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Belgian Amiga Club - ADF Collection
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BS1 part 27
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WorldAtlas2_d2.adf
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TEXTA
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1990-04-02
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India is one of the worlds oldest civilizations. Dating back
over 5,000 years, Aryan tribes, speaking Sanskrit invaded the
area from the northwest around 1500 BC and merged with existing
peoples to form the typical Indian civilization. During the
Gupta Kingdom, from the 4th to 6th Centuries, Hinduism was
revived and introduced to the population. During this time,
science, literature, mathematics and arts enjoyed greater
acceptance and emphasis. In the 8th Century, Moslem invaders
established colonies in western India, and by 1200 AD, Turkish
Moslems controlled much of northern India. From 1498 to 1503,
Vasco de Gama established Portuguese trading posts. The Dutch
followed and shortly afterward, the British East India Company in
1609 set up operation and gained control of much of India. By
1828, British rule was legalized by parliament and under Lord
Bentinck, control of the country was consolidated. After World
War I, Indian nationalism grew, with the birth of the Indian
National Congress and the Moslem League. Mohandas K. Gandhi
(Called Mahatma or Great Soul) began advocating self-rule, with
non-violence and the removal of the caste system in 1919. By
1930 civil disobedience was launched, including the boycott of
British goods and rejection of taxation. In 1935, Britain gave
India a constitution providing for a bicameral (two house)
legislature. On August 15, 1947, India was partitioned into two
countries, Moslem Pakistan and Hindu India. More than 12 million
people crossed the frontier between India and Pakistan and more
than 200,000 people were killed in regional fighting between the
religious groups. On August 9, 1971, India and the Soviet Union
signed a friendship pact while relations between India and the
United States faltered. On December 3, 1971, India and Pakistan
went to War. On December 16th, troops of East Pakistan (Now
Bangladesh) surrendered and a cease fire was declared. By August
1973, India agreed to release 93,000 Pakistani who had been taken
prisoner during the war. Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi
became the second Prime Minister of India on January 19, 1966.
She consolidated much power and attempted to modernize and
industrialize India. On October 31, 1984 Gandhi was assassinated
by Sikh extremists. On December 3, 1984, methyl isocyanate,
escaped from a chemical tank owned by the Union Carbide Company,
killing 2,500. It was the worlds worst chemical and industrial
disaster. During 1986 and 1987, Sikh extremists ignited several
clashes with Indian troops in the northern state of the Punjab.
By the end of 1987, the Punjab was brought under central
government control. @