india the up coming economic giant background indus valley civilization one of oldest in world dates back at least 5 000 years aryan tribes from northwest invaded about 1500 bc their merger with earlier dravidian inhabitants created classical indian culture arab incursions starting 8th century and turkish 12th were followed by those european traders beginning late 15th 19th britain had assumed political control virtually all lands armed forces british army played a vital role both wars nonviolent resistance to colonialism led mohandas gandhi jawaharlal nehru brought independence 1947 subcontinent was divided into secular state pakistan third war between two countries 1971 resulted east becoming separate nation bangladesh despite impressive gains investment output faces pressing problems such as ongoing dispute over kashmir massive overpopulation environmental degradation extensive poverty ethnic religious strife location southern asia bordering arabian sea bay bengal burma area total 3 287 590 sq
