle of Wight where he and his family lived until at least 1881. (The 1881 census records the occupant was 61-year-old Professor Monier Monier-Williams; his wife, Julia; and two children, Montague (20) and Ella (22).) Monier Williams taught Asian languages at
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#17328519843851116-457: A further proclamation regarding the Order was made; the Order was expanded from two classes to three – Knight Grand Commander, Knight Commander and Companion. Seven knights grand commander were created, namely: Also from 1897, 3 honorary knights commander were made. Including Léon Émile Clément-Thomas (1897), Col. Sir Eduardo Augusto Rodriques Galhardo (Jan 1901) and Sir Hussien Kuli Khan, Mokhber-ed-Dowlet (June 1902). Emperor Gojong of Korea
1209-410: A meal. Great thought was given to the texture and taste of each dish." One such historical record is Mānasollāsa , ( Sanskrit : मानसोल्लास , The Delight of Mind), written in the 12th century. The book describes the need to change cuisine and food with seasons, various methods of cooking, the best blend of flavours, the feel of various foods, planning and style of dining amongst other things. India
1302-491: A set of mutual vows. Mangalsutra necklace of bond a Hindu groom ties with three knots around the bride's neck in a marriage ceremony. The practice is integral to a marriage ceremony as prescribed in Manusmriti , the traditional law governing Hindu marriage. After the seventh circle and vows of Saptapadi , the couple is legally husband and wife. Sikhs get married through a ceremony called Anand Karaj . The couple walks around
1395-481: A significant portion of Indian food is vegetarian , many Indian dishes also include meats like chicken , mutton , beef (both cow and buffalo), pork and fish, egg and other seafood. Fish-based cuisines are common in eastern states of India, particularly West Bengal and the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu . Despite this diversity, some unifying threads emerge. Varied uses of spices are an integral part of certain food preparations and are used to enhance
1488-406: A variety of festivals due to the large diversity of India. Many religious festivals like Diwali (Hindu) Eid (Muslim) Christmas (Christian), etc. are celebrated by all. The government also provides facilities for the celebration of all religious festivals with equality and grants road bookings, security, etc. providing equality to the diverse religions and their festivals. The Indian New Year festival
1581-449: A wide range of food preparation styles, cooking techniques, and culinary presentations. From salads to sauces, from vegetarian to meat, from spices to sensuous, from bread to desserts, Indian cuisine is invariably complex. Harold McGee, a favourite of many Michelin-starred chefs, writes "for sheer inventiveness with the milk itself as the primary ingredient, no country on earth can match India." I travel to India at least three to four times
1674-445: A year. It's always inspirational. There is so much to learn from India because each and every state is a country by itself and each has its own cuisine. There are lots of things to learn about the different cuisines – it just amazes me. I keep my mind open and like to explore different places and pick up different influences as I go along. I don't actually think that there is a single state in India that I haven't visited. Indian food
1767-587: Is a common addition to meals, as a way of tempering spiciness . Traditional clothing in India greatly varies across different parts of the country and is influenced by local culture, geography, climate, and rural/urban settings. Popular styles of dress include draped garments such as sari and mekhela sador for women and the kurta , dhoti or lungi or panche (in Kannada) for men. Stitched clothes are also popular such as churidar or salwar-kameez for women, with dupatta (long scarf) thrown over shoulder completing
1860-436: Is a complex "huge polygon or irregular multilateral figure" that was unified by Sanskrit literature . He stated that "no description of Hinduism can be exhaustive which does not touch on almost every religious and philosophical idea that the world has ever known." Monier-Williams compiled a Sanskrit –English dictionary, based on the earlier Petersburg Sanskrit Dictionary , which was published in 1872. A later revised edition
1953-434: Is a cosmopolitan cuisine that has so many ingredients. I don't think any cuisine in the world has got so many influences on the way that Indian food has. It is a very rich cuisine and is very varied. Every region in the world has its own sense of how Indian food should be perceived. ... it takes me back to the first Christmas I can remember, when the grandmother I hadn't yet met, who was Indian and lived in England, sent me
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#17328519843852046-600: Is a significant cultural, linguistic, and political Mon-Khmer (Austroasiatic) influence on early India, which can also be observed by Austroasiatic loanwords within Indo-Aryan languages and rice cultivation , which was introduced by East/Southeast Asian rice-agriculturalists using a route from Southeast Asia through Northeast India into the Indian subcontinent. They have been credited with shaping much of Indian philosophy , literature , architecture , art and music . Greater India
2139-461: Is celebrated in different parts of India with a unique style at different times. Ugadi , Bihu , Gudhi Padwa , Puthandu , Vaisakhi , Pohela Boishakh , Vishu and Vishuva Sankranti are the New Year festival of different part of India. Certain festivals in India are celebrated by multiple religions. Notable examples include Diwali , which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains across
2232-454: Is considered slightly more formal than Namaste but both express deep respect. Namaskar is commonly used in India and Nepal by Hindus , Jains and Buddhists, and many continue to use this outside the Indian subcontinent . In Indian and Nepali culture , the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same hands folded gesture may be made wordlessly or said without
2325-398: Is consumed with a variety of curries and lentil soups or broths . Vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are both popular. Hyderabadi cuisine includes popular delicacies such as Biryani , Haleem , Baghara baingan and Kheema, while Hyderabadi day to day dishes see some commonalities with Telanganite Telugu food, with its use of tamarind, rice, and lentils, along with meat. Yogurt
2418-410: Is divided over what the phenomenon means: for traditionalists, the rising numbers portend the breakdown of society while, for some modernists, they speak of healthy new empowerment for women. Recent studies suggest that Indian culture is trending away from traditional arranged marriages. Banerjee et al. surveyed 41,554 households across 33 states and union territories in India in 2005. They find that
2511-458: Is known for its love of food and spices. Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the local produce, cultural diversity, and varied demographics of the country. Generally, Indian cuisine can be split into five categories – northern , southern , eastern, western, and northeastern. The diversity of Indian cuisine is characterised by the differing use of many spices and herbs, a wide assortment of recipes and cooking techniques. Though
2604-577: Is low — 1% compared with about 40% in the United States. These statistics do not reflect a complete picture, though. There is a dearth of scientific surveys or studies on Indian marriages where the perspectives of both husbands and wives were solicited in-depth. Sample surveys suggest the issues with marriages in India are similar to trends observed elsewhere in the world. The divorce rates are rising in India. Urban divorce rates are much higher. Women initiate about 80 percent of divorces in India. Opinion
2697-542: Is specifically evidence for early influences from East and Southeast Asian-derived cultural areas, primarily via Austroasiatic ( Mon Khmer ) groups during the Neolithic period , on certain cultural and political elements of Ancient India , and which may have arrived together with the spread of rice cultivation from Mainland Southeast Asia . A significant number of ethnic minorities in central , eastern and northeastern India are Austroasiatic language speakers, most notably
2790-628: The Baháʼí Faith are also influential but their numbers are smaller. Atheism and agnostics also have visible influence in India, along with a self-ascribed tolerance to other faiths. Atheism and agnosticism have a long history in India and flourished within Śramaṇa movement . The Cārvāka school originated in India around the 6th century BCE. It is one of the earliest form of materialistic and atheistic movement in ancient India. Sramana , Buddhism , Jainism , Ājīvika and some schools of Hinduism consider atheism to be valid and reject
2883-796: The Baháʼí Faith ), Shalom aleichem (used by followers of Judaism ), Hamazor Hama Ashobed (used by followers of Zoroastrianism ), Sahebji ( Persian and Gujarati ; used by the Parsi people), Dorood ( Persian and Gujarati ; used by the Irani people), Om Namah Shivaya /Jai Bholenath Jaidev (used in Dogri and Kashmiri , also used in the city of Varanasi ), Jai Ambe Maa/Jai Mata di (used in Eastern India ), Jai Ganapati Bapa (used in Marathi and Konkani ), etc. These traditional forms of greeting may be absent in
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2976-492: The Bombay presidency . His surname was "Williams" until 1887, when he added his given name to his surname to create the hyphenated "Monier-Williams". In 1822, he was sent to England to be educated at private schools at Hove, Chelsea and Finchley. He was educated at King's College School , Balliol College, Oxford (1838–40), the East India Company College (1840–41) and University College, Oxford (1841–44). He took
3069-544: The Braj Bhasha and Rajasthani dialects of Hindi ), Ram Ram/(Jai) Sita Ram ji ( Awadhi and Bhojpuri dialects of Hindi and other Bihari dialects ), and Sat Sri Akal ( Punjabi ; used by followers of Sikhism ), As-salamu alaykum ( Urdu ; used by follower of Islam ), Jai Jinendra (a common greeting used by followers of Jainism ), Jai Bhim (used by followers of Ambedkarism ), Namo Buddhay (used by followers of Buddhism ), Allah Abho (used by followers of
3162-767: The Common Era . According to philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan , the earliest of these, which date back to the composition of the Upanishads in the later Vedic period (1000–500 BCE) , constitute "the earliest philosophical compositions of the world." Competition and integration between the various schools were intense during their formative years, especially between 800 BCE and 200 CE. Some schools like Jainism, Buddhism, Śaiva, and Advaita Vedanta survived, but others, like Samkhya and Ājīvika , did not; they were either assimilated or became extinct. Subsequent centuries produced commentaries and reformulations continuing up to as late as
3255-563: The Constitution of India is one of the Directive Principles which directs that the state shall endeavor to prohibit slaughtering and smuggling of cattle , calves and other milch and draught cattle . As of January 2012, cow remains a divisive and controversial topic in India. Several states of India have passed laws to protect cows, while many states have no restrictions on the production and consumption of beef. Some groups oppose
3348-506: The Delhi Durbar , the limits were increased to 40 knights grand commander, 120 knights commander, and 40 nominations of companions in any successive year. British officials and soldiers were eligible for appointment, as were rulers of Indian Princely States . Generally, the rulers of the more important states were appointed knights grand commander of the Order of the Star of India, rather than of
3441-555: The East India Company College from 1844 until 1858 when company rule in India ended after the 1857 rebellion . He came to national prominence during the 1860 election campaign for the Boden Chair of Sanskrit at Oxford University , in which he stood against Max Müller . The vacancy followed the death of Horace Hayman Wilson in 1860. Wilson had started the university's collection of Sanskrit manuscripts upon taking
3534-526: The Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountains . Over the centuries, there has been a significant fusion of cultures between Buddhists , Hindus , Muslims , Jains , Sikhs and various tribal populations in India. India is the birthplace of Hinduism , Buddhism , Jainism , Sikhism , and other religions . They are collectively known as Indian religions. Indian religions are a major form of world religions along with Abrahamic ones. Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are
3627-481: The Hyderabadi Muslim community . Hyderabadi food is based heavily on non-vegetarian ingredients while, Telugu food is a mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian ingredients. Telugu food is rich in spices and chillies are abundantly used. The food also generally tends to be more on the tangy side with tamarind and lime juice both used liberally as souring agents. Rice is the staple food of Telugu people. Starch
3720-420: The Indian subcontinent . There are six schools of orthodox Hindu philosophy — Nyaya , Vaisheshika , Samkhya , Yoga , Mīmāṃsā and Vedanta —and four heterodox schools— Jain , Buddhist , Ājīvika and Cārvāka – last two are also schools of Hinduism. However, there are other methods of classification; Vidyarania for instance identifies sixteen schools of Indian philosophy by including those that belong to
3813-645: The Munda and Khasic . Indian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines across the globe. In most Indian restaurants outside India, the menu does not do justice to the enormous variety of Indian cuisine available – the most common cuisine served on the menu would be Punjabi cuisine ( chicken tikka masala is a very popular dish in the United Kingdom). There do exist some restaurants serving cuisines from other regions of India, although these are few and far between. Historically, Indian spices and herbs were one of
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3906-511: The Republic of India post-1947. The term also applies beyond India to countries and cultures whose histories are strongly connected to India by immigration, colonisation, or influence, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia . India's languages , religions , dance , music , architecture , food , and customs differ from place to place within the country. Indian culture, often labelled as
3999-522: The Śaiva and Raseśvara traditions. Since medieval India (ca.1000–1500), schools of Indian philosophical thought have been classified by the Brahmanical tradition as either orthodox or non-orthodox – āstika or nāstika – depending on whether they regard the Vedas as an infallible source of knowledge. The main schools of Indian philosophy were formalized chiefly between 1000 BCE to the early centuries of
4092-453: The "pan-Asian" dish. Regional Indian cuisine continues to evolve. A fusion of East Asian and Western cooking methods with traditional cuisines, along with regional adaptations of fast food are prominent in major Indian cities. The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana consists of the Telugu cuisine , of the Telugu people as well as Hyderabadi cuisine (also known as Nizami cuisine), of
4185-462: The 15th Diwan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901 was also awarded KCIE. Another C.I.E was John Malaise Graham, from the Royal Scots Greys for service. Received in 1947. Indian culture Indian culture is the heritage of social norms and technologies that originated in or are associated with the ethno-linguistically diverse India, pertaining to the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and
4278-402: The 2011 Census of India. In 2009, about 7% of women got married before the age of 18. In most marriages, the bride's family provides a dowry to the bridegroom. Traditionally, the dowry was considered a woman's share of the family wealth, since a daughter had no legal claim on her natal family's real estate. It also typically included portable valuables such as jewelry and household goods that
4371-444: The 2011 census, 79.8% of the population of India practice Hinduism . Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.7%), Buddhism (0.7%) and Jainism (0.4%) are the other major religions followed by the people of India. Many tribal religions , such as Sarnaism , are found in India, though these have been affected by major religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. Jainism, Zoroastrianism , Judaism , and
4464-408: The 20th century. Authors who gave contemporary meaning to traditional philosophies include Shrimad Rajchandra , Swami Vivekananda , Ram Mohan Roy , and Swami Dayananda Saraswati . For generations, India has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system . It is when extended members of a family – parents, children, the children's spouses, and their offspring, etc. – live together. Usually,
4557-455: The Hindu festivals of Chhath , Navratri , Janmashtami , Diwali , Maha Shivratri , Ganesh Chaturthi , Durga Puja , Holi , Rath Yatra , Ugadi , Vasant Panchami , Rakshabandhan , and Dussehra . Several harvest festivals such as Makar Sankranti , Sohrai , Pusnâ , Hornbill , Chapchar Kut , Pongal , Onam and Raja sankaranti swinging festival are also fairly popular. India celebrates
4650-717: The Indian family, notes that over the last 60 years, the cultural trend in most parts of India has been an accelerated change from joint family to nuclear families, much like population trends in other parts of the world. The traditionally large joint family in India, in the 1990s, accounted for a small percent of Indian households, and on average had lower per capita household income. He finds that joint family still persists in some areas and in certain conditions, in part due to cultural traditions and in part due to practical factors. Youth in lower socio-economic classes are more inclined to spend time with their families than their peers due to differing ideologies in rural and urban parenting. With
4743-514: The Indian states have declared regional holidays for the particular regional popular festivals; such as Arba'een , Jumu'ah-tul-Wida and Shab-e-Qadar . Christianity in India is the third-largest religion with over 27.8 million Christians, according to India's 2011 census. With over 27.8 million Christians, of which 17 million are Roman Catholics, India is home to many Christian festivals. The country celebrates Christmas and Good Friday as public holidays. Regional and community fairs are also
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#17328519843854836-566: The Order of the Indian Empire The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: Appointments terminated after 1947, the year that British India became the independent Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan . With the death of the last surviving knight, the Maharaja Meghrajji III of Dhrangadhra ,
4929-486: The Order of the Indian Empire as a less exclusive version of the Order of the Star of India (founded in 1861); consequently, many more appointments were made to the former than to the latter. On 15 February 1887, the Order of the Indian Empire formally became "The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire" and was divided into two classes: knights commander and companions, with the following as knights commander, listed up to 1906 (in date order) However, on 21 June 1887,
5022-471: The Order of the Indian Empire. Women, save the princely rulers, were ineligible for appointment to the order. Female princely rulers were admitted as "knights" rather than as "dames" or "ladies". Other Asian and Middle Eastern rulers were also appointed as well. Members of the order wore elaborate costumes on important ceremonial occasions: At less important occasions, simpler insignia were used: The insignia of most other British chivalric orders incorporate
5115-747: The West in states like Goa but have more Indian customs in other states. India, being a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions. The three national holidays in India , the Independence Day , the Republic Day and the Gandhi Jayanti , are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India. In addition, many Indian states and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious festivals include
5208-816: The book along with India, and India Missions: Including Sketches of the Gigantic System of Hinduism, Both in Theory and Practice : Also Notices of Some of the Principal Agencies Employed in Conducting the Process of Indian Evangelization When Monier Williams founded the University's Indian Institute in 1883, it provided both an academic focus and also a training ground for the Indian Civil Service . Since
5301-637: The butchering of cows, while other secular groups argue that what kind of meat one eats ought to be a matter of personal choice in a democracy. Madhya Pradesh enacted a law in January 2012, namely the Gau-Vansh Vadh Pratishedh (Sanshodhan) Act, which makes cow slaughter a serious offence. Gujarat, a western state of India, has the Animal Preservation Act, enacted in October 2011, that prohibits
5394-830: The centuries. India has 28 states and 8 union territories with different cultures and is the most populated country in the world. The Indian culture, often labeled as an amalgamation of several various cultures, spans across the Indian subcontinent and has been influenced and shaped by a history that is several thousand years old. Throughout the history of India, Indian culture has been heavily influenced by Dharmic religions. Influence from East/Southeast Asian cultures onto ancient India and early Hinduism, specifically via Austroasiatic groups , such as early Munda and Mon Khmer , but also Tibetic and other Tibeto-Burmese groups, had noteworthy impact on local Indian peoples and cultures. Several scholars, such as Professor Przyluski, Jules Bloch, and Lévi, among others, concluded that there
5487-567: The chair in 1831, and had indicated his preference that Williams should be his successor. The campaign was notoriously acrimonious. Müller was known for his liberal religious views and his philosophical speculations based on his reading of Vedic literature. Monier Williams was seen as a less brilliant scholar, but had a detailed practical knowledge of India itself, and of actual religious practices in modern Hinduism. Müller, in contrast, had never visited India. Both candidates had to emphasise their support for Christian evangelisation in India, since that
5580-524: The class of Knight Grand Commander (25 at any given time) was added; the composition of the other two classes remained the same. The statute also provided that it was "competent for Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, at Her or their pleasure, to appoint any Princes of the Blood Royal, being descendants of His late Majesty King George the First, as Extra Knights Grand Commander". By Letters Patent of 2 Aug 1886,
5673-412: The concept of creator deity , ritualism and superstitions . India has produced some notable atheist politicians and social reformers . According to the 2012 WIN-Gallup Global Index of Religion and Atheism report, 81% of Indians were religious, 13% were not religious, 3% were convinced atheists , and 3% were unsure or did not respond. Indian philosophy comprises the philosophical traditions of
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#17328519843855766-476: The conversion of India to the Christian religion should be one of the aims of orientalist scholarship. In his book Hinduism , published by SPCK in 1877, he predicted the demise of the Hindu religion and called for Christian evangelism to ward off the spread of Islam. According to Saurabh Dube this work is "widely credited to have introduced the term Hinduism into general English usage" while David N. Lorenzen cites
5859-454: The country and Buddha Purnima , Krishna Janmashtami , Ambedkar Jayanti celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus. Sikh festivals, such as Guru Nanak Jayanti , Baisakhi are celebrated with full fanfare by Sikhs and Hindus of Punjab and Delhi where the two communities together form an overwhelming majority of the population. Adding colours to the culture of India, the Dree Festival is one of
5952-543: The diversity of religious groups in India, there has been a history of turmoil and violence between them. India has been a theatre for violent religious clashes between members of different religions such as Hindus , Christians , Muslims , and Sikhs . Several groups have founded various national-religious political parties, and in spite of government policies minority religious groups are being subjected to prejudice from more dominant groups in order to maintain and control resources in particular regions of India. According to
6045-453: The early 1870s Monier Williams planned this institution. His vision was the better acquaintance of England and India. On this account he supported academic research into Indian culture . Monier Williams travelled to India in 1875, 1876 and 1883 to finance his project by fundraising. He gained the support of Indian native princes . In 1883 the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone; the building
6138-543: The exact positions.) Knights grand commander used the post-nominal "GCIE", knights commander "KCIE", and companions "CIE." Knights grand commander and knights commander were entitled to the prefix "Sir". Wives of knights grand commander and knights commander could prefix "Lady" to their surnames. Such forms were not used by peers and Indian princes, except when the names of the former were written out in their fullest forms. Knights grand commander were also entitled to receive heraldic supporters, and could encircle their arms with
6231-406: The first class were titled "Knight Grand Commander" rather than "Knight Grand Cross" so as not to offend the non-Christian Indians appointed to the order. At the time of foundation in 1878 the order had only one class, that of Companion, with no quota imposed. In 1886, the Order was divided into the two classes of knights commander (50 at any given time) and companions (no quota). The following year
6324-531: The flavour of a dish and create unique flavours and aromas. Cuisine across India has also been influenced by various cultural groups that entered India throughout history, such as the Central Asians , Arabs , Mughals , and European colonists . Sweets are also very popular among Indians, particularly in West Bengal where both Bengali Hindus and Bengali Muslims distribute sweets to mark joyous occasions. There
6417-640: The folded hand gesture. The word is derived from Sanskrit ( Namah ): to bow , reverential salutation , and respect , and (te): "to you". Taken literally, it means "I bow to you". In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you." In most Indian families, younger men and women are taught to seek the blessing of their elders by reverentially bowing to their elders. This custom is known as Pranāma . Other greetings include Jai Jagannath (used in Odia ) Ami Aschi (used in Bengali ), Jai Shri Krishna (in Gujarati and
6510-532: The holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib four times. Indian Muslims celebrate a traditional Islamic wedding following customs similar to those practiced in the Middle East . The rituals include Nikah , payment of financial dower called Mahr by the groom to the bride, signing of a marriage contract, and a reception. Indian Christian weddings follow customs similar to those practiced in the Christian countries in
6603-592: The killing of cows along with buying, selling and transport of beef. In contrast, Assam and Andhra Pradesh allow butchering of cattle with a fit-for-slaughter certificate. In the states of West Bengal and Kerala, consumption of beef is not deemed an offence. Contrary to stereotypes, a sizeable number of Hindus eat beef, and many argue that their scriptures, such as Vedic and Upanishadic texts do not prohibit its consumption. In southern Indian state Kerala, for instance, beef accounts for nearly half of all meat consumed by all communities, including Hindus. Sociologists theorise that
6696-636: The marriage trends in India are similar to trends observed over the last 40 years in China , Japan , and other nations. The study found that fewer marriages are purely arranged without consent and that the majority of surveyed Indian marriages are arranged with consent. The percentage of self-arranged marriages (called love marriages in India) was also increasing, particularly in the urban parts of India. Weddings are festive occasions in India with extensive decorations, colors, music, dance, costumes and rituals that depend on
6789-461: The most sought after trade commodities. The spice trade between India and Europe led to the rise and dominance of Arab traders to such an extent that European explorers, such as Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus , set out to find new trade routes with India leading to the Age of Discovery . The popularity of curry , which originated in India, across Asia has often led to the dish being labeled as
6882-447: The number of knights commander was increased to 82, while commanders were limited to 20 nominations per year (40 for 1903 only). Membership was expanded by letters patent of 10 June 1897, which permitted up to 32 knights grand commander. A special statute of 21 October 1902 permitted up to 92 knights commander, but continued to limit the number of nominations of commanders to 20 in any successive year. On 21 December 1911, in connection with
6975-401: The oldest male member is the head of the joint Indian family system. He mostly makes all important decisions and rules, and other family members are likely to abide by them. With the current economy, lifestyle, and cost of living in most of the metro cities are high, the population is leaving behind the joint family model and adapting to the nuclear family model. Earlier living in a joint family
7068-767: The order became dormant in 2010. The motto of the Order is Imperatricis auspiciis , ( Latin for "Under the auspices of the Empress"), a reference to Queen Victoria, the first Empress of India . The Order is the junior British order of chivalry associated with the British Indian Empire ; the senior one is The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India . The British founded the Order in 1878 to reward British and native officials who served in British India. The Order originally had only one class (Companion), but expanded to comprise two classes in 1887. The British authorities intended
7161-517: The order. The fictional characters Purun Dass, invented by Rudyard Kipling , and Harry Paget Flashman , invented by George MacDonald Fraser , were KCIEs; Kipling's engineer Findlayson in The Day's Work (1908) aspires to the CIE. The British sovereign serves as Sovereign of the Order. The grand master held the next-most senior rank; the position was held, ex officio , by the viceroy of India . Members of
7254-523: The religion of the bride and the groom, as well as their preferences. The nation celebrates about 10 million weddings per year, of which over 80% are Hindu weddings . While there are many festival-related rituals in Hinduism, vivaha (wedding) is the most extensive personal ritual an adult Hindu undertakes in his or her life. Typical Hindu families spend significant effort and financial resources to prepare and celebrate weddings. The rituals and processes of
7347-488: The spread of education and growth of economics, the traditional joint-family system is breaking down rapidly across India and attitudes towards working women have changed. Arranged marriages have long been the norm in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family members. In the past, the age of marriage was young. The average age of marriage for women in India has increased to 21 years, according to
7440-533: The subject of numerous other tales and fables such as the Panchatantra and the Jataka tales . In Hinduism, the cow is regarded as a symbol of ahimsa (non-violence), mother goddess and bringer of good fortune and wealth. For this reason, cows are revered in Hindu culture and feeding a cow is seen as an act of worship. This is why beef remains a taboo food in mainstream Hindu and Jain society. The Article 48 of
7533-664: The tribal festivals of India celebrated by the Apatanis of the Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh , which is the easternmost state of India. Nowruz is the most important festival among the Parsi community of India. Islam in India is the second largest religion with over 172 million Muslims, according to India's 2011 census. The Islamic festivals which are observed and are declared public holiday in India are; Eid al-Fitr , Eid al-Adha (Bakri Eid), Milad-un-Nabi , Muharram and Shab-e-Barat . Some of
7626-404: The widespread consumption of cow meat in India is because it is a far cheaper source of animal protein for the poor than mutton or chicken, which retail at double the price. For these reasons, India's beef consumption post-independence in 1947 has witnessed a much faster growth than any other kind of meat; currently, India is one of the five largest producers and consumers of cattle livestock meat in
7719-533: The world of business and in India's urban environment, where a handshake is a common form of greeting. The varied and rich wildlife of India has a profound impact on the region's popular culture. Common name for wilderness in India is jungle which was adopted by Britons living in India to the English language. The word has been also made famous in The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling . India's wildlife has been
7812-435: The world's third and fourth-largest religions respectively, with over 2 billion followers altogether, and possibly as many as 2.5 or 2.6 billion followers. Followers of Indian religions – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists make up around 80–82% population of India. India is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion plays
7905-470: The world. A beef ban has been made in Maharashtra and other states as of 2015. While states such as Madhya Pradesh are passing local laws to prevent cruelty to cows, other Indians are arguing "If the real objective is to prevent cruelty to animals, then why single out the cows when hundreds of other animals are maltreated?" Indian food is as diverse as India. Indian cuisines use numerous ingredients, deploy
7998-526: The world. The British Raj further influenced Indian culture, such as through the widespread introduction of the English language , which resulted in a local English dialect and influences on the Indian languages. Indian-origin religions Hinduism , Jainism , Buddhism , and Sikhism , are all based on the concepts of dharma and karma . Ahimsa , the philosophy of nonviolence , is an important aspect of native Indian faiths whose most well-known proponent
8091-613: Was Shri Mahatma Gandhi , who used civil disobedience to unite India during the Indian independence movement – this philosophy further inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel during the American civil rights movement . Foreign-origin religion, including Abrahamic religions , such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, are also present in India, as well as Zoroastrianism and Baháʼí Faith both escaping persecution by Islam have also found shelter in India over
8184-514: Was inaugurated in 1896 by Lord George Hamilton . The Institute closed on Indian independence in 1947. In his writings on Hinduism Monier Williams argued that the Advaita Vedanta system best represented the Vedic ideal and was the "highest way to salvation" in Hinduism. He considered the more popular traditions of karma and bhakti to be of lesser spiritual value. However, he argued that Hinduism
8277-608: Was made an honorary Knight Grand Commander on 17 December 1900. Appointments to both the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire ceased after 14 August 1947. As the last Grand Master of the orders, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma was also the last known individual to have publicly worn the stars of a Knight Grand Commander of both orders, during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. There are no living members of
8370-796: Was published in 1899 with collaboration by Ernst Leumann and Carl Cappeller ( sv ). He was knighted in 1876, and was made KCIE in 1887, when he adopted his given name of Monier as an additional surname. He was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1886. He also received the following academic honours: Honorary DCL, Oxford, 1875; LLD, Calcutta , 1876; Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, 1880; Honorary PhD, Göttingen, 1880s; Vice-President, Royal Asiatic Society , 1890; Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford, 1892. Monier-Williams's translations include that of Kālidāsa 's plays Vikramorvasi (1849) and Śākuntala (1853; 2nd ed. 1876). Knight Commander of
8463-403: Was the basis on which the professorship had been funded by its founder. Monier Williams' dedication to Christianisation was not doubted, unlike Müller's. Monier Williams also stated that his aims were practical rather than speculative. "Englishmen are too practical to study a language very philosophically", he wrote. After his appointment to the professorship Williams declared from the outset that
8556-458: Was the historical extent of Indian culture beyond the Indian subcontinent . This particularly concerns the spread of Hinduism , Buddhism , architecture , administration and writing system from India to other parts of Asia through the Silk Road by the travelers and maritime traders during the early centuries of the Common Era . To the west, Greater India overlaps with Greater Persia in
8649-437: Was with the purpose of creating love and concern for the family members. However, now it's a challenge to give time to each other as most of them are out for survival needs. Rise in the trends of nuclear family settings has led to a change in the traditional family headship structure and older males are no longer the mandated heads of the family as they mostly live alone during old age and are far more vulnerable than before. In
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