India

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India profile

Over one billion people

18 languages officially recognized in the constitution, and 1600 other dialects spoken

16 languages used on each printed note...now all picturing Mahatma Ghandi

80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2% Christian, 2% Sikh, 1% Buddhist, and 1% other.

16% of the world population with 2% of the world's land

25% of the worlds poor, 25% of childbirth related deaths in the world.

India is full-on and in your face as many travelers describe it. Everywhere seems to be like a giant ant colony with people crawling on everything - so busy. It is a most amazing place. One of if not the oldest spoken and language still being used - Sanskrit. India is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism - a significant portion of the rest of the world practice these two.

How to speak Indian: very quickly in India you find that EVERY kid can speak these fine phrases in English:

which country?

your name?

one rupee? (much larger denominations may also be substituted)

one pen?

one sweet?

one chocolate?

OK, one rupee!