TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRINCIPALS ADDRESS. TEAM OF HORIZON ABOUT B. COM. ACCOUNTING. & FINANACE DEPARTMENT. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. RESULTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

DIAMONDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

STUDENTS ARTICLES:

Communication and Presentation Skills Is Corruption in our DNA???? Indian Accountancy Profession Today and Tomorrow Life is a Race Ten Secrets of Success Modern Manners in Digital Era Nokia Mobile Phone The Profile India -61 Interesting Facts Be Architect of Your Destiny Time Management BPO-Shodhvedh Research Project

FROM THE DESK OF PRINCIPAL In House Journal is a regular practice of Accounting & Finance

Department of our college. This year, the journal prepared by the students is more informative and qualitative than previous one. The students have collected the information from the various sources and presented in an attractive way for which they deserve complements. Year after year the faculty members and students seem to be involved in this activity with more and more interest. The overall presentation of the journal is also attractive. Industrial visits, projects and assignments are done in this department for helping the students to learn the various soft skills essential for their successful future. B.Com Accounting and Finance is a vocational undergraduate programme specially started by the college to impart vocational skills and this journal is one of the proofs that show the students are moving towards right direction. Hence, I congratulate the faculty and students for this good

attempt. I hope this will continue in future also. Dr. S.A.Deo , PRINCIPAL.

OUR FACULTY MEMBERS

Vice Principal (Commerce Faculty)
Mr.B.K. Ghate
M.Com.,C.A., AICWA. SET,

Coordinator of the Department

Mr.M.R.Sakhalkar
M.Com.,LLB., AICWA., SET.

Head of the Department

Mr.M.K Kelkar
M.Com.,D.B.M.,SET .

Faculty Members
Mrs.S.J.Memon Mrs .H.S.Patwardhan Miss N.R.Mahajan Mr.P.R.Gavkhadkar Mrs. S. P. Ghodake
M.Com.SET, ICWAI (Group 1) B.A.,I.T.(Diploma) M.Com , DBM M.Com , GDCA B.Sc.,MPM

Mr. D.R.Walawalkar. M.A.,M.Ed. Miss. S.R.Kulkarni. M.Sc. (Maths) Mrs.Gauri P Patwardhan M.Sc. (Maths)

About

B.com.

Accounting &

Finance Department
For the previous years in house journal we got good response and appreciation from the principal of our college, Deo sir, which was really motivating for the whole team of Horizone. So this year also, after great efforts and dedication we are presenting this journal in an innovative way. Firstly something about the department of Accounting & Finance. Advanced Accounting is getting more and more importance now-a-days. The field of Accounting and Finance
provides a number of opportunities and career options in industry and commerce. So to make available such opportunities to students and to impart them professional approach in modern accounting and finance sector, our college has started B.com Accounting Finance this course on 7th July, 2004 with a batch of 7 students and presently the strength of our department is 126 students.

Objectives of the Department:

1. To provide adequate basic understanding Accountancy and Finance to students. about

To exploit opportunities being newly created in modern accounting. 3. To provide guidance for application of accounting theory in practice. 4. To inculcate training in the modern technology for the benefits of all parties concerned.
2.

Activities of the Department

Industrial Visits:
Year 2004-

Honey Bee Breeding Centre,Mahabaleshwar.

Year 2005-

Icent Pharmaceutical Company & Pune Radio Centre,Pune.

Year 2006-

KORE Sugar FACTORY& Dairy,Warana Nagar.

Year 2007-

Chitale Automatised Dairy,Bhilvadi,Sangali.

Year 2008-

Sunflex Pipes Private Ltd., Ichalkaranji.

Year 2009-

Pepsi co. Holdings Private Ltd., Roha.

Year 2010 -

Ahshok Layland,Pune. Mapro Industries,Panchgani Sanjay Ghodawat group of Industries, Jamshedpur

Year 2011-

Personality Development Programmes:

On the job training programmes during vacation period. Guidance about various professional. examinations like C.A., I.C. W.A., C.S., M.B.A. etc. Guidance for improving communication Skill. Welcome Party & Send off Party Arrangement of guest lectures. Preparation of yearly in-house journal. Local- industrial and institutional visits.

STUDENTS SUPPORT FACILITY

Departmental Library. Book Bank Facility. Students Aid Fund. Counseling of students Campus Interviews

Results of Our Department

YEAR

Percentage

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

100% 100% 91% 94% 95%

Rankers of 2010-2011
F.Y B.Com.-Acc. & Fin.

1st Rank : Pranali Dhamapurkar 86.57% 2ndRank: Rajeshwari Joshi 3rd Rank: Rupesh Horambe 84.00%
SY B.Com.-Acc. & Fin .

84.67%

1st Rank: Shradha Bait 82.00% 2nd Rank: Shushant Dange 82.00% 3rd Rank: Purva Patne
T Y B.Com.-Acc. & Fin.

80.00%

1st Rank: 82.00% 2nd Rank: 3rd Rank: 80.00%

Sadaf Munshi Prachi Bhosale Sonam Ayare 80.00%

Diamonds of our Department

T.Y.Batch 2010-2011 Sem.VI
Name of the Student Sadaf Munshi Hrishikesh Palsudesai Pranali Chavan Prachi Bhosale Sadaf Munshi Kashif Patel Subject Cost Accounting Cost Accounting Financial Accounting Taxation Management Accounting Auditing Marks 90 90 88 91 85 74

Is Corruption In Our DNA?

"If Central government releases one rupee for poor, only 10 paisa reaches them." These famous words by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made during the Congress Plenary Session in Bombay are as pertinent today as they were then. Alas, all the talk of growth and the rising India story has got overshadowed by ever mounting charges of corruption involving the high and mighty. But as we look back, is not it time to ask ourselves whether corruption is in our DNA? Stigma of corruption is not new in our country as the history of corruption post independence started with the jeep scam in 1948. In the jeep scandal VK Krishna Menon, who was high commissioner in Britain, had allegedly made a deal with foreign company for army jeeps by crossing the regulations. He had allegedly made the deal of Rs. 80,00,000 and this was found out in 1955 when he was in the cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Since then, there have been numerous corruption cases unearthed within the country. However, the recent few years have seen the digging out of major corruption cases. Many people have named these years as the 'season of seams'. In this 'season of seams', many senior politicians and bureaucrats have been named in corruption cases. As per the Transparency International ranking of nations based on the level of corruption India slipped to 87th spot in 2010 from 84th in 2009. World Bank also argued in its latest report - "India aid programmes are beset by corruption, bad administration and under-payments." As per 'Doing Business India' report, India ranks 134 out of 183 countries on World Bank's index of ease of doing business. As per 'India Forensic Study', in last decade corruption cost India Rs.1555 thousand crore. KPMG survey on corruption pointed out outrage of 'aam aadmi'. KPMG survey claimed "90% of respondents felt that corruption negatively impacts the performance of stock markets by increasing volatility and prevents institutional investors from making long term investments." After corruption, the second most talked thing today is black money parked by Indian nationals in foreign tax heavens. With no consensus on amount of money parked in tax havens everyone has a different opinion on black money. The Swiss Bank report which came in 2006 claimed that black money deposit in Swiss Bank is US $ 1.4 trillion which is largest from any nation in the world. While Professor R Vaidyanathan claimed this figures stood over Rs 7,280,000 crores (USD $ 1.4 trillion), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) claims it to be around Rs 25,00,000 crore,

Quotes on Corruption

"Corruption was a global phenomenon. So it is not possible to eradicate corruption" - Third Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi (1980-1984). "I found it harder to clean up corruption than it is when you are on the other side, talking about it rather than having to do it" - Sixth Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (19841989). "If Central government release one rupee for poor, only 10 paise reaches tliem." - Sixth Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989). "Corruption was like diabetes. It can be controlled but cannot be eradicated" -11th Prime Minister of India, HD Deve Gowda (1996-1997). "There is no scarcity of resources in our country, but these are not used properly from the panchayat level to Parliament as the main obstacle is corruption,"- Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998 -2004). "It is time to realise that crime and corruption do not pay. These fragment the society and the economy becomes directionless," -11th President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. "It is wrong for anyone to assume there is a magic wand which will lead to an instant solution of these (corruption) difficult societal problems. We need systemic reforms," Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh (Since 2004). "Corruption was a sickness in our system that needs to be fought" - UP A Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. "We have to look into this issue (corruption) in a collective way. Stringent action against corruption is needed. Punishment should be within six months, instead of 20 years," Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi.

Following a glorious tradition of professional excellence, the institute of professional accountants has completed its 62 years of its glorious existence. On 1st July 2011. It is national event and historic event which detect us the skillful journey of accountancy profession. It is the thing that we should be proud of when the Indian accountancy profession ponders over the past, present and the future, it feels both triumphant and secure about its today and tomorrow. Having resolutely upheld the professionals indomitable spirit of excellence, integrity and independence. No doubt the twin of independence and integrity combined with technical excellence are the hallmark of Indian accountancy profession. One of our known institutes ICAI has indeed come a long way since its foundation and today it is second largest accounting body in the world with more than 1,70,000 members across the world. From traditional bean counters our accountants have now metamorphosed into multidimensional professionals offering complete business solutions in an increasingly intensifying knowledge economy. The faith placed in Indian accountancy profession by Indian legislature has in fact grown manifold ever since and accountants has immerged as an institution of public trusts.

Indian Accountancy ProfessionToday and Tomorrow

Commercials today are not only regarded as the backbone of Indian financial system but also the conscience keepers of Indian economy. They are the integral part of Indias success story with their growing capacities as information and decision specialist, and as strong bridge between fiscal administration and business community. they have so far been at the forefront of the ever expanding horizons of Indian economy, assuming new roles and responsibilities. They are ably meeting the challenges in the garb of emerging opportunities in domains of conveyance, XBRL, Internal Audit, Vat Audit, insurance and risk management, service tax, consultancy, international taxation, mergers and acquisitions, valuation, assurance, forensic accounting etc. But still there are miles to go. There are still many challenges to met many frontiers to be conquered and many histories to be made. It is the sheer pace of change that makes it a big challenge. In present hi-tech era of liberalization, privatization & globalization with ever increasing stress on disclosures & accountability which has put sharper focus on role of accountancy. The professional need to anticipate the changes and look at the future and be prepared for it. We must recall the famous saying by Charlas Darwin that, It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the intelligent but one must responsive to change. Marcel Proust has rightly said that The real act of discovery consist not in finding new lands but with seeing it with new eyes. They need to be innovative and tech-savvy, need to learn to unlearn and to relearn and need to build domain expertise and specializations as the days of generalists getting over. It is about the higher end intellectual capacity and that needs to come play memory in past it is finite but vision is future and it is infinite. As accounting profession enters in 63 years of service to nation its time to Indian accountancy profession to take a resolve to take continue serving the nation as a variable partner in nation building. In later and spirit and provide enlightened value-added services to the society. The

accountancy profession motto pride of service in preference to personal gain has to be lived up to the expectation of society at large. As the caption embodied in institute of C.A. emblem. One who is awake amongst those who are asleep needs to be justified today as well as tomorrow more than ever before.

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Swati S. Shedge S. Y. B.A.F.

From the early childhood we are imbued with this idea that life is a race & someone must win. The to strive to win is inherent in all of us to a greater of lesser degree. Perhaps we waste our time, our money, our mental & physical energies in following up the struggles & sharing in the the victories of others with more ability, more drive, more knowhow than ourselves. Perhaps we are satisfied to stand on the side & watch others run the race, engage in the struggle & fall on win as the case may be. Yet surely we are not content to go thought life just holding a watching brief. We too must be in the race, involved in the effort to achieve, Dreaming can be dangerous and plays a small part in any success. Look around do the job and enter the race that lies in your hand. Cease to envy others take a real look at yourself and weigh up your talents. No one has everything nor will everyone have. Everyone has something however small. Take stock of your talents, some have mental ability; others have health & physical strength, while many have a strong personality which can carry them swiftly along the road to achievement. You can be a winner in the place where you find yourself or in any niche you may work your way towards. The world may not shout your name aloud from house tops or print it in headlines but whatever you do, however small if you achieve then you are the winner.

Life is a Race!

What men want is not talent; It is the purpose; Not the power to achieve; But the will to be a winner.

Sonali Sawant

MODERN MANNERS-WHAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN THIS DIGITAL ERA

The world of new media blurs the line between what is rude and what is acceptable.Twenty-eight-year-old civil servant Mohamed Rafi attended a wedding with a twist - the bridegroom was up dating his facebook page throughout the whole affair. "I checked my facebook page quite often, so I saw his status updates. (The groom) was giving a blow- by-blow account of the wedding, like when he was making his costume change and how he was filling throughout, "says Mr. Rafi. Welcome to the strange new world of social networking, smart phones, and instant messaging, as well as the blurring of the boundaries between the real and the virtual, as well as the social and the professional. Others are simply calling it the new world of bad manners. With the rise of the tech-savvy generation, old fashioned notions of privacy and even shame appear to have been out stripped by the demands of online and real time communication. Ironically, as much as generation Y is technologically savvy, it is not necessarily astute when it come to business etiquette, says Mark Sparrow, Managing Director of recruiters Kelly services in Singapore. Shortened and abbreviated communication forms have become prevalent even in office e-mails, he adds. "They view using SMS speak as common place and as such, there have been

instances where in email correspondences they write as they would a text message. SMS stands for short message service, or texting as its commonly known. Some examples include "ppl" for people, and "cfm" for confirm. This lack of etiquette extends into the social realm as well, with everything from holiday snaps to lovers quarrels available to all online. Public Relation Executive Li Jiayi, 29, says, "I know a friend who will log on to facebook the minutes he wakes up and posts, good morning, Facebookers! And a minute or so after that I am having my Breakfast now. I mean, who cares?" Assistant professor Michael Netzley of Singapore Management University says much of this behavior is due to increased transparency and narcissism." "Everything we do could be on display and the web experience thus increasingly becomes more about me," he says. And while social networking websites are designed to share photos and updates, the barrier to exit is "extremely low." Assistant professor Mark centime of Singapore's Nan yang Technological University says, "Research shows that when we are communicating with other online, where the cues we have in face-to-face interaction are absent, we tend to express ourselves in more highly charged, less restrained ways. We are often more emotional and less polite." Prof Netzley adds this constant input from social media changes expectations. People expect us to interact with them online in the same way we interact offline. And just like in the real world, people sometimes take offence when we do not meet their expectations." So what are the rules governing the use of social media? For example, what is acceptable to post online and what is not?

How much time should you be spending on your mobile phone or twitter? "These channels are new and people are still learning to use them in a balanced and reasonable way.It is a social learning process and takes time. We are unlikely to find hard and fast rules here. BETTER MULTI-TASKERS When people are caught using their mobile phone during meetings, they often say that they are multi-tasking. And Women are perceived to be better as it than men. But is it true? A group of British researchers tasted the theory recently, reported Britain's Telegraph newspaper. The conclusion they come up with: Women are better at multi-tasking than men but it appears to depend on the task. They found that when women and men work on simple task such as searching for a key or doing easy maths problems,the women significantly outperformed the men. Psychologist Keith Laws, who led the research, gave 50 male and 50 female students eight minutes to perform three tasks at the same time,- doing simple maths problems, findings restaurants on a map on giving a strategy on how to search for a lost key in an imaginary field. As the performed the task the volunteers received a phone call they could either choose to answer or not. If they did answer, they were given an additional general knowledge test while they continued to carry out their other activities. While Women were able to do well in all four activities at once, men were, on average, worse when it comes to planning to search for the key.

It shows women are better at being able to stand back and reflect from a movement while they are juggling other things. GOOD ETIQUETTE AT THE WORKPLACE Is it appropriate to use emoticons and abbreviations in official e-mail? Yvonne Angelina, etiquette coach at the etiquette school Singapore, says emoticons and abbreviations should be avoided in formal situations, as they tend to have an informal and friendly feel to them. Senior corporate communications executive Victor Yen,30, uses emoticons in internal e-mail to set up meetings within a close circle of colleagues. His boss also uses emoticons in e-mail on areas of improvement, which he appreciates. "The written word can come across as harsh. Emoticons add an extra bit of cordiality to the conversions I feel my boss is friendlier and encourages a response in more positive way. It doesn't seem like we are being looked down upon," he says. Is it acceptable for the boss to send you a text message late at night? "Unless it is in your job description, leave it until the morning," says Cecellia Talks, associate consultant of Imageworkes. She says the only exception is when you have been notified regarding an urgent matter before hand and told to expect it. A give and take attitude should be adopted by both parties, she adds. For example, employees should not be sending e-mail or text message to the boss after midnight either.

What should you do when your boss wants to be friend you on facebook? "My first reaction was 'Is it really him!" says civil servant K.Teong, 33, who received a friend request from his boss more than a one year ago. Realizing that his boss was on a "friendadding spree" among his co-workers, he saw no harm in accepting the request. You may be trading into dangerous waters as you would then not be able to voice your opinion and criticisms of your workplace, colleagues and your boss on your wall posts. While Teong saw his boss as approachable, he saw more careful with his wall posting. His wariness grew after his boss posted a strong reaction to an article that his colleague shared. "We say enough of each other at work every day so let's keep that title private space we have," he adds.

Should employees be using their mobile phone during a meeting ? The answer is a firm "no," says director of etiquette & Image International Agnes Koh. Using mobile phones and Laptops is a message that you give priority to these devices, she adds. "You are not showing respect. If you are expecting an urgent call, you should let the person know and take the call out of sight. Keep the conversation short and resume the meeting immediately." GOOD ETIQUETTE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS Can I send a text message just before meeting someone to say that I will be late?

Producer Erwin Nah, 25, waited two hours for a friend who was held up at a meeting and to kept sending him text updating him on the progress, or lack of it. He says: "I don't like it when we set a time and my friend decides to change it at the last minute. I m usually very punctual, so I have to hang around and wait. People don't realize it is an issue." Should Facebok or Twitter be a place to :
a)

Start an argument? Student Chole Kay, 16, drew flak for her tweet commenting negatively on a celebrity's looks. An acquaintance responded curtly : "What did she do to offend you?" Subsequently, the acquaintance and her other friends started posting comments about chloe on their twitter feeds, calling her names. I was hurt by their comments asking me to take a good look at the mirror before commenting on others,she said. Everyone has a right to say that whats on his mind and post anything he wants on his facebook wall

b) Declare your love? Project analyst Krystal Lee, 23, has no qualms about posting message such as 'I Love You" or "I Miss You" on her boyfriend's facebook wall. Her Facebook friends even like her posts or comment on how sweet and loving they are. Say Lee: "there nothing to hide. If people don't like it, they can just not view our profile pages or hide our feeds." "Mushy expressions of love and feeling should be kept private and not be posted on your partners wall," says

the Etiquette School's Angelina. "The Mushy declarations may cause a certain level of discomfort to those reading the post as well as your partner if he is the conservative type. However simple message of affection are acceptable and should not cause too much discomfort to anyone." Can I update my facebook page or Titter feeds or reply an SMS or E-mail, when I am out with friends? Software designer Khairul Hafiz, 25, used to be a Facebook addict and would log on whenever he had the chance. This led to his girlfriend complaining that he was more interested in the social networking site than he was in her. He deleted his account shortly after. Guinevere Ho, principal consultant at image Mastery International, Says "When you are out with one or two friends, pay attention to them rather than update your facebook page or twitter feed. While it is less of guilty charge in a group of ten people, we still advice that you pay attention. The reason for social media is to connect with friends, so why not make use of the chance in reality to spend time with them? It is akin to talking on your mobile phone and ignoring your friends.

Ca n I break up with my partner over MSN,SMS,E-mail, Facebook or twitter ? WRITE Will Chin, 24, was ditched on MSN Messenger a few years ago. He says, "The cracks were building up and I saw it coming, but I was shocked as it seemed

out of character for her to do that. It was very cold and impersonal." But breaking up is such a heavy thing, you dont just text someone casualy," he says. Cecellia Telkes, associate consultant of Imageworkes, says, "It is rude and shows a lack of consideration, manners and cowardice. You are better off without a person who breaks up with you over social media." Make a point to meet and have guts to talk it through with the person. In the case of long distance relationship, use the telephone or even Skype. However, Koh of etiquette & Image International, says: "If the relationship is tricky and you have evidence that your partner is cheating on you, then waste no time. An SMS is enough."

TEN SECRETS OF SUCCESS

Over the years, research has revealed that most successful people have 10 traits in common. These 10 traits together help successful people meet their goal and

turn their dreams into reality. How many of these secrets of success do you practice? 1. How you think is everything:Remember to Think positive at every opportunity. Visualize success, not failure. Avoid negative environment & people you are what you think. In fact, a study shows that positive thinking actually increase longevity. 2. Decide your dreams & goals:Be specific about your goals. For example say I am taking music class next month rather than I would like to take a music class sometime. Create a plan to reach your goals, & stick to it. 3. Take Action:Goals alone have no meaning. You need to take action to make them real. Dont let fear hold you back. Just do it. 4. Never stop learning:Read books, surf on net, join a discussion group. If you are interested in a subject, make time to learn about it. Keep acquiring new skills. 5. Be persistent & work hard:You have probably heard the expression success is a marathon, not a sprint.Keep your eye on the goal, & keep working towards it. Dont give up.

6. Learn to analyze details:Get all the facts, & ask for input. This will help you make wiser decisions. Acknowledge your mistakes, but dont beat yourself up. Learn from your mistakes. 7. Focus your time and money:When you believe in something, put your attention & energy there. Dont let other distract you.

8. Dont be afraid do innovate; be different:Be true to yourself and have your own ideas. Following the crowd is a path to mediocrity. 9. Communication with people effectively :Remember that no person is an island. Communicate your thoughts & desires honestly with you. Practice understanding & motivating other people. 10. Be honest & dependable; take responsibility for what you do:Never cheat or lie. When you make a promise, keep it. When you screw up, admit it. Without honesty, dependability & responsibility, the other nine secrete of success dont add up to much.

Life is an ever pulsating flux of countless stimuli which constantly bombard you from all sides. They are out to toss you about like the ship on the stormy sea. They are out to determine your destiny for you. But you have the power to determine as to how they will mould you and how you will harness them for your own ends. It is because of all the living

Be Architect of Your Destiny

beings on earth man alone has the ability to control his life pattern. Man alone is the architect of his destiny It was William James who said that men can change their outer lives by changing the inner attitudes of their minds. All that we are is the result of what we thought, it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our though, said Dhammapada long before William James. Here is an ageless truth discovered a new concept that challenges everyone to change his life to a higher and richer pattern. It is thought that makes or mars you. You cannot go forward by thinking thoughts of failure. If your world seems to be cast with the dark clouds of gloom and dejection it is because you harbor thoughts of gloom and hopelessness. One way of hastening change is to associate with people who have already achieved the qualities you aspire. Mingle and make friends with those who have already been seared by the holy fire of ambition Change yourself by looking up to your spiritual mentors selected from the great of all ages. Change yourself by visualizing the person you wish to be with every breath you breath, every moment you live concentrate that is emerging out of the realm of thoughts into the world of reality. Gauri Hardikar F. Y. B. A. F.

61 Interesting Facts About India

1. India is about 1/3 the size of the United States, yet it is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of 1,166,079,217. India is the seventh largest country in the world, at 1.27 million square miles. 2. India is the largest democracy in the world.
3. The Kumbh Mela (or Grand Pitcher Festival) is a huge Hindu religious

festival that takes place in India every 12 years. In 2001, 60 million people attended, breaking the record for the worlds biggest gathering. The mass of people was photographed from space by a satellite. 4. Many Indians find toilet paper repellent and consider it cleaner to splash water with the left hand in the appropriate direction. Consequently, the left hand is considered unclean and is never used for eating. 5. To avoid polluting the elements (fire, earth, water, air), followers of Zoroastrianism in India dont bury their dead, but instead leave bodies in buildings called Towers of Silence for the vultures to pick clean. After the bones dry, they are swept into a central well. 6. It is illegal to take Indian currency (rupees) out of India. 7. India leads the world with the most murders (32,719), with Russia taking second at 28,904 murders per year.
8. India has one of the worlds highest rates of

It is illegal for foreigners to import or export Indian currency (rupees)

abortion. 9. More than a million Indians are millionaires, yet most Indians live on less than two dollars a day. An estimated 35% of Indias population lives below the poverty line.
10. Cows can be found freely wandering the streets of Indias cities. They are

considered sacred and will often wear a tilak, a Hindu symbol of good fortune. Cows are considered one of humankinds seven mothers because she offers milk as does ones natural mother. 11. Dancing is one of Indias most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple. It is notable for its expressive hand movements. 12. Rabies is endemic in India. Additionally, Delhi Belly or diarrhea is commonplace due to contaminated drinking water.
13. Many Indian wives will never say her husbands name aloud, as it is a sign

of disrespect. When addressing him, the wife will use several indirect references, such as ji or look here or hello, or even refer to him as the father of her child.
14. A widow is considered bad luckotherwise, her husband wouldnt have

died. Elderly women in the village might call a widow the one who ate her

husband. In some orthodox families, widows are not allowed near newlyweds or welcomed at social gatherings.
15. India is the birthplace of chess. The original word for chess is the Sanskrit

chaturanga, meaning four members of an armywhich were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.
16. The Indian flag has three horizontal bands of color: saffron for courage and

sacrifice, white for truth and peace, and green for faith, fertility, and chivalry. An emblem of a wheel spinning used to be in the center of the white band, but when India gained independence, a Buddhist dharma chakra, or wheel of life, replaced the spinning wheel.
17. The temples of Khajuraho are famous for their erotic sculptures and are

one of the most popular tourist attractions in India. Scholars still debate the purpose of such explicit portrayals of sexual intercourse, which sometimes involves animals. 18. The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would wear delicate cotton from India that they would call woven winds. Mogul emperors called the fabrics morning dew and cloth of running water.
19. In ancient and medieval India, suttees, in which a recently widowed woman

would immolate herself on her husbands funeral pyre, were common.

20. The Himalayasfrom the Sanskrit hima, meaning snow, and alaya,

meaning abodeare found in the north of India. They extend 1,500 miles and are slowly growing taller, by almost an inch (2.5 cm) a year. Several ancient Indian monasteries are found nestled in the grandeur of these mountains. 21. India is the worlds largest producer of dried beans, such as kidney beans and chickpeas. It also leads the world in banana exports; Brazil is second. 22. In India, the fold and color of clothing are viewed as important markers of social classification. Additionally, women will be viewed as either a prostitute or a holy person depending on the manner in which she parts her hair. 23. With 150,000 post offices, India has the largest postal network in the world. However, it is not unusual for a letter to take two weeks to travel just 30 miles. 24. In India, grasping ones ears signifies repentance or sincerity. 25. The Bengal tiger is Indias national animal. It was once ubiquitous throughout the country, but now there are fewer than 4,000 wild tigers left.
26. Indians hold prominent places both internationally and in the United States.

For example, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems (Vinod Khosla), the creator of the Pentium chip (Vinod Dahm), the founder/creator of Hotmail (Sabeer Bhatia), and the GM of Hewlett-Packard (Rajiv Gupta) are all Indian.
27. Alexander the Great of Macedon (356-323 B.C.) was one of the first

important figures to bring India into contact with the West. After his death, a link between Europe and the East would not be restored until Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) landed in Calicut, India, in 1498. 28. The British Raj, or British rule, lasted from 1858 to 1947 (although they had a strong presence in India since the 1700s). British influence is still seen in Indian architecture, education system, transportation, and politics. Many of Indias worst famines are associated with British rule in India. 29. Every major world religion is represented in India. Additionally, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all originated in India. 30. About 80% of Indians are Hindu. Muslims are the largest minority in India and form approximately 13% of the countrys population. In fact, India has the third largest population of Muslims in the world, after Indonesia and Pakistan.
31. India has the worlds largest movie industry, based in the city of Mumbai

(known as the City of Dreams). The B in Bollywood comes from Bombay, the former name for Mumbai. Almost all Bollywood movies are musicals.
32. Mumbai (Bombay) is Indias largest city, with a

population of 15 million. In 1661, British engineers built a causeway uniting all seven original islands of Bombay into a single landmass. 33. Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) is known around the world as Mahatma, which is an honorific title meaning Great Soul in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. He devoted his life to free India from British rule peacefully and based his campaign on civil disobedience. His birthday, October 2, is a national holiday. He was assassinated in 1948.
34. The lotus is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

The Bah' house of worship in Delhi, known as the Lotus Temple, is shaped like a lotus flower with 27 gigantic petals that are covered in marble.

The Lotus temple is one of the most visited temples in the world, with over 50 million visitors per year

35. The banyan, or Indian fig tree, is considered a symbol of immortality and is mentioned in many Indian myths and legends. This self-renewing plant is Indias national tree. 36. Marigold flowers are used as decoration for Hindu marriages and are a symbol of good fortune and happiness.
37. The official name of India is the Republic of India. The name India derives

from the River Indus, which most likely is derived from the Sanskrit sindhu, meaning river. The official Sanskrit name of India is Bharat, after the legendary king in the epic Mahabharata.

38. Introduced by the British, cricket is Indias most popular sport. Hockey is considered the national sport, and the Indian field hockey team proudly won Olympic gold in 1928. 39. Indians made significant contributions to calculus, trigonometry, and algebra. The decimal system was invented in India in 100 B.C. The concept of zero as a number is also attributed to India. 40. The national fruit of India is the mango. The national bird is the peacock, which was initially bred for food.
41. Most historians agree that the first recorded account of plastic surgery is

found in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts. 42. Hindi and English are the official languages of India. The government also recognizes 17 other languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu). Apart from these languages, about 1,652 dialects are spoken in the country. 43. Indias pastoral communities are largely dependent on dairy and have made India the largest milk-producing country in the world. 44. India has the worlds third largest road network at 1.9 million miles. It also has the worlds second largest rail network, which is the worlds largest civilian employer with 16 million workers. 45. Rivers have played a vital role in Indias popular culture and folklorethey have been worshipped as goddesses because they bring water to an otherwise dry land. Bathing in the Ganges in particular is thought to take away a persons sins. It is not unusual to spread a loved ones ashes in the Ganges.
46. Raziya Sultana (1205-1240) was the first woman

Though the Ganges is one of the dirtiest rivers in the world, bathing in the river is thought to wash away ones sins

leader of India. She was considered a great leader, though she ruled for only three years before being murdered. 47. Most Indians rinse their hands, legs, and face before eating a meal. It is considered polite to eat with the right hand, and women eat after everyone is finished. Wasting food is considered a sin. 48. During the Vedic era in India, horse sacrifice sanctioned the sovereignty of the king. 49. It is traditional to wear white, not black, to a funeral in India. Widows will often wear white in contrast to the colorful clothes of married or single women. 50. All of India is under a single time zone. 51. On Indias Independence Day, August 15, 1947, the country was split into

India and Pakistan. The partition displaced 1.27 million people and resulted in the death of several hundred thousand to a million people.
52. In recent years, Indian authors have made a mark on the world with such

novels as Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses (1988), Vikram Seths Suitable Boy (1993), and Arundhati Roys The God of Small Things (1997). 53. India experiences six seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring, summer monsoon, and winter monsoon.
54. India is the worlds largest tea producer, and tea

(chai) is its most popular beverage.

55. The Taj Mahal (crown palace) was built by

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). This architectural beauty has been called marbled embroidery for its intricate workmanship. It took 22,000 workmen 22 years to complete it. 56. The first and greatest civilization in ancient India developed around the valley of the Indus River (now Pakistan) around 3000 B.C. Called the Indus Valley civilization, this early empire was larger than any other empire, including Egypt and Mesopotamia.
57. After the great Indus Civilization collapsed in 2000 B.C., groups of Indo-

Europeans called Aryans (noble ones) traveled to northwest India and reigned during what is called the Vedic age. The mingling of ideas from the Aryan and Indus Valley religions formed the basis of Hinduism, and the gods Shiva, Kali, and Brahma all have their roots in Aryan civilization. The Aryans also recorded the Vedas, the first Hindu scriptures, and introduced a caste system based on ethnicity and occupation. 58. Alexander the Great invaded India partly because he wanted to solve the mystery of the ocean, which he had been told was a huge, continuous sea that flowed in a circle around the land. When he reached the Indian Ocean, he sacrificed some bulls to Poseidon for leading him to his goal. 59. Greek sculpture strongly influenced many portrayals of Indian gods and goddess, particularly after the conquest of Alexander the Great around 330B.C. In fact, early Indian gods had Greek features and only later did distinct Indian styles emerge.
60. Chandragupta Maurya (340-290 B.C.), a leader in India who established

the Mauryan Empire (321-185 B.C.), was guarded by a band of women on horseback.
61. When the first independent prime minister of India, pacifist Jawaharlal

Nehru (1889-1964), was featured in Vogue, his distinctive close fitting,

single-breasted jacket briefly became an important fashion statement for the Mod movement in the West. Named the Nehru jacket, the prime ministers coat was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such famous people as Johnny Carson (1925-2005) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990).