NORTH INDIA

'Northern India' is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India which approximately corresponds to the northern region of the Indian subcontinent. In traditional Indian geography, India is divided into five major zones: North India, North-East India, East India, West India and South India. The Vindhya mountains, in particular the line marked by the Narmada River and the Mahanadi River marks the southern boundary of north India. The line made by the Son river and the Kosi river marks its eastern border. The dominant geographic features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas.
However, the socio-cultural boundaries of north India have actually surpassed these traditional boundaries. As a linguistic-cultural and political region, North India consists of twelve Indian states: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (Bihar and Jharkhand are also considered as parts of East India). The National Capital Territory of Delhi is also a part of northern India. It shares most of its cultural, historical, musical, and linguistic heritage with neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh, which were a part of the region before the Partition.
North India is culturally rich and diverse and is supported by very large cities: apart from the great metropolis of Delhi, the cities of Lucknow, Patna, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Meerut, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Srinagar, Jammu, Bhopal and Indore would rank with the most populous cities of Europe .
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The languages spoken in northern India, namely, Hindi (around 300 million), Punjabi (37 million), Bhojpuri (23 million) and others are classified by linguists as being Indo-Aryan languages. They differ from southern Indian languages which are classified Dravidian languages but share great similarities with western and eastern Indian languages.
The key historical differences between northern and other regions of India is the influence of Islam and the interaction with Middle Eastern civilization through the ages. These influences can be understood by reviewing articles on Indian History and the Mughal Empire.

Contents

History & Culture

People

Geography

Economy

References

External links

See also

History & Culture

The defining features of northern India are ethnicity of its people, linguistics and its history. Northern Indians are primarily defined to be of the Indo-Aryan ethnic group which constitute the bulk of Indian population (Source:CIA World Factbook) and Hindi the mother tounge of most North Indians is the national language of India and also the language of Indian film industry based in Mumbai which makes the maximum number of movies in the world. North Indians are fair, strong built and tall in comparison to their South Indian counterparts, this is due to proximity to the Himalyas and Central Asia. North India is also the birth place of Lord Rama (Hindu diety) who was born in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and Lord Krishna (Hindu diety who narrated the Gita, the great Hindu scripture was written to attain Moksha & Nirvana and a tool to understand the meaning of existence and being Human) was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and known world wide through presence of ISKCON temples and Hindu Ashrams. The Upnishads, Rig veda, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharat and the Gita, all these Hindu sacred texts was written in North India, therefore it is correct to say that North India was a birth place of Hinduism. The Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar and Allahabad, the most sacred Hindu religious places are in North India. The North Indian festival of Diwali, festival of lights and Holi, festival of colours are world famous and are celebrated world wide in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the West. The Yoga, practised by Indian yogis in ancient India to stay fit and spiritually enlightened was also developed in North India. Now Yoga is practised world wide in various forms and instructions.
North India contributed most of world famous Indian film stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Sharukh Khan and most of the producers, directors and actors of the Indian cinema. Most of the Indian restaurants worldwide serve North Indian cuisine due to its great taste and variety.

North Indian States plays vital role in the formation of Government in India with large number of seats in the lower house of parliament. Almost all the Indian Prime Ministers were North Indians including Jawharlal Nehru, LB Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, AB Vajpayee, Chandra Shekhar, IK Gujral and present PM Dr Manmohan Singh who is responsible for liberalisation of Indian economy and current economic boom, it was his economic reforms which led India to grow at 8% GDP per annum for the last decade. North Indians were the major driving force in the struggle for Independence from the British rule, their courage, bravery and relentless struggle against foreign occupation gave us the light of freedom and self determination. Most prominent freedom fighters from this region were Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad who sacrificed their lives to achieve Independence for the country.
North India is also a home to world famous Indian artists, Indian classical musicians and dance masters. Pandit Ravi Shankar is a legendary sitar player, who was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in North India and is one of India's greatest classical musicians. Pandit Ravi Shankar has made a major contribution in popularizing Indian classical music in the West especially USA through his association with The Beatles. Well known exponent of Kathak, the great North-Indian Dance form patronised by ancient rulers, Nawabs and common men alike, recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Award & Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj is a legendary Kathak dancer. He belongs to an illustrious family of dance masters of the Lucknow Gharana. The legendary shehnai player, Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of India's most celebrated classical musicians was born in Bihar, North India. Ustad Bismillah Khan performed in various parts of the world. He performed in Europe, Canada, USA, Japan, Hong Kong and almost every capital city across the world.
The greatest all rounder and highly accomplished cricketer Kapil Dev belongs to Punjab & Haryana part of North India under whose captaincy India had won Cricket world cup in 1983 also the greatest hockey Player Dhyan Chand who won several Olympic golds was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Geet Sethi is a Billiard Guru, who won several world championships for India, was born in Delhi, North India. Jeev Milkha Singh is an international golfer from Punjab North India. Major Rajyavardhan Rathore won the silver medal for India in the double trap event at the Olympics Games in Athens in 2004, is a proud North Indian.
North India has also produced the world renowned Indian entreprenuers like Lakshmi Narayan Mittal a London-based Indian billionaire industrialist & Managing Director of Arcelor Mittal, largest steel company in the world, was born in Sadulpur village, in Rajasthan. He is the fifth richest person in the world, and the richest Indian with a fortune of US $32 billion according to Forbes magazine. K.P. Singh who was born in Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh and based in Delhi has a fortune estimated to be about US $21 Billion according to Forbes magazine, his real estate empire called DLF Universal spans all across the NCT of Delhi. Subhash Chandra a billionaire Indian businessman & media tycoon and owner of several private TV channels in India called Zee Telefilms, was born in small village in Hissar, Haryana in North India. Sahara India a company having its roots in Uttar Pradesh is worth US $ 10.87 billion is owned by most influential and powerful businessman from North India known as Subroto Roy with business interest in finance, real estate, civil aviation and media.

People

In the last thousand years or so, northern India was subjected to more invasions from neighbouring kingdoms than any other region of India. Indeed, such invasions have left a major mark on the cultural and linguistic traditions of North India. However, genetically, northern Indians are closer to South/East/West Indians than other neighbouring nations or Europeans. In spite of repeated invasions northern India was quite resilient and re-built itself rather quickly. Indeed, the languages of northern India are preponderantly Indo-Aryan, and it is in this region that Sanskrit and the various Prakrits are thought to have first found a home in India.
In terms of religion, northern India is generally speaking a stronghold of Vaishnava sects of Hinduism; Shaktism and Shaivism. Northern Indians generally believe in unity of God and that Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma constitute the ''trīmurtī'', or trinity.
India's Capital Delhi is located in North India and is the most culturally diverse region in the country. The per capita income is 2.5 times the national average. The literacy rate is also one of the highest in the country. Taj Mahal is located in Agra is one of the seven wonders of the world is a major tourist attraction along with Varanasi, Jaipur and Kashmir. Punjab produces much of india's staple food crops is an integral part of northen India. North India is also a centre for world renowned universities and Colleges and centre of excellence namely, All India Institute of Medical sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi University, Indian Institute of Management & Punjab University Chandigarh. Gurgaon and Haryana is one of the fastest developing regions in India with the presence of several Multinational companies, American call centers and Business process outsourcing Industry.

Geography

Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula. Towards its North are the Himalayas which largely define the boundary between India and China. To its west is the Thar desert and the Aravalli hills. The Vindhya mountains are generally taken to be the southern boundary of northern India.
The predominant geographical feature of northern India is the Indo-Gangetic plain which spans the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and supports more than half the regions population. The melting of glaciers in the summer and the monsoon rains ensure that the Ganges and its tributaries are perennial, this along with the fertile alluvial nature of the soil have historically been able to be support increasing populations. Additionally, the plains in Punjab and Harayan support large populations there.
The Thar desert is an arid and semi-arid region that receives very little rain from the monsoons. The state of Madhya Pradesh has large areas under forest cover as do Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh. ^[2] The state of Jammu and Kashmir is generally mountainous and only supports a population of around 6 million people.

Economy

The economy of northern India, especially the region surrounding is growing at a remarkable pace. The economy of this region is predominantly agrarian like other parts of the country; culturally, socially and historically the country has always been defined by its village societies. But with the rapid growth of more than 8% GDP per annum, the economic landscape is changing fast.
Historically, Delhi has always been the economic capital of Northern India. In the early 19th century, Delhi started to gain importance in arts and craft, textile and handloom. The period saw an expansion of many small scale industries by the end of the 19th century, Delhi had become the manufacturing hub of Northern India.
In recent years, Delhi's service sector has expanded exponentially. The city's large English-speaking skilled labor has attracted many multi-national companies to Delhi.With an estimated net State Domestic Product (SDP) of 83,085 crores (830.85 billion) Indian rupee (INR) (for the year 2004–05), Delhi is an important commercial center in South Asia. Delhi has a per capita income of 53,976 INR which is around 2.5 times the national average. The tertiary sector contributes 70.95% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 25.2% and 3.85% contribution respectively. Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism. Many multinational companies have set up their headquarters in Delhi and adjoining cities. In the year 2002, the New Delhi Metro opened, running in the urban area. Keeping pace with globalization, there are many discotheques and dance clubs. Delhi is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Asia. Delhi has a population of more than 15 million people (2005 est.) and a literacy rate of 78.5% . It is the 3rd largest metropolitan area in India after Mumbai and Kolkata.

Uttar Pradesh is the second largest economy in India after Maharashtra and most populous State with a population of 170 million people. Uttar Pradesh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is USD 339.5 billion by PPP and USD 80.9 billion by nominal. It has an even bigger economy than many of the world's big economic nations such as Israel, Switzerland and Hong Kong in terms of GDP measured in Purchasing Power Parity. Uttar Pradesh is the IT hub of North India with software exports next to Karanataka. But unlike South Indian States it is limited to particular areas only like NOIDA, Greater NOIDA and Ghaziabad etc. Uttar Pradesh have booming electronics industries especially in UP-Delhi-NCR and twin cities of Lucknow and Kanpur.
NOIDA, a city in Uttar Pradesh, North India has emerged as an Industrial landscape of the country. It is a part of the National Capital Region (NCR) with most sectors fully developed.
Noida offers a pollution free high standard of living and highly supportive industrial environment. Software Technology Park of India, Noida is one of the key centers in India, acting as a key contributor to NCR emerging as an IT destination. It has acted as the nodal center for other software technology parks in north and central India. Noida has become a hub for multinational firms outsourcing IT services. It is fast emerging as a hub for automobile ancillary units. Commercial activities have also risen in the past couple of years due to a sudden growth in malls and multiplexes.
Ghaziabad is primarily an industrial city situated in Uttar Pradesh, North India. It is a large industrial city well-connected by roads and railways. Recently a number of malls and multiplexes have come up in the city and the roads are being improved by construction and widening of flyovers. These developments have also led to it being featured in Newsweek International as one of the 10 most dynamic cities of the world for 2006. It has industries manufacturing railway coaches, diesel engines, electroplating, bicycles, picture tubes, tapestries, glassware, pottery, vegetable oil, paint and varnish, heavy chains, automobile pistons & rings, steel, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, liquor etc. The new industry sector upcoming in Ghaziabad is of Hi-Tech Plant growth boosters. It is also the home to Advanced Level Telecommunication Training Centre
Kanpur, a largest city in Uttar Pradesh, North India is an important industrial city for nearly two centuries. Kanpur is an important center for India's leather industry with numerous leading manufacturers, situated in the Jajmau Leather Industrial hub, which is exported worldwide. It is supposed to be the largest Sugar market in entire North India. As of now, the city also owns many leather tanneries, a two wheeler factory owned by LML India, under collaboration with Italy's Piaggio; and over a dozen Defence Ordnance Factories such as Small-Arms Factory, Ordnance Parachute Factory etc. Owing to its industrial importance one of the Reserve Bank of India was established in the city. Major industries includes detergents & chemical manufacturing, food processing,
pan masala, tea packaging, textile, leather processing, computer and information technology. Kanpur is home to several most prestigious educational institutions of the country, including one of the Indian Institutes of Technology, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute and and GSVM Medical College.
Lucknow Capital of Uttar Pradesh in North India is not only a major market in Northern India but is also an emerging hub for producers of goods and services with very promising potential. Being the capital the Government departments, the public sector undertakings are the principal employers of the salaried middle class. Today, Lucknow is a vibrant city that is witnessing an economic boom and is among the top ten fastest growing non-metropolitan cities of India.
Chandigarh is a capital of Punjab, North India is fast becoming one of the most preferred destinations for technology companies, in the country, especially since it boasts of an excellent quality of life, and huge base of Human Resources and proactive policies of the Administration which are conducive to such investment. Chandigarh’s economy is changing in character as the knowledge revolution sweeps the country. There has been a decline in traditional industrial activity in Chandigarh and a rapid increase in activity relating to the services sector. This is a especially evident in the fields of financial services, IT Services, Insurance Services, Hospitality, Health and Education services.
Ludhiana is known as the "Manchester of Punjab" because it is the industrial hub of Punjab. There are 8 large integrated knitwear factories, roughly 6,000 small to medium sized knitwear factories, 10 big hosiery yarn mills and 150 small- to medium-sized worsted and woolen yarns. There are also firms manufacturing bicycles (Avon Bicycles, Hero Cycles Ltd, Eastman Industries Ltd), motorcycle parts, machine tools, sewing machines, generators, diesel engines, tires & tubes, and other consumer goods. The export market in Ludhiana is worth $40 million USD. Ludhiana is becoming a hub of auto parts manufacturing. Ludhiana is also home of communication tycoon and billionaire industralist Sunil Mittal CEO of Bharti Airtel.
Gurgaon a city in Haryana, North India is best known as one of India's most prominent outsourcing and offshoring hubs, though the distribution of companies seems heavily skewed towards the non-IT services. The outsourcing boom has led to a rapid growth in employment prospects and local wages, leading to a mushrooming of shopping malls, swank restaurants and entertainment facilities. Demand for such lifestyle options is driven by the demographic shift to a younger, more cosmopolitan, more affluent and better educated population.Gurgaon is also the headquarters of two biggest automobile manufacturers in India, Hero Honda and Maruti Udyog which manufactures India's best selling cars . Moreover, a number of BPO and call centers have come up over the last couple of years.
Jamshedpur in Bihar is home to the first private Iron and Steel company of India, Tata Steel, and is commonly called "Tata" as a result of the company's significant presence. The areas surrounding Jamshedpur are rich in minerals, including iron ore, coal, manganese and lime. Some of these areas are Jamadoba, Noamundi and West Bokaro. It is a modern, industrial city; the main industries being iron and steel, truck manufacturing, tinplate production, cement and other small and medium scale industries revolving around these products. The largest factory is that of Tata Steel, and it is situated almost at the center of the city. Tata steel is the biggest iron and steel producing plant in India, as well as the oldest. Plans have been made for the expansion of Tata Steel's existing plant at Jamshedpur from 5 million tonnes per annum to 10 million tonnes per annum. The steel plant still covers around a fourth of the land area of Jamshedpur. The other major factory in the city is Tata Motors, which manufactures heavy vehicles & construction/earth moving equipment.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh is important centre for industrial manufacturing in North India. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India, has a unit in Bhopal. It occupies a large area on the eastern side of the city and maintains a suburb named after it. Mandideep is an industrial suburb of Bhopal, it houses a number of plants belonging to some of the reputed companies of India like Procter & Gamble, Fujitsu, Eicher, L&T, HEG and VA Tech Hydro. An North Western suburb of Bhopal, Bairagarh, which was earlier a camp for Sindhi refugees, has developed into market for textiles. Bhopal is also home to the Bhaskar Group which is US $425 Million business conglomerate with strong presence in newspapers, television, entertainment, printing, textiles, fast moving consumer goods, oils, solvents and internet services. Manjul Publishing House, located in the old city, is a major publishing house made famous by the translation of the Harry Potter series of novels into Indian Languages.

References

★ Demographics of India

★ FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA - STATE OF FOREST REPORT 2003
1. Demographics of India
2. FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA - STATE OF FOREST REPORT 2003

External links

★ Ampur: A Virtual Village

★ More Info about Northern India

★ North India - New Delhi (Capital) City Guide

See also

★ South India

★ North-East India

★ West India

★ East India

★ Hindi belt