Fun Facts about India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal

<p>So the title says it all, but my high school's having its first ever multicultural week this year and we're making little passports with fun facts about countries. Each multicultural club is representing their country, but Latinas Unidas and us, South Asian Student Association obviously have more than one country. </p>

<p>PLEASE put up any fun facts you know about any or all of these countries! Thanks so much (=</p>

<p>There are over several hundred languages spoken as mother-tongues in India.
There are more NATIVE (key word native) speakers of Pakistan's national language, Urdu, in India than there are in Pakistan.
Buddha was from Lumbini, Nepal.
Nepal used to be the only officially Hindu nation in the world.
The wettest place in the world is Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India.
The largest film industry in the world is India's, which in 2003 made 877 movies.
Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world, after Indonesia.
The Nepali language is the closest living language to Sanskrit.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthems for both India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is home to one of the largest coastal mangrove forests in the world.
Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan in 1972 on basis of its language.
M.I.A. is of Sri Lankan descent.
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Nepal all use their own versions of the rupee, but Bangladesh calls its currency the taka.
Nepal's Flag is the only national flag in the world that is not quadrilateral in shape.
In Nepal, touching things with your feet is considered offensive.</p>

<p>^the wheel on the flag is called the ashoka chakra, "which signifies the principles of buddhism"</p>

<p>i think that each of the spokes also represent a Indian state</p>

<p>Sri Lanka got these awesome guys called the Timil Tigers. They are like rockstars of Sri Lanka, they bring the noise, the public, and of course the cops.</p>

<p>All of them have an S in their name except for India and Nepal.</p>

<p>How come people keep leaving out Bhutan in these exercises?? It has a national dish that consists of red hot peppers covered in a cheese sauce. That's it.</p>

<p>What about Maldives? Ignorant people.</p>

<p>I'm from Bangladesh :)</p>

<p>The Concert for Bangladesh
One of the biggest benefit concerts. It was put together by George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston.</p>

<p>Southern India has some Catholics.
Goa used to be a Portuguese colony.
Pondicherry (Puducherry) used to be French.</p>

<p>Bangladesh has the highest population density of any country. I think.</p>

<p>Pakistan has the world's largest irrigation system.
Pakistan has contributed the most troops of any nation to the UN Peacekeeping Forces.
India and Pakistan are two of the only countries in the world that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
South Indian and North Indian languages are in two, separate linguistic groups (Dravidian and Indo-European, respectively). North Indian languages are more strongly related to those of Europe. Culture often varies along the same boundaries.</p>

<p>India's a secular country that's the world's largest democracy.</p>

<p>India defeated Pakistan in 4 wars one of which eliminated its Eastern counterpart, and created the nation Bangladesh (1971 Indo-Pak War). Take that!</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi is a beyotch just kidding, no but seriously she was really bad. Mucho mucho corruption.</p>

<p>North Indians are gorgeous hell all of India is gorgeous.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Indira Gandhi is a beyotch just kidding, no but seriously she was really bad. Mucho mucho corruption.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Seriously? I've never really learned about her, but all of my childhood Girl Power! stuff is all "aspire to be like these female leaders" and they include her.</p>

<p>Yeah, she caused a lot of corruption in India and basically tried to console all the political power by killing her competition. My maternal grandfather was way up in the Indian government and was one of her advisors. He told my mom, my grandma and me how corrupt she was. For example, she used to send her muscele to intimidate local politicians who she knew could beat her and took a lot of money for herself and her party (Indian National Congress). She did in fairness knock out East Pakistan, and stop the Pakistanis from launching two pronged attacks against India, but in all honesty Indira Gandhi did more harm than good. She isn't exactly a person you want to aspire to be. there are way more accomplished people (men & women) who did good things without causing trouble for the people around them.</p>

<p>Bangladesh achieved its independence from Pakistan in 1971 (not 1972) and it contributes the most troops of any nation to the UN peace keeping force (not Pakistan)…</p>

<p>If we’re including Bhutan (someone mentioned it), they have the youngest head of state. He’s also majorly adorable.</p>

<p>@ simpleperson:</p>

<p>India did not defeat Pakistan in any wars. In 1948, India went crying to the UN for it to mediate a ceasefire. In 1965, the Indian forces were ENTIRELY contained by Pakistan. In 1971, the Bangladesh PEOPLE rejected Pakistan and India claims victory on behalf of the people (through illegal border breach). And Kargil was not even a war — no one knows what the skirmish really resulted in.</p>

<p>you can say that there is no forum/chat/thread/blahblah in the world where there is an Pakistani and an Indian doesn’t try to diss him/her [if you noticed how biased i am, you cn add that too :wink: ]</p>

<p>So true. But thanks El. You saved our butts. xD</p>

<p>I guess Pakistanis have Shalwar-Kameezes and Indians have Saris as dresses for women.</p>

<p>ancient Indian scientist Aryabhatta invented zero and the decimal system - it was later taken to Arabia and on to the Western world. </p>

<p>India has the most post offices in the world !</p>

<p>The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people !. </p>

<p>The world’s first university was in India - Takshashila</p>

<p>India exports software to 90 countries.</p>

<p>The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world’s population. </p>

<p>Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called “the Ancient City” when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today. </p>

<p>Facts about Bhutan</p>

<p>The foreign tourists were allowed into Bhutan, for the first time, in the year 1974.
Limited television and internet access were introduced to Bhutan in 1999. </p>

<p>In Bhutan, healthcare is free for both residents as well as visitors. </p>

<p>In 2006, Business Week rated Bhutan as the happiest country in Asia and the eighth happiest country in the world. </p>

<p>Facts about Maldives</p>

<p>the official local long form name for the Maldives is Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa. </p>

<p>Official language of Maldives is Divehi</p>

<p>Maldives also holds the record for being the flattest country in the world.
The highest point in the Republic of Maldives is located on the island of Wilingili in the Addu Atoll (2.4 m). – I’ve been here! :)</p>