North India

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Northern India (Hindi: उत्तर भारत, Uttar Bhārat; Urdu: شمالی ھندوستان, Shumālī Hindustān) is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominant geographical features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia. North India has been the historical center of the Maurya, Gupta, Mughal and British Indian Empires. It has a diverse culture, and includes the Hindu pilgrimage centers of Char Dham, Haridwar and Varanasi, the Muslim pilgrimage destination of Ajmer, as well as world heritage sites such as the Mahabodhi Temple, Humayun's Tomb and the Taj Mahal. Under some definitions of the region, the eastern areas are part of the impoverished Red corridor region that faces significant development challenges.

[edit] Definitions

Different authorities and sources in literature define Northern India differently.

[edit] Government of India definition

The Government of India defines the North India Cultural Zone as including the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh.^[1] There is a neighboring region, called the North Central India Cultural Zone, including the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, that is also defined by the Indian Government.^[2] The states of Bihar and Jharkhand are also included in the East India Cultural Zone,^[3] and some publications of the Government of Bihar place that state in the eastern part of India as well.^[4] Similarly, Rajasthan is also included in the West India Cultural Zone,^[5] and the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are also included in the South Central India Cultural Zone.^[2]

[edit] Linguistic definition

Indo-Aryan languages predominate in Northern India. A large part of Northern India forms the so-called Hindi Heartland, where Hindi and related languages predominate. Prior to the Partition of India, this included the Pakistani provinces of Sindh^[6] and Punjab, and the eastern portion of the North West Frontier Province up to Peshawar valley where Punjabi dialects and Hindko are spoken.^[7] This effectively excludes several of the seven North-East states (except for Assam and Sikkim).

Vasudeva I (c. 200CE) was the last great Kushan king of North India and Bactria. One side of this coin shows him, and the other the Nandi bull with a trishul-holding divinity that combines aspects of the Hindu God Shiva and the Zoroastrian divinity Vayu-Vata. After him, the Indo-Sassanids displaced Kushan rule in North India.

[edit] "North of the Vindhyas"

One traditional demarcation between Northern and Southern India is the Vindhya mountain range, which has sometimes formed a border during periods of imperial expansion in India, such as the one ruled by the Gupta emperor Samudragupta.^[8] The Vindhyas also find mention in the narrative of Rishi Agastya as a dividing feature between North and South India.^[9] If extended employing the Narmada River and Mahanadi River, a dividing line across India can be formed.

[edit] Muslim, Central Asian and Persian impacts as defining influences

Several sources consider sizable Muslim populations and deep-seated Islamic, Central Asian and Persian influences to be defining characteristics of North Indian culture, both linguistically and culturally.^[10][11] Some of these influences are pre-Islamic, such as the Bactrian-originated Kushan Empire that maintained twin capitals in Mathura (now in Uttar Pradesh) and Peshawar (in the North West Frontier Province), as well as the Hun confederacies that periodically asserted their rule over large parts of Northern India.^[12]

[edit] Latitude-based definition

The Tropic of Cancer, which divides the temperate zone from the tropical zone in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, runs through India, and could theoretically be regarded as a geographical diving line in the country.^[13]

[edit] Anecdotal usage

The term "North Indian" is sometimes used to describe people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,often using the term bhaiya (which literally means 'elder brother') in a derogatory sense, though some press reports have contradicted this.^[14] In Punjab, people from the same region (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) are often referred to as Purabias, or Easterners.^[15] Within Uttar Pradesh itself, "the cultural divide between the east and the west is considerable, with the purabiyas (easterners) often being clubbed with Biharis in the perception of the westerners."^[16] Sometimes, Maharashtra and Bombay are anecdotally included in Northern India, including in Maharashtra state government publications, though it falls in Western India and is part of the Deccan region(which is traditionally Western/Southern India).^[17][18] Punjab is sometimes considered a north-western state,^{[citation needed]} as are Gujarat,^[19][20] Western parts of Uttar Pradesh^[21] and Madhya Pradesh.^[22]

[edit] Geography

Shilla (7026 m) above the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Northern India lies mainly on continental India, north of peninsular India. Towards its North are the Himalayas which define the boundary between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau. To its west is the Thar desert, shared between North India and Pakistan and the Aravalli Range, beyond which lies the state of Gujarat. The Vindhya mountains are, in some interpretations, taken to be the southern boundary of North India.

The predominant geographical features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic plain which spans the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab, the Himalayas which lie in the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and the Thar desert which lies mainly in the state of Rajasthan. The state of Madhya Pradesh has large areas under forest cover, as do Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh.^[15]

[edit] General climate

The Thar desert near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Northern India lies mainly in the north Temperate zone of the earth. Though cool or cold winters, hot summers and moderate monsoons are the general pattern, Northern India is one of the most climatically diverse regions on Earth. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −45 °C (−49 °F) in Dras, Jammu and Kashmir^[23] to 50.6 °C (123 °F) in Alwar, Rajasthan. Dras is the second coldest inhabited place on the planet.^[24]

[edit] Precipitation

The region receives rain and snow precipitation through two primary weather patterns: the Indian Monsoon and the Western Disturbances. The Monsoon carries moisture northwards from the Indian Ocean, occurs in late summer and is important to the Kharif or autumn harvest.^[25][26] Western Disturbances, on the other hand, are an extratropical weather phenomenon that carry moisture eastwards from the Mediterranean Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.^{[27][28][29][30]} They primarily occur during the winter season and are critically important for the Rabi or spring harvest, which includes the main staple over much of North India, wheat.^[28] The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand receive sustained snowfall in winter months.

[edit] Demographics

During the Scythian migrations around 100BC, a large part of North India was incorporated into the Scythian world.

Punjabi Sikh family from the North Indian state of Punjab, India

The people of Northern India are predominantly Indo-Aryan, and include various ethnic groups such as Jats, Rajputs, Gujjars, Ahirs, Khatris, Kambojs, Banias and Dalits.^[31][32][33] Over millennia, the region has experienced sustained incursions and immigration from the northwest, including the Indo-Scythians,^[34] Indo-Sassanids,^[35][36] Indo-Hephthalites,^[37][38] Kushans^[39][40] and Rohilla Pashtuns.

Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism are the dominant religions in North India. The states of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are overwhelmingly Hindu. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with a majority Muslim population, while Punjab is the only state with a majority Sikh population. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are predominantly Hindu with other minorities.

[edit] Languages

Distribution of Indo-Aryan languages.

Linguistically, Northern India is dominated by Indo-Aryan languages, although subregions of Dravidian languages (such as Bihar's Kurukh language), Tibeto-Burman languages (such as Himachal's Lahauli language) and Austro-Asiatic languages (such as Munda) exist throughout the region. It is in this region, or its proximity, that Sanskrit and the various Prakrits are thought to have evolved. Indo-Aryan languages native to Northern India include the Hindustani lingua franca (including both its Hindi and Urdu registers),^[41][42] a wide range of western and eastern Hindi dialects, Bihari languages (Bhojpuri, Magadhi and Maithili), Punjabi, Pahari languages, Kashmiri, and other languages. The Hindi-speaking subregion is sometimes called the Hindi Heartland or the Hindi Belt, and is loosely defined.

[edit] Communalism and ethnic tensions

Some reports and studies have indicated prejudice against people from North Eastern India,^[43][44] Bihar^{[45][46][47][48]} and South India^{[citation needed]} in this part of the country. These also include several incidences of local law enforcement authorities failing to provide security or themselves acting in a discriminatory manner, especially in Delhi.^[44][49]

[edit] Flora & Fauna

Chinkara in Madhya Pradesh, India

Northern Indian vegetation is predominantly deciduous and coniferous. Of the deciduous trees, sal, teak, walnut, sheesham (Indian rosewood) and poplar are some which are important commercially.^[50] The Western Himalayan region abounds in chir, pine, deodar (Himalayan cedar), blue pine, spruce, various firs, birch and junipers.^{[51][52][53][54]} The birch, especially, has historical significance in Indian culture due to the extensive use of birch paper (Sanskrit:bhurja patra) as parchment for many ancient Indian texts.^[55][56] The Eastern Himalayan region consists of oaks, laurels, maples, rhododendrons, alder, birch and dwarf willows. Reflecting the diverse climatic zones and terrain contained in the region, the floral variety is extensive and ranges from Alpine to temperate thorn, coniferous to evergreen, and thick tropical jungles to cool temperate woods.^[51][57][58]

There are around 500 varieties of mammals, 2000 species of birds and 30,000 types of insects and a wide variety of fish, amphibians and reptiles are found in the country. The animal species in Northern India includes Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Sambar, Chital, Hog Deer, Porcupine, Wild Pig, Fox and Rhesus Monkeys, highly endangered Caracal, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Langur, Spotted Deer, Indian Gazelle, Sambar (Asiatic stag) and Nilgai (blue bull).

A large number of snake species, lizards, ghariyal and crocodiles account for the reptile count.^[59] Snakes include the deadly King cobras to the equally poisonous Kraits. Various scorpion, spider and insects species, include the commercially useful honeybees, silkworms and Lac insects.

The birds of Northern India includes the peacock to the parrots, and thousands of immigrant birds, such as the Siberian Crane. Common Indian birds are Pheasants, Geese Ducks, Mynahs, Parakeets, Pigeons, Cranes, and Hornbills. Great pied hornbill, Pallas's fishing eagle, Grey-headed fishing eagle, Red-thighed Falconet are some of the endangered birds found in Himalyan region. Other birds found in this region are Tawny Fish Owl, Great Hornbill, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Stork-billed Kingfisher and Himalayan Rubythroat. ^{[60] [61]}

The most important National Parks and Tiger reserves of North India include -

Jim Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park: It was established in 1936 along the banks of the Ramganga River. It is India's first National Park, and was designated a Project Tiger Reserve in the year 1973. Cradled in the foothills of the Himalayas, it comprises a total area of 500 km² out of which 350 km² is core reserve. This park is known not only for its rich and varied wildlife but also for its scenic beauty.

Kanha National Park: The sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha were the setting for Rudyard Kipling's collection of stories, "The Jungle Book". The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under Project Tiger.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: It is one of the finest bird parks in the world, it is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar.

Dudhwa National Park: It covers an area of 500 km² along the Indo-Nepal border in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, is best known for the Barasingha or Swamp Deer. The grasslands and woodlands of this park, consist mainly of sal forests. The barasingha is found in the southwest and southeast regions of the park. Among the big cats, tigers abound at Dudhwa. There are also a few leopards. The other animals found in large numbers, are the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and the wild elephant, jungle cats, leopard cats, fishing cats, jackals, civets, sloth bears, sambar, otters, crocodiles and chital.

Ranthambhore National Park: It spans an area of 400 km² with an estimated head count of thirty two tigers is perhaps India’s finest example of Project Tiger, a conservation effort started by the government in an attempt to save the dwindling number of tigers in India. Situated near the small town of Sawai Madhopur it boasts of variety of plant and animal species of Northern India.

[edit] Political parties from North India

Northern India had played a very vital role in the formation of Government in India with large number of seats in the lower house of parliament. The major political parties are Indian National Congress, BJP, Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Nehru-Gandhi family which has governed India for last few decades after Independence from British rule hails from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Many Indian Prime Ministers were Northern Indians including the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Gulzarilal Nanda, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, V P Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandra Shekhar, I K Gujral and the present PM Dr Manmohan Singh. ^[62]

[edit] Universities in North India

Northern India has several universities and centres of excellence namely, Haryana Agricultural University, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Agra University, Aligarh Muslim University, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Allahabad University, Benaras Hindu University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Delhi University, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Kanpur University, Kurukshetra University, and Punjab University. The world renowned Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management, have campuses in several cities of Northern India such as Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Lucknow, Indore, and Ahmadabad. One of the first great universities in recorded history, the Nalanda University, is located in the state of Bihar. There has been various plans for revival of this ancient University including a consortium led by Singapore along with China, India and Japan.

[edit] Economy

The economy of northern India, 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. Several parts of North India have prospered as a consequence of the Green Revolution, including Haryana, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh, and experienced both economic and social development.^[63][64][65] The eastern areas of East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, however, have lagged^[66][67] and the resulting disparity has, in the case of Uttar Pradesh, contributed to a demand for separate statehood in West Uttar Pradesh (the Harit Pradesh movement).^[68][69]

The highest per capita income states in Northern India include Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh.^[70] Reflecting the prosperity of the western part of North India, Chandigarh has the highest per-capita State Domestic Product (SDP) of any Indian state or union territory, while Delhi and Haryana rank second and third (after Goa) among the states (see main article: States of India by size of economy).^[71] On the eastern flank, Bihar has the lowest per-capita SDP of any Indian state. The region contains both Himachal Pradesh, which is one of India's most literate states (fourth after Mizoram, Kerala and Goa in decreasing rank, see main article: Indian states ranking by literacy rate) as well as Bihar, which is India's least literate state.^[72]

[edit] References and bibliography

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[edit] External links

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[edit] See also

• India
• South India
• North-East India
• West India
• East India
• Central India