Fact 1: The Land of Many Languages
India is a country of tremendous diversity, and nowhere is this more evident than in its languages. It's not just bilingual but multilingual! Amazingly, more than 1,600 dialects are spoken across the various regions of the country. The constitution recognizes 22 major languages which include Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu, among others.
Fact 2: The Birthplace of Zero
Ancient Indians were pioneers in numerous fields, including mathematics. The concept of 'zero' as a number and its use in algebra is attributed to the ancient Indian mathematician, Brahmagupta. In the text Brahmasphutasiddhanta written in 628 A.D., he proposed the symbol for zero (0) and it's this very concept that forms the foundation of many mathematical theories today.
Fact 3: The Largest Gathering of Humans
The largest peaceful gathering of humans in the world, the Kumbh Mela, takes place in India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage that occurs every 12 years and attracts millions of people from around the globe. In 2013, the gathering was so immense that it was visible from space!
Fact 4: India's Varied Wildlife
India is home to an intricate ecosystem that hosts some of the world’s most exotic wildlife. India houses over 7.6% of mammal, 12.6% of bird, and 6.2% of reptile species in the world. It's the only country where you can see both lions in Gir forest, Gujarat, and tigers in the Bengal region.
Fact 5: The World's Second Largest English Speaking Country
India is the world's second-largest English-speaking country in terms of the number of people who speak the language. Over 125 million people in India speak English, which comes second only to the USA.
Fact 6: Diamond Origins
India was the only source of diamonds in the world until the 19th century. The famous Koh-I-Noor diamond, now a part of the British Crown Jewels, also originates from India.
Fact 7: Home to the World's Biggest Family
Indian man Ziona Chana holds the Guinness World Record for heading the world's biggest family. He had 39 wives, 94 children, and 33 grandchildren, all living under the same roof until his demise in 2021.
Fact 8: The Wettest Inhabited Place On Earth
Mawsynram, a village in the state of Meghalaya, is recognized as the wettest inhabited place on Earth. It receives an annual rainfall of approximately 11,872 millimeters!
Fact 9: First University in the World
With its rich historical roots, India was home to the world's first university. Established in 700 BC, Takshashila University, was the global hub for education, where over 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects.
Fact 10: World's Largest Producer of Spices
India is the world's largest producer and consumer of spices. It produces about 70% of the world's spices and is known for its fragrant and flavourful variety.
Fact 11: Chess was Invented Here
The game of chess, known as 'Chaturanga,' was actually invented in India. The game, as we know it today, evolved from this 6th-century strategy board game.
Fact 12: India’s Rich Epics
Two of the longest epic poems in the world, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, hail from India. The Mahabharata, especially, is approximately 1.8 million words long!
Fact 13: Polo's Birthplace
The king of sports, Polo, originated in Northeast India in Manipur, where it was played as Sagol Kangjei. The British discovered it in the 19th century and modified it to the game we know today.
Fact 14: The Highest Cricket Ground
Situated at an altitude of 2,444 meters, the Chail Cricket Ground in Chail, Himachal Pradesh is the highest cricket ground in the world.
Fact 15: The First Country to Consume Sugar
India was the first country to develop the technique of extracting and purifying sugar. By the 6th Century AD, Indians were making crystallized sugar, and the knowledge spread to other parts of the world through trade.
Fact 16: The Invention of Shampoo
While shampoo is used daily worldwide, few people know that the concept originated in India in the 16th century. The Sanskrit word champu, meaning 'massage', led to the development of 'Shampoo'.
Fact 17: No Divorce in Some Communities
In certain Indian tribes such as the Meghalaya's Khasi and Garo tribes, a separated couple cannot remarry, illustrating the robust marital bonds within these communities.
Fact 18: Over 300,000 Mosques
India is home to over 300,000 mosques, which exceeds the number found in any of the Muslim-majority countries.
Fact 19: Varanasi: One of the World’s Oldest Inhabited Cities
With its historical significance dating back to the 11th century B.C., Varanasi (also known as Benaras) is one of the oldest still inhabited cities in the world.
Fact 20: Indian Railways: One of the World's Largest Employers
Indian Railways is one of the world's largest employers, with over a million employees. It is the fourth largest railway network in the world with more than 121,000 kilometers of tracks over a route of 67,000 kilometers.