History of agriculture in India
Grand Anicut dam on river Kaveri (1st-2nd Century CE) is one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world still in use.[1]
Indian agriculture began by 9000 BCE as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals.[2] Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture.[3][4] Doublemonsoons led to two harvests being reaped in one year.[5] Indian products soon reached the world via existing trading networks and foreign crops were introduced to India.[5][6] Plants and animals—considered essential to their survival by the Indians—came to be worshiped and venerated.[7]
The middle ages saw irrigation channels reach a new level of sophistication in India and Indian crops affecting the economies of other regions of the world under Islamic patronage.[8][9] Land and water management systems were developed with an aim of providing uniform growth.[10][11] Despite some stagnation during the later modern era the independent Republic of India was able to develop a comprehensive agricultural program.[12][13]
Early history
Wheat, barley and jujube were domesticated in the Indian subcontinent by 9000 BCE.[7] Domestication of sheep and goat soon followed.[2] This period also saw the first domestication of the elephant.[7] Barley and wheat cultivation—along with the domestication of cattle, primarily sheep and goat—was visible inMehrgarh by 8000-6000 BCE.[3][14] Agro pastoralism in India included threshing, planting crops in rows—either of two or of six—and storing grain ingranaries.[3][15] By the 5th millennium BCE agricultural communities became widespread in Kashmir.[3] Zaheer Baber (1996) writes that 'the first evidence of cultivation of cotton had already developed'.[14] Cotton was cultivated by the 5th millennium BCE-4th millennium BCE.[16] The Indus cotton industry was well developed and some methods used in cotton spinning and fabrication continued to be practiced till the modern Industrialization of India.[17]
A variety of tropical fruit such as mango and muskmelon are native to the Indian subcontinent.[5] The Indians also domesticated hemp, which they used for a number of applications including making narcotics, fiber, and oil.[18] The farmers of the Indus Valley grew peas, sesame, and dates.[18] Sugarcane was originally from tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia.[19] Different species likely originated in different locations with S. barberi originating in India and S. edule and S. officinarum coming from New Guinea.[19]
Wild Oryza rice appeared in the Belan and Ganges valley regions of northern India as early as 4530 BCE and 5440 BCE respectively.[20] Rice was cultivated in the Indus Valley Civilization.[21] Agricultural activity during the second millennium BC included rice cultivation in the Kashmir and Harrappan regions.[20] Mixed farming was the basis of the Indus valley economy.[21] Denis J. Murphy (2007) details the spread of cultivated rice from India into South-east Asia:[22]
Several wild cereals, including rice, grew in the Vindhyan Hills, and rice cultivation, at sites such as Chopani-Mando and Mahagara, may have been underway as early as 7000 BP. The relative isolation of this area and the early development of rice farming imply that it was developed indigenously....Chopani-Mando and Mahagara are located on the upper reaches of the Ganges drainage system and it is likely that migrants from this area spread rice farming down the Ganges valley into the fertile plains of Bengal, and beyond into south-east Asia.
Irrigation was developed in the Indus Valley Civilization by around 4500 BCE.[23] The size and prosperity of the Indus civilization grew as a result of this innovation, which eventually led to more planned settlements making use of drainage and sewers.[23] Sophisticated irrigation and water storage systems were developed by the Indus Valley Civilization, including artificial reservoirs at Girnar dated to 3000 BCE, and an early canal irrigation system from circa 2600 BCE.[24] Archeological evidence of an animal-drawn plough dates back to 2500 BC in the Indus Valley Civilization.[4]
Vedic period – Post Maha Janapadas period (1500 BCE – 200 CE)
Gupta (2004) finds it likely that summer monsoons may have been longer and may have contained moisture in excess than required for normal food production.[25] One effect of this excessive moisture would have been to aid the winter monsoon rainfall required for winter crops.[25] In India, both wheat and barley are held to be Rabi (winter) crops and—like other parts of the world—would have largely depended on winter monsoons before the irrigation became widespread.[25] The growth of the Kharif crops would have probably suffered as a result of excessive moisture.[25] Jute was first cultivated in India, where it was used to make ropes and cordage.[26] Some animals—thought by the Indians as being vital to their survival—came to be worshiped.[7] Trees were also domesticated, worshiped, and venerated—Pipal and Banyan in particular.[7] Others came to be known for their medicinal uses and found mention in the holistic medical system Ayurveda.[7] The Encyclopædia Britannica—on the subject of agriculture of the later Vedic period—holds that:[5]
In the later Vedic texts (c. 1000–500 BC), there are repeated references to iron. Cultivation of a wide range of cereals, vegetables, and fruits is described. Meatand milk products were part of the diet; animal husbandry was important. The soil was plowed several times. Seeds were broadcast. Fallowing and a certain sequence of cropping were recommended. Cow dung provided the manure. Irrigation was practiced.
The Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE) categorized soils and made meteorological observations for agricultural use.[27] Other Mauryan facilitation included construction and maintenance of dams, and provision of horse-drawn chariots—quicker than traditional bullock carts.[5] The Greek diplomat Megasthenes (c. 300 BC)—in his book Indika— provides a secular eyewitness account of Indian agriculture:[5]
India has many huge mountains which abound in fruit-trees of every kind, and many vast plains of great fertility. . . . The greater part of the soil, moreover, is under irrigation, and consequently bears two crops in the course of the year. . . . In addition to cereals, there grows throughout India much millet . . . and muchpulse of different sorts, and rice also, and what is called bosporum [Indian millet]. . . . Since there is a double rainfall [i.e., the two monsoons] in the course of each year . . . the inhabitants of India almost always gather in two harvests annually.
Early Common Era – High Middle Ages (200–1200 CE)
The Tamil people cultivated a wide range of crops such as rice, sugarcane, millets, black pepper, various grains, coconuts, beans, cotton, plantain, tamarindand sandalwood.[28] Jackfruit, coconut, palm, areca and plantain trees were also known.[28] Systematic ploughing, manuring, weeding, irrigation and crop protection was practiced for sustained agriculture.[29] Water storage systems were designed during this period.[1] Kallanai (1st-2nd century CE), a dam built on river Kaveri during this period, is considered the as one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world still in use.[1]
Spice trade involving spices native to India—including cinnamon and black pepper—gained momentum as India starts shipping spices to the Mediterranean.[6]Roman trade with India followed as detailed by the archaeological record and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.[6] Chinese sericulture attracted Indian sailors during the early centuries of the common era.[6] Crystallized sugar was discovered by the time of the Guptas (320-550 CE),[30] and the earliest reference of candied sugar come from India.[31] The process was soon transmitted to China with traveling Buddhist monks.[31] Chinese documents confirm at least two missions to India, initiated in 647 CE, for obtaining technology for sugar-refining.[32] Each mission returned with results on refining sugar.[32] Indian spice exports find mention in the works of Ibn Khurdadhbeh (850), al-Ghafiqi (1150), Ishak bin Imaran (907) and Al Kalkashandi (fourteenth century).[33]
Noboru Karashima's research of the agrarian society in South India during the Chola Empire (875-1279) reveals that during the Chola rule land was transferred and collective holding of land by a group of people slowly gave way to individual plots of land, each with their own irrigation system.[34] The growth of individual disposition of farming property may have led to a decrease in areas of dry cultivation.[10] The Cholas also had bureaucrats which oversaw the distribution of water—-particularly the distribution of water by tank-and-channel networks to the drier areas.[10]
Late Middle Ages – Early Modern Era (1200–1757 CE)
The construction of water works and aspects of water technology in India is described in Arabic and Persian works.[8] The diffusion of Indian and Persian irrigation technologies gave rise to an irrigation systems which bought about economic growth and growth of material culture.[8] Agricultural 'zones' were broadly divided into those producing rice, wheat or millets.[5] Rice production continued to dominate Gujarat and wheat dominated north and central India.[5]The Encyclopædia Britannica details the many crops introduced to India during this period of extensive global discourse:[5]
Introduced by the Portuguese, cultivation of tobacco spread rapidly. The Malabār Coast was the home of spices, especially black pepper, that had stimulated the first European adventures in the East. Coffee had been imported from Abyssinia and became a popular beverage in aristocratic circles by the end of the century. Tea, which was to become the common man's drink and a major export, was yet undiscovered, though it was growing wild in the hills of Assam. Vegetables were cultivated mainly in the vicinity of towns. New species of fruit, such as the pineapple, papaya, and cashew nut, also were introduced by the Portuguese. The quality of mango and citrus fruits was greatly improved.
Land management was particularly strong during the regime of Akbar the Great (reign: 1556-1605), under whom scholar-bureaucrat Todarmal formulated and implemented elaborated methods for agricultural management on a rational basis.[11] Indian crops—such as cotton, sugar, and citric fruits—spread visibly throughout North Africa, Islamic Spain, and the Middle East.[9] Though they may have been in cultivation prior to the solidification of Islam in India, their production was further improved as a result of this recent wave, which led to far-reaching economic outcomes for the regions involved.[9]
Colonial British Era (1757–1947 CE)
Sutlej Valley from Rampur ca. 1857. A number of irrigation canals are located on the Sutlej river.
Few Indian commercial crops—such as Cotton, indigo, opium, and rice—made it to the global market under theBritish Raj in India.[35] The second half of the 19th century saw some increase in land under cultivation and agricultural production expanded at an average rate of about 1 percent per year by the later 19th century.[35] Due to extensive irrigation by canal networks Punjab, Narmada valley, and Andhra Pradesh became centers of agrarian reforms.[35] Roy (2006) comments on the Influence of the world wars on the Indian agricultural system:[35]
Agricultural performance in the interwar period (1918–1939) was dismal. From 1891 to 1946, the annual growth rate of all crop output was 0.4 percent, and food-grain output was practically stagnant. There were significant regional and intercrop differences, however, nonfood crops doing better than food crops. Among food crops, by far the most important source of stagnation was rice. Bengal had below-average growth rates in both food and nonfood crop output, whereas Punjab and Madras were the least stagnant regions. In the interwar period, population growth accelerated while food output decelerated, leading to declining availability of food per head. The crisis was most acute in Bengal, where food output declined at an annual rate of about 0.7 percent from 1921 to 1946, when population grew at an annual rate of about 1 percent.
The British regime in India did supply the irrigation works but rarely on the scale required.[36] Community effort and private investment soared as market for irrigation developed.[36] Agricultural prices of some commodities rose to about three times between 1870-1920.[36]
A rich source of the state of Indian agriculture in the early British era is a report prepared by a British engineer, Thomas Barnard, and his Indian guide, Raja Chengalvaraya Mudaliar, around 1774. This report contains data of agricultural production in about 800 villages in the area around Chennai in the years 1762 to 1766. This report is available in Tamil in the form of palm leaf manuscripts at Thanjavur Tamil University, and in English in the Tamil Nadu State Archives. A series of articles in The Hindu newspaper in the early 1990s authored by researchers at The Center for Policy Studies [1] led by Shri Dharampal highlight the impressive production statistics of Indian farmers of that era.
[edit]Republic of India (1947 CE onwards)
Bhakra Dam (completed 1963) is the largest dam in India.
Special programs were undertaken to improve food and cash crops supply.[37] The Grow More Food Campaign (1940s) and the Integrated Production Programme (1950s) focused on food and cash crops supply respectively.[37]Five-year plans of India—oriented towards agricultural development—soon followed.[37] Land reclamation, land development, mechanization, electrification, use of chemicals—fertilizers in particular, and development of agriculture oriented 'package approach' of taking a set of actions instead of promoting single aspect soon followed under government supervision.[38] The many 'production revolutions' initiated from 1960s onwards included Green Revolution in India, Yellow Revolution (oilseed: 1986-1990), Operation Flood (dairy: 1970-1996), and Blue Revolution (fishing: 1973-2002) etc.[39] Following the economic reforms of 1991, significant growth was registered in the agricultural sector, which was by now benefiting from the earlier reforms and the newer innovations of Agro-processing and Biotechnology.[40]
Due to the growth and prosperity that followed India's economic reforms a strong middle class emerged as the main consumer of fruits, dairy, fish, meat and vegetables—a marked shift from the earlier staple based consumption.[41]Since 1991, changing consumption patterns led to a 'revolution' in 'high value' agriculture while the need for cereals is experienced a decline.[41] The per capita consumption of cereals declined from 192 to 152 kilograms from 1977 to 1999 while the consumption of fruits increased by 553%, vegetables by 167%, dairy products by 105%, and non-vegetarian products by 85% in India's rural areas alone.[42] Urban areas experienced a similar increase.[42]
Agricultural exports continued to grow at well over 10.1% annually through the 1990s.[43] Contract farming—which requires the farmers to produce crops for a company under contract—and high value agricultural product increased.[44] Contract farming led to a decrease in transaction costs while the contract farmers made more profit compared to the non-contract workforce.[45] However, small landholding continued to create problems for India's farmers as the limited land resulted in limited produce and limited profits.[43]
Some Indian farmers.
Since independence, India has become one of the largest producers of wheat, edible oil, potato, spices, rubber, tea, fishing, fruits, and vegetables in the world.[46] The Ministry of Agriculture oversees activities relating to agriculture in India. Various institutions for agriculture related research in India were organized under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (est. 1929). Other organizations such as the National Dairy Development Board (est. 1965), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (est. 1982) aided the formation of cooperatives and improved financing.
The contribution of agriculture in employing India's male workforce declined from 75.9% in 1961 to 60% in 1999–2000.[47] Dev (2006) holds that 'there were about 45 million agricultural labor households in the country in 1999–2000.'[48] These households recorded the highest incidence of poverty in India from 1993 to 2000.[49] The green revolution introduced high yielding varieties of crops which also increased the usage of fertilizers and pesticides.[50] About 90% of the pesticide usage in India is accounted for by DDT and Lindane(BHC/HCH).[51] There has been a shift to organic agriculture particularly for exported commodities.[52]
During 2003-04, agriculture accounted for 22 % of India's GDP and employed 58 per cent of the country's workforce.[53] India is the world's largest producer ofmilk, fruits, cashew nuts, coconuts, ginger, turmeric, banana, sapota, pulses, and black pepper.[53] India is the second largest producer of groundnut, wheat, vegetables, sugar and fish in the world.[53] India is also the third largest producer of tobacco and rice, the fourth largest producer of coarse grains, the fifth largest producer of eggs, and the seventh largest producer of meat.[53]
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
RELATIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
RELATIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Relations between India and Pakistan are defined by the violent partition of British India in 1947, the Kashmir dispute and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations. Consequently, even though the two South Asian nations share historic, cultural, geographic, and economic links, their relationship has been plagued by hostility and suspicion.
After the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, two new sovereign nations were formed — the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The subsequent partition of the former British India displaced up to 12.5 million people, with estimates of loss of life varying from several hundred thousand to a million.[1] India emerged as a secular nation with a Hindu majority population and a large Muslim minority while Pakistan was established as an Islamic republic with an overwhelming Muslim majority population.[2][3]
Soon after their independence, India and Pakistan established diplomatic relations but the violent partition and numerous territorial disputes would overshadow their relationship. Since their independence, the two countries have fought three major wars, one undeclared war and have been involved in numerous armed skirmishes and military standoffs. The Kashmir dispute is the main center-point of all of these conflicts with the exception of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which resulted in the secession of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
There have been numerous attempts to improve the relationship — notably, the Shimla summit, the Agra summit and the Lahore summit. Since the early 1980s, relations between the two nations soured particularly after the Siachen conflict, the intensification of Kashmir insurgency in 1989, Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests in 1998 and the 1999 Kargil war. Certain confidence-building measures — such as the 2003 ceasefire agreement and the Delhi–Lahore Bus service — were successful in deescalating tensions. However, these efforts have been impeded by Pakistan's alleged involvement in various terrorist activities in India. The 2001 Indian Parliament attack almost brought the two nations on the brink of a nuclear war. Additionally, the 2008 Mumbai attacks (which was carried out by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan)[4] resulted in a severe blow to the ongoing India-Pakistan peace talks.
Seeds of conflict
About half a million Muslims and Hindus were killed in communal riots following the partition of British India. Millions of Muslims living in India and Hindus and Sikhs living in Pakistan emigrated in one of the most colossal transfers of population in the modern era. Both countries accused each other of not providing adequate security to the minorities emigrating through their territory. This served to increase tensions between the newly-born countries.
According to the British plan for the partition of British India, all the 680 princely states were allowed to decide which of the two countries to join. With the exception of a few, most of the Muslim-majority princely-states acceded to Pakistan while most of the Hindu-majority princely states joined India. However, the decisions of some of the princely-states would shape the Pakistan-India relationship considerably, in the years to
Junagadh is one of the modern districts of Saurastra, Gujarat
Junagadh was a state on the southwestern end of Gujarat, with the principalities of Manavadar, Mangrol and Babriawad. The Arabian Sea stood between it and Pakistan. The state had an overwhelming Hindu population which constituted more than 80% of its citizens, while the ruler of the state was a Muslim. On August 15, 1947, the ruler of the state, Nawab of Junagadh Mahabat Khan acceded to Pakistan. Pakistan confirmed the acceptance of the accession in September 1947. India did not accept the accession as legitimate.
The Indian point of view was that since Junagadh was a state with a predominantly Hindu population it should be a part of India. Additionally, since the state was encircled by Indian territory it should have been a part of India. Indian politicians also stated that by giving Pakistan a predominantly Hindu region to govern, the basis of the two nation theory was contradicted.
The Pakistani point of view was that since Junagadh had a ruler and governing body who chose to accede to Pakistan, they should be allowed to do so. Junagadh, having a coastline, could have maintained maritime links with Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistani politicians stated that the two nation theory did not necessarily mean a clear division of land and absolute transfer of populations as the sheer magnitude of such a proceeding would wreak havoc upon millions.
Neither of the ten states were able to resolve this issue amicably and it only added fuel to an already charged environment.
Sardar Patel, India's then Home Minister, felt that if Junagadh was permitted to go to Pakistan, it would create communal unrest across Gujarat. The government of India gave Pakistan time to void the accession and hold a plebiscite in Junagadh to pre empt any violence in Gujarat. Samaldas Gandhi formed a government-in-exile, the Arzi Hukumat (in Urdu: Arzi: Transitional, Hukumat: Government) of the people of Junagadh. Patel ordered the annexation of Junagadh's three principalities.
Kashmir dispute
Main article: Kashmir conflict
Kashmir was a princely state, ruled by a Hindu[5] king, Maharaja Hari Singh. The Maharaja of Kashmir was equally hesitant to join either India–, because he knew his Muslim subjects would not like to join a Hindu-based and Hindu-majority nation[citation needed]-, or Pakistan– which as a Hindu he was personally averse to[citation needed]. Pakistan coveted the Himalayan kingdom, while Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi[citation needed] and Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru hoped that the kingdom would join India. Hari Singh signed a Standstill Agreement (preserving status quo) with Pakistan, but did not make his decision by August 15, 1947.
Rumours spread in Pakistan that Hari Singh was trying to accede Kashmir to India. Alarmed by this threat, a team of Pakistani forces were dispatched into Kashmir, fearing an Indian invasion of the region. Backed by Pakistani paramilitary forces, Pashtuns invaded Kashmir in September 1947. Kashmir's security forces were too weak and ill-equipped to fight against Pakistan. Troubled by the deteriorating political pressure that was being applied to Hari Singh and his governance, the Maharaja asked for India's help. However, the Constitution of India barred the Indian Armed Forces' intervention since Kashmir did not come under India's jurisdiction. Desperate to get India's help and get Kashmir back in his own control, the Maharaja acceded Kashmir to India (which was against the will of the majority of Kashmiris), and signed the Instrument of Accession.[6] By this time the raiders were close to the capital, Srinagar. On October 27, 1947, the Indian Air Force airdropped Indian troops into Srinagar and made an intervention. The Indian troops managed to seize parts of Kashmir which included Jammu, Srinagar and the Kashmir valley itself, but the strong and intense fighting, flagged with the onset of winter, made much of the state impassable. After weeks of intense fighting between Pakistan and India, Pakistani leaders and the Indian Prime Minister Nehru declared a ceasefire and sought U.N. arbitration with the promise of a plebiscite. Sardar Patel had argued against both, describing Kashmir as a bilateral dispute and its accession as justified by international law. In 1957, north-western Kashmir was fully integrated into Pakistan, becoming Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), while the other portion was acceded to Indian control, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir) was created. In 1962, China occupied Aksai Chin, the northeastern region bordering Ladakh. In 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot and captured more than 80% of the Siachen Glacier.
Pakistan maintains Kashmiris' rights to self-determination through a plebiscite in accordance with an earlier Indian statement and a UN resolution. Pakistan also points to India's failure of not understanding its own political logic and applying it to Kashmir, by taking their opinion on the case of the accession of Junagadh as an example (that the Hindu majority state should have gone to India even though it had a Muslim ruler), that Kashmir should also rightfully and legally have become a part of Pakistan since majoirity of the people were Muslim, even though they had a Hindu ruler. Pakistan also states that at the very least, the promised plebiscite should be allowed to decide the fate of the Kashmiri people.
India on the other hand asserts that the Maharaja's decision, which was the norm for every other princely state at the time of independence, and subsequent elections, for over 40 years, on Kashmir has made it an integral part of India. This opinion has often become controversial, as Pakistan asserts that the decision of the ruler of Junagadh also adhered to Pakistan. Due to all such political differences, this dispute has also been the subject of wars between the two countries in 1947 and 1965, and a limited conflict in 1999. The state/province remains divided between the two countries by the Line of Control (LoC), which demarcates the ceasefire line agreed upon in the 1947 conflict.
See also: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and Kargil War
Other Territorial Disputes
Pakistan is locked in other territorial disputes with India such as the Siachen Glacier and Kori Creek. Pakistan is also currently having dialogue with India regarding the Baglihar Dam being built over the River Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bengal refugee crisis
In 1949, India recorded close to 1 million Hindu refugees, who flooded into West Bengal and other states from East Pakistan(Now Bangladesh), owing to communal violence, intimidation and repression from authorities. The plight of the refugees outraged Hindus and Indian nationalists, and the refugee population drained the resources of Indian states, which were unable to absorb them. While not ruling out war, Prime Minister Nehru and Sardar Patel invited Liaquat Ali Khan for talks in Delhi. Although many Indians termed this appeasement, Nehru signed a pact with Liaquat Ali Khan that pledged both nations to the protection of minorities and creation of minority commissions. Although opposed to the principle, Patel decided to back this Pact for the sake of peace, and played a critical role in garnering support from West Bengal and across India, and enforcing the provisions of the Pact. Khan and Nehru also signed a trade agreement, and committed to resolving bilateral disputes through peaceful means. Steadily, hundreds of thousands of Hindus returned to East Pakistan, but the thaw in relations did not last long, primarily owing to the Kashmir dispute.
1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Main articles: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War
Pakistan, since independence, was geo-politically divided into two major regions, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. East Pakistan was occupied mostly by Bengali people. In December 1971, following a political crisis in East Pakistan, the situation soon spiralled out of control in East Pakistan and India intervened in favour of the rebelling Bengali populace. The conflict, a brief but bloody war, resulted in an independence of East Pakistan. In the war, the Pakistani army swiftly fell to India, forcing the independence of East Pakistan, which separated and became Bangladesh. The Pakistani military, being a thousand miles from its base and surrounded by enemies, was forced to give in.
Simla Agreement
Since the 1971 war, Pakistan and India have made only slow progress towards the normalisation of relations. In July 1972, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto met in the Indian hill station of Simla. They signed the Simla Agreement, by which India would return all Pakistani personnel (over 90,000) and captured territory in the west, and the two countries would "settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations." Diplomatic and trade relations were also re-established in 1976.
Afghanistan crisis
After the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan where Soviet Union military Occupied Afghanistan, new strains appeared in Indo-Pakistani relations. Pakistan actively supported the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union, which was a close ally of India, which brought opposing political opinions.
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan was strongly supported by Pakistan - one of the few countries to do so - before the September 11 attacks. India, on the other hand, firmly opposed the Taliban and criticised Pakistan for supporting it.
Agreements, talks, and confidence building measures
In the following eight years, India voiced increasing concern over Pakistani arms purchases, U.S. military aid to Pakistan, and a clandestine nuclear weapons programme. In an effort to curtail tensions, the two countries formed a joint commission to examine disputes. In December 1988, Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi concluded a pact not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. Agreements on cultural exchanges and civil aviation were also initiated.
In 1997, high-level Indo-Pakistan talks resumed after a three-year pause. The Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India met twice and the foreign secretaries conducted three rounds of talks. In June 1997, the foreign secretaries identified eight "outstanding issues" around which continuing talks would be focused. The dispute over the status of Kashmir, (referred by India as Jammu and Kashmir), an issue since Independence, remains the major stumbling block in their dialogue. India maintains that the entire former princely state is an integral part of the Indian union, while Pakistan insists that UN resolutions calling for self-determination of the people of the state/province must be taken into account. It however refuses to abide by the previous part of the resolution, which calls for it to vacate all territories occupied.
In September 1997, the talks broke down over the structure of how to deal with the issues of Kashmir, and peace and security. Pakistan advocated that the issues be treated by separate working groups. India responded that the two issues be taken up along with six others on a simultaneous basis. In May 1998 India, and then Pakistan, conducted nuclear tests.
After Manmohan Singh become prime minister of India the Punjab provincial Government declared it would develop Gah, his place of birth, as a model village in his honour and name a school after him.[7] There is also a village in India named Pakistan, despite occasional pressure over the years to change its name the villagers have resisted.[8]
2001 Gujarat Earthquake in India
Pakistani President Pervez Mushrraf sent a plane load of relief supplies to India from Islamabad to Ahmedabad.[9] That carried 200 tents and more than 2,000 Blankets.[10] Furthermore the President called Indian PM to express his 'sympathy' over the loss from the earthquake.[11]
2005 Earthquake in Pakistan
India offered generous aid to Pakistan in response to the 2005 Earthquake. Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners consulted with one another regarding cooperation in relief work. India sent 25 tonnes of relief material to Pakistan including food, blankets and medicine. Large Indian companies such as Infosys have offered aid up to $226,000. On October 12, an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane ferried across seven truckloads (about 82 tons) of army medicines, 15,000 blankets and 50 tents and returned to New Delhi. A senior airforce official also stated that they had been asked by the Indian government to be ready to fly out another similar consignment.[12] On October 14, India dispatched the second consignment of relief material to Pakistan, by train through the Wagah Border. The consignment included 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets and 12 tons of medicine. A third consignment of medicine and relief material was also sent shortly afterwards by train.[13] India also pledged $25 million as aid to Pakistan.[14] India opened the first of three points at Chakan Da Bagh, in Poonch, on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake relief work. (Rediff) Such generous gestures signalled a new age in confidence, friendliness and cooperation between both India and Pakistan.
2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
Main article: 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings was a terrorist attack targeted on the Samjhauta Express train on the 18th of February. The Samjhauta Express is an international train that runs from New Delhi, India to Lahore, Pakistan, and is one of two trains to cross the India-Pakistan border.
2008 Mumbai attacks
Main article: 2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks by ten terrorists killed over 173 and wounded 308. The sole surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab who was arrested during the attacks was found to be a Pakistani national. This fact was acknowledged by Pakistani authorities.[15] In May 2010, an Indian court convicted him on four counts of murder, waging war against India, conspiracy and terrorism offences, and sentenced him to death.[16]
India blamed the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, for planning and executing the attacks. Islamabad resisted the claims and demanded evidence. India provided evidence in the form of interrogations, weapons, candy wrappers, Pakistani Brand Milk Packets, and telephone sets.[17] Indian officials demanded Pakistan extradite suspects for trial. They also said that, given the sophistication of the attacks, the perpetrators "must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan".[18]
Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir
Terrorist attacks on Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly: A car bomb exploded near the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October 1, 2001, killing 27 people on an attack that was blamed on Kashmiri separatists. It was one of the most prominent attacks against India apart from on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. The dead bodies of the terrorists and the data recovered from them revealed that Pakistan was solely responsible for the activity.[4]
• 1997 Sangrampora massacre: On March 21, 1997, 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Sangrampora village in the Budgam district.
• Wandhama Massacre: In January 1998, 24 Kashmiri Pandits living in the city Wandhama were killed by Islamic terrorists.
• Qasim Nagar Attack: On July 13, 2003, armed men believed to be a part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba threw hand grenades at the Qasim Nagar market in Srinagar and then fired on civilians standing nearby killing twenty-seven and injuring many more.[5]
• Assassination of Abdul Ghani Lone: Abdul Ghani Lone, a prominent All Party Hurriyat Conference leader, was assassinated by an unidentified gunmen during a memorial rally in Srinagar. The assassination resulted in wide-scale demonstrations against the Indian occupied-forces for failing to provide enough security cover for Mr. Lone.[6]
• July 20, 2005 Srinagar Bombing: A car bomb exploded near an armoured Indian Army vehicle in the famous Church Lane area in Srinagar killing four Indian Army personnel, one civilian and the suicide bomber. Terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack.[7]
• Budshah Chowk attack: A terrorist attack on July 29, 2005 at Srinigar's city centre, Budshah Chowk, killed two and left more than 17 people injured. Most of those injured were media journalists.[8]
• Murder of Ghulam Nabi Lone: On October 18, 2005 suspected Army man killed Jammu and Kashmir's then education minister Ghulam Nabi Lone. No Terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. [9]
Terrorist activities elsewhere
The attack on the Indian Parliament was by far the most dramatic attack carried out by Pakistani terrorists. India blamed Pakistan for carrying out the attacks, an allegation which Pakistan strongly denied and one that brought both nations to the brink of a nuclear confrontation in 2001-02. However, international peace efforts ensured the cooling of tensions between the two nuclear-capable nations.
Apart from this, the most notable was the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 en route New Delhi from Kathmandu, Nepal. The plane was hijacked on December 24, 1999 approximately one hour after take off and was taken to Amritsar airport and then to Lahore in Pakistan. After refueling the plane took off for Dubai and then finally landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Under intense media pressure, New Delhi complied with the hijackers' demand and freed Maulana Masood Azhar from its captivity in return for the freedom of the Indian passengers on the flight. The decision, however, cost New Delhi dearly. Maulana, who is believed to be hiding in Karachi, later became the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, an organisation which has carried out several terrorist acts against Indian Security Forces in Kashmir.[10]
On December 22, 2000, a group of terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba stormed the famous Red Fort in New Delhi. The Fort houses an Indian military unit and a high-security interrogation cell used both by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Indian Army. The terrorists successfully breached the security cover around the Red Fort and opened fire at the Indian military personnel on duty killing two of them on spot. The attack was significant because it was carried out just two days after the declaration of the cease-fire between India and Pakistan.[11]
Two Kashmiri terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed raided the Swami Narayan temple complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat killing 30 people, including 18 women and five children. The attack was carried out on September 25, 2002, just few days after state elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir. Two identical letters found on both the terrorists claimed that the attack was done in retaliation for the deaths of thousands of Muslims during the Gujarat riots.[12]
Two car bombs exploded in south Mumbai on August 25, 2003; one near the Gateway of India and the other at the famous Zaveri Bazaar, killing at least 48 and injuring 150 people. Though no terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attacks, Mumbai Police and RAW suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba's hand in the twin blasts.[13]
In an unsuccessful attempt, six terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba, stormed the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhomi complex on July 5, 2005. Before the terrorists could reach the main disputed site, they were shot down by Indian security forces. One Hindu worshipper and two policemen were injured during the incident.[14]
Alleged Human rights violations by India
A report by the Human Rights Watch, stated two main reasons for the improving human rights condition in the region: First, sincere efforts were made by the new Jammu and Kashmir state government headed by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to investigate cases of human rights abuses in the state and to punish those guilty including Indian soldiers. More than 15 Indian army soldiers were convicted by the Indian government in 2004 for carrying out human rights abuses in the state. Second, the decrease in cross-border infiltration into India by armed insurgents.[15]
Developments since 2004
Violent activities in the region declined in 2004. There are two main reasons for this: warming of relations between New Delhi and Islamabad which consequently lead to a ceasefire between the two countries in 2003 and the fencing of the LOC being carried out by the Indian Army. Moreover, coming under intense international pressure, Islamabad was compelled to take actions against the militants' training camps on its territory. In 2004, the two countries also agreed upon decreasing the number of troops present in the region.
Under pressure, Kashmiri militant organisations have made an offer for talks and negotiations with New Delhi, which India has welcomed.
India's Border Security Force blamed the Pakistani military for providing cover-fire for the terrorists whenever they infiltrated into Indian territory from Pakistan. Pakistan has in turn has also blamed India for providing support for terrorist groups inside Pakistan such as the MQM
In 2005, Pakistan's information minister, Sheikh Rashid, was alleged to have run a terrorist training camp in 1990 in N.W. Frontier, Pakistan. The Pakistani government dismissed the charges against its minister as an attempt to hamper the ongoing peace process between the two neighbours.
Both India and Pakistan have launched several mutual confidence-building measures (CBMs) to ease tensions between the two. These include more high-level talks, easing visa restrictions, and restarting of cricket matches between the two. The new bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad has also helped bring the two sides closer. Pakistan and India have also decided to co-operate on economic fronts.
A major clash between Indian Security Forces and militants occurred when a group of insurgents tried to infiltrate into the Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan in July 2005. The same month also saw a Kashmiri militant attack on Ayodhya and Srinagar. However, these developments had little impact on the peace process.
Some improvements in the relations are seen with the re-opening of a series of transportation networks near the India–Pakistan border, with the most important being bus routes and railway lines.
An Indian man held in Pakistani prisons since 1975 as an accused spy walked across the border to freedom March 3, 2008, an unconditional release that Pakistan said was done to improve relations between the two countries.[19]
In 2006, a "Friends Without Borders" scheme began with the help of two British tourists. The idea was that Indian and Pakistani children would make pen pals and write friendly letters to each other. The idea was so successful in both countries that the organisation found it "impossible to keep up". The World's Largest Love Letter was recently sent from India to Pakistan.[20]
In April 2010 a high profile Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Malik married the Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.[21] The wedding received much media attention and was said to transfix both India and Pakistan.[22]
On 10 Feb, 2011, India agreed to resume talks with Pakistan which were suspended after 26/11 Mumbai Attacks.[23] India had put on hold all the diplomatic relations saying it will only continue if Pakistan will act against the accused of Mumbai attacks.
Possible solutions to the Kashmir issue
Many consider that the best way to end present violence in Kashmir is negotiations between various Kashmiri-separatists groups, Pakistan and India. Here are a few possible solutions [16] to the Kashmir dispute[17] -
The status quo Currently a boundary - the Line of Control (LOC)- divides the region in two, with one part administered by India and one by Pakistan. India would like to formalize this status quo and make it the accepted international boundary. Factors Opposing - Pakistan rejects the plan partially as it will get lesser control over the region and wants greater. Kashmiri political parties too would oppose the plan as it violates the UN resolution for a referendum
Kashmir becomes a part of India
Though New Delhi and much of the Hindu population of Jammu and Buddhists in Ladakh would have no objections to such a plan.[24] Factors Opposing– The Muslim majority population of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, might object the outcome as would a majority of those in Kashmir valley in India
The status quo for something else Pakistan accepts the status quo in return for India giving away disputed Sir Creek
Kashmir becomes a part of Pakistan
Kashmir joining Pakistan. Factors Opposing– The communities of Hindus of Jammu and the Buddhists of Ladakh would object the outcome. Hindu Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced out of Kashmir by militants are also a major topic to consider.
Kashmir becomes an independent sovereign republic As an independent state, the region would most likely be economically viable with tourism probably being the largest source of income, however being a landlocked country, it would be heavily dependent on India and Pakistan. Factors Opposing - The outcome is unlikely because it requires both India and Pakistan (and potentially China) to give up territory.
A smaller independent Kashmir A smaller independent Kashmir formed out of the current strip of Kashmir (administered by Pakistan) and the Kashmir valley (controlled by India). This would leave the Northern areas with Pakistan while India retains Jammu and Ladakh. However this region should maintain good relations with both India and Pakistan as it is landlocked and is covered with snow in winter. This region can also have its defence and foreign relations jointly handled by India and Pakistan. Factors Opposing - The outcome is unlikely because it requires both India and Pakistan to give up territory.
Re-evaluation
The insurgents who initially started their movement as a pro-Kashmiri independence movement, have gone through a lot of change in their ideology. Most of the insurgents portray their struggle as a religious one.
Indian analysts allege that by supporting these insurgents, Pakistan is trying to wage a proxy war against India while Pakistan claims that it regards most of these insurgent groups as "freedom fighters" rather than terrorists
Internationally known to be the most deadly theatre of conflict, nearly 10 million people, including Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, have been fighting a daily battle for survival. The cross-border firing between India and Pakistan, and the terrorist attacks combined have taken its toll on the Kashmiris, who have suffered poor living standards and an erosion of human rights.
Kargil crisis
Attempts to restart dialogue between the two nations were given a major boost by the February 1999 meeting of both Prime Ministers in Lahore and their signing of three agreements.
These efforts have since been stalled by the intrusion of Pakistani forces into Indian territory near Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir in May 1999. This resulted in intense fighting between Indian and Pakistani forces, known as the Kargil conflict. Backed by the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army successfully regained Kargil. A subsequent military coup in Pakistan that overturned the democratically elected Nawaz Sharif government in October of the same year also proved a setback to relations.
In 2001, a summit was called in Agra; Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf turned up to meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The talks fell through.
On June 20, 2004, with a new government in place in India, both countries agreed to extend a nuclear testing ban and to set up a hotline between their foreign secretaries aimed at preventing misunderstandings that might lead to a nuclear war. [18]
As of early 2005, both countries are committed to a process of dialogue to solve all outstanding issues. Baglihar Dam issue was a new issue raised by Pakistan in 2005.
Sporting ties
Main article: Sports diplomacy#Cricket
Cricket and hockey matches between the two (as well as other sports to a lesser degree such as those of the SAARC games) have often been political in nature. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan General Zia-ul Haq traveled to India for a bout of "cricket diplomacy" to keep India from supporting the Soviets by opening another front. Pervez Musharaff also tried to do the same more than a decade later but to no avail.
Diasporic relations
Indians and Pakistanis living in the Britain are said to have friendly relations with one another.[25][26] There are various cities such as Birmingham, Blackburn and Manchester where both communities live alongside each other in peace and harmony. Both Indians and Pakistanis living in the UK fit under the category of British Asian. The UK is also home to the Pakistan & India friendship forum.[27]
The MEP Saj Karim is of Pakistani origin. He is a member of the European Parliament Friends of India Group, Karim was also responsible for opening up Europe to free trade with India.[28][29] He has given his full support to the Indian government for a death sentence to be given to Ajmal Kasab,[30] who was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Relations between India and Pakistan are defined by the violent partition of British India in 1947, the Kashmir dispute and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations. Consequently, even though the two South Asian nations share historic, cultural, geographic, and economic links, their relationship has been plagued by hostility and suspicion.
After the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, two new sovereign nations were formed — the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The subsequent partition of the former British India displaced up to 12.5 million people, with estimates of loss of life varying from several hundred thousand to a million.[1] India emerged as a secular nation with a Hindu majority population and a large Muslim minority while Pakistan was established as an Islamic republic with an overwhelming Muslim majority population.[2][3]
Soon after their independence, India and Pakistan established diplomatic relations but the violent partition and numerous territorial disputes would overshadow their relationship. Since their independence, the two countries have fought three major wars, one undeclared war and have been involved in numerous armed skirmishes and military standoffs. The Kashmir dispute is the main center-point of all of these conflicts with the exception of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which resulted in the secession of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
There have been numerous attempts to improve the relationship — notably, the Shimla summit, the Agra summit and the Lahore summit. Since the early 1980s, relations between the two nations soured particularly after the Siachen conflict, the intensification of Kashmir insurgency in 1989, Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests in 1998 and the 1999 Kargil war. Certain confidence-building measures — such as the 2003 ceasefire agreement and the Delhi–Lahore Bus service — were successful in deescalating tensions. However, these efforts have been impeded by Pakistan's alleged involvement in various terrorist activities in India. The 2001 Indian Parliament attack almost brought the two nations on the brink of a nuclear war. Additionally, the 2008 Mumbai attacks (which was carried out by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan)[4] resulted in a severe blow to the ongoing India-Pakistan peace talks.
Seeds of conflict
About half a million Muslims and Hindus were killed in communal riots following the partition of British India. Millions of Muslims living in India and Hindus and Sikhs living in Pakistan emigrated in one of the most colossal transfers of population in the modern era. Both countries accused each other of not providing adequate security to the minorities emigrating through their territory. This served to increase tensions between the newly-born countries.
According to the British plan for the partition of British India, all the 680 princely states were allowed to decide which of the two countries to join. With the exception of a few, most of the Muslim-majority princely-states acceded to Pakistan while most of the Hindu-majority princely states joined India. However, the decisions of some of the princely-states would shape the Pakistan-India relationship considerably, in the years to
Junagadh is one of the modern districts of Saurastra, Gujarat
Junagadh was a state on the southwestern end of Gujarat, with the principalities of Manavadar, Mangrol and Babriawad. The Arabian Sea stood between it and Pakistan. The state had an overwhelming Hindu population which constituted more than 80% of its citizens, while the ruler of the state was a Muslim. On August 15, 1947, the ruler of the state, Nawab of Junagadh Mahabat Khan acceded to Pakistan. Pakistan confirmed the acceptance of the accession in September 1947. India did not accept the accession as legitimate.
The Indian point of view was that since Junagadh was a state with a predominantly Hindu population it should be a part of India. Additionally, since the state was encircled by Indian territory it should have been a part of India. Indian politicians also stated that by giving Pakistan a predominantly Hindu region to govern, the basis of the two nation theory was contradicted.
The Pakistani point of view was that since Junagadh had a ruler and governing body who chose to accede to Pakistan, they should be allowed to do so. Junagadh, having a coastline, could have maintained maritime links with Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistani politicians stated that the two nation theory did not necessarily mean a clear division of land and absolute transfer of populations as the sheer magnitude of such a proceeding would wreak havoc upon millions.
Neither of the ten states were able to resolve this issue amicably and it only added fuel to an already charged environment.
Sardar Patel, India's then Home Minister, felt that if Junagadh was permitted to go to Pakistan, it would create communal unrest across Gujarat. The government of India gave Pakistan time to void the accession and hold a plebiscite in Junagadh to pre empt any violence in Gujarat. Samaldas Gandhi formed a government-in-exile, the Arzi Hukumat (in Urdu: Arzi: Transitional, Hukumat: Government) of the people of Junagadh. Patel ordered the annexation of Junagadh's three principalities.
Kashmir dispute
Main article: Kashmir conflict
Kashmir was a princely state, ruled by a Hindu[5] king, Maharaja Hari Singh. The Maharaja of Kashmir was equally hesitant to join either India–, because he knew his Muslim subjects would not like to join a Hindu-based and Hindu-majority nation[citation needed]-, or Pakistan– which as a Hindu he was personally averse to[citation needed]. Pakistan coveted the Himalayan kingdom, while Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi[citation needed] and Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru hoped that the kingdom would join India. Hari Singh signed a Standstill Agreement (preserving status quo) with Pakistan, but did not make his decision by August 15, 1947.
Rumours spread in Pakistan that Hari Singh was trying to accede Kashmir to India. Alarmed by this threat, a team of Pakistani forces were dispatched into Kashmir, fearing an Indian invasion of the region. Backed by Pakistani paramilitary forces, Pashtuns invaded Kashmir in September 1947. Kashmir's security forces were too weak and ill-equipped to fight against Pakistan. Troubled by the deteriorating political pressure that was being applied to Hari Singh and his governance, the Maharaja asked for India's help. However, the Constitution of India barred the Indian Armed Forces' intervention since Kashmir did not come under India's jurisdiction. Desperate to get India's help and get Kashmir back in his own control, the Maharaja acceded Kashmir to India (which was against the will of the majority of Kashmiris), and signed the Instrument of Accession.[6] By this time the raiders were close to the capital, Srinagar. On October 27, 1947, the Indian Air Force airdropped Indian troops into Srinagar and made an intervention. The Indian troops managed to seize parts of Kashmir which included Jammu, Srinagar and the Kashmir valley itself, but the strong and intense fighting, flagged with the onset of winter, made much of the state impassable. After weeks of intense fighting between Pakistan and India, Pakistani leaders and the Indian Prime Minister Nehru declared a ceasefire and sought U.N. arbitration with the promise of a plebiscite. Sardar Patel had argued against both, describing Kashmir as a bilateral dispute and its accession as justified by international law. In 1957, north-western Kashmir was fully integrated into Pakistan, becoming Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), while the other portion was acceded to Indian control, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir) was created. In 1962, China occupied Aksai Chin, the northeastern region bordering Ladakh. In 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot and captured more than 80% of the Siachen Glacier.
Pakistan maintains Kashmiris' rights to self-determination through a plebiscite in accordance with an earlier Indian statement and a UN resolution. Pakistan also points to India's failure of not understanding its own political logic and applying it to Kashmir, by taking their opinion on the case of the accession of Junagadh as an example (that the Hindu majority state should have gone to India even though it had a Muslim ruler), that Kashmir should also rightfully and legally have become a part of Pakistan since majoirity of the people were Muslim, even though they had a Hindu ruler. Pakistan also states that at the very least, the promised plebiscite should be allowed to decide the fate of the Kashmiri people.
India on the other hand asserts that the Maharaja's decision, which was the norm for every other princely state at the time of independence, and subsequent elections, for over 40 years, on Kashmir has made it an integral part of India. This opinion has often become controversial, as Pakistan asserts that the decision of the ruler of Junagadh also adhered to Pakistan. Due to all such political differences, this dispute has also been the subject of wars between the two countries in 1947 and 1965, and a limited conflict in 1999. The state/province remains divided between the two countries by the Line of Control (LoC), which demarcates the ceasefire line agreed upon in the 1947 conflict.
See also: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and Kargil War
Other Territorial Disputes
Pakistan is locked in other territorial disputes with India such as the Siachen Glacier and Kori Creek. Pakistan is also currently having dialogue with India regarding the Baglihar Dam being built over the River Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bengal refugee crisis
In 1949, India recorded close to 1 million Hindu refugees, who flooded into West Bengal and other states from East Pakistan(Now Bangladesh), owing to communal violence, intimidation and repression from authorities. The plight of the refugees outraged Hindus and Indian nationalists, and the refugee population drained the resources of Indian states, which were unable to absorb them. While not ruling out war, Prime Minister Nehru and Sardar Patel invited Liaquat Ali Khan for talks in Delhi. Although many Indians termed this appeasement, Nehru signed a pact with Liaquat Ali Khan that pledged both nations to the protection of minorities and creation of minority commissions. Although opposed to the principle, Patel decided to back this Pact for the sake of peace, and played a critical role in garnering support from West Bengal and across India, and enforcing the provisions of the Pact. Khan and Nehru also signed a trade agreement, and committed to resolving bilateral disputes through peaceful means. Steadily, hundreds of thousands of Hindus returned to East Pakistan, but the thaw in relations did not last long, primarily owing to the Kashmir dispute.
1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Main articles: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War
Pakistan, since independence, was geo-politically divided into two major regions, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. East Pakistan was occupied mostly by Bengali people. In December 1971, following a political crisis in East Pakistan, the situation soon spiralled out of control in East Pakistan and India intervened in favour of the rebelling Bengali populace. The conflict, a brief but bloody war, resulted in an independence of East Pakistan. In the war, the Pakistani army swiftly fell to India, forcing the independence of East Pakistan, which separated and became Bangladesh. The Pakistani military, being a thousand miles from its base and surrounded by enemies, was forced to give in.
Simla Agreement
Since the 1971 war, Pakistan and India have made only slow progress towards the normalisation of relations. In July 1972, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto met in the Indian hill station of Simla. They signed the Simla Agreement, by which India would return all Pakistani personnel (over 90,000) and captured territory in the west, and the two countries would "settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations." Diplomatic and trade relations were also re-established in 1976.
Afghanistan crisis
After the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan where Soviet Union military Occupied Afghanistan, new strains appeared in Indo-Pakistani relations. Pakistan actively supported the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union, which was a close ally of India, which brought opposing political opinions.
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan was strongly supported by Pakistan - one of the few countries to do so - before the September 11 attacks. India, on the other hand, firmly opposed the Taliban and criticised Pakistan for supporting it.
Agreements, talks, and confidence building measures
In the following eight years, India voiced increasing concern over Pakistani arms purchases, U.S. military aid to Pakistan, and a clandestine nuclear weapons programme. In an effort to curtail tensions, the two countries formed a joint commission to examine disputes. In December 1988, Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi concluded a pact not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. Agreements on cultural exchanges and civil aviation were also initiated.
In 1997, high-level Indo-Pakistan talks resumed after a three-year pause. The Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India met twice and the foreign secretaries conducted three rounds of talks. In June 1997, the foreign secretaries identified eight "outstanding issues" around which continuing talks would be focused. The dispute over the status of Kashmir, (referred by India as Jammu and Kashmir), an issue since Independence, remains the major stumbling block in their dialogue. India maintains that the entire former princely state is an integral part of the Indian union, while Pakistan insists that UN resolutions calling for self-determination of the people of the state/province must be taken into account. It however refuses to abide by the previous part of the resolution, which calls for it to vacate all territories occupied.
In September 1997, the talks broke down over the structure of how to deal with the issues of Kashmir, and peace and security. Pakistan advocated that the issues be treated by separate working groups. India responded that the two issues be taken up along with six others on a simultaneous basis. In May 1998 India, and then Pakistan, conducted nuclear tests.
After Manmohan Singh become prime minister of India the Punjab provincial Government declared it would develop Gah, his place of birth, as a model village in his honour and name a school after him.[7] There is also a village in India named Pakistan, despite occasional pressure over the years to change its name the villagers have resisted.[8]
2001 Gujarat Earthquake in India
Pakistani President Pervez Mushrraf sent a plane load of relief supplies to India from Islamabad to Ahmedabad.[9] That carried 200 tents and more than 2,000 Blankets.[10] Furthermore the President called Indian PM to express his 'sympathy' over the loss from the earthquake.[11]
2005 Earthquake in Pakistan
India offered generous aid to Pakistan in response to the 2005 Earthquake. Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners consulted with one another regarding cooperation in relief work. India sent 25 tonnes of relief material to Pakistan including food, blankets and medicine. Large Indian companies such as Infosys have offered aid up to $226,000. On October 12, an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane ferried across seven truckloads (about 82 tons) of army medicines, 15,000 blankets and 50 tents and returned to New Delhi. A senior airforce official also stated that they had been asked by the Indian government to be ready to fly out another similar consignment.[12] On October 14, India dispatched the second consignment of relief material to Pakistan, by train through the Wagah Border. The consignment included 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets and 12 tons of medicine. A third consignment of medicine and relief material was also sent shortly afterwards by train.[13] India also pledged $25 million as aid to Pakistan.[14] India opened the first of three points at Chakan Da Bagh, in Poonch, on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake relief work. (Rediff) Such generous gestures signalled a new age in confidence, friendliness and cooperation between both India and Pakistan.
2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
Main article: 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings was a terrorist attack targeted on the Samjhauta Express train on the 18th of February. The Samjhauta Express is an international train that runs from New Delhi, India to Lahore, Pakistan, and is one of two trains to cross the India-Pakistan border.
2008 Mumbai attacks
Main article: 2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks by ten terrorists killed over 173 and wounded 308. The sole surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab who was arrested during the attacks was found to be a Pakistani national. This fact was acknowledged by Pakistani authorities.[15] In May 2010, an Indian court convicted him on four counts of murder, waging war against India, conspiracy and terrorism offences, and sentenced him to death.[16]
India blamed the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, for planning and executing the attacks. Islamabad resisted the claims and demanded evidence. India provided evidence in the form of interrogations, weapons, candy wrappers, Pakistani Brand Milk Packets, and telephone sets.[17] Indian officials demanded Pakistan extradite suspects for trial. They also said that, given the sophistication of the attacks, the perpetrators "must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan".[18]
Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir
Terrorist attacks on Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly: A car bomb exploded near the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October 1, 2001, killing 27 people on an attack that was blamed on Kashmiri separatists. It was one of the most prominent attacks against India apart from on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. The dead bodies of the terrorists and the data recovered from them revealed that Pakistan was solely responsible for the activity.[4]
• 1997 Sangrampora massacre: On March 21, 1997, 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Sangrampora village in the Budgam district.
• Wandhama Massacre: In January 1998, 24 Kashmiri Pandits living in the city Wandhama were killed by Islamic terrorists.
• Qasim Nagar Attack: On July 13, 2003, armed men believed to be a part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba threw hand grenades at the Qasim Nagar market in Srinagar and then fired on civilians standing nearby killing twenty-seven and injuring many more.[5]
• Assassination of Abdul Ghani Lone: Abdul Ghani Lone, a prominent All Party Hurriyat Conference leader, was assassinated by an unidentified gunmen during a memorial rally in Srinagar. The assassination resulted in wide-scale demonstrations against the Indian occupied-forces for failing to provide enough security cover for Mr. Lone.[6]
• July 20, 2005 Srinagar Bombing: A car bomb exploded near an armoured Indian Army vehicle in the famous Church Lane area in Srinagar killing four Indian Army personnel, one civilian and the suicide bomber. Terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack.[7]
• Budshah Chowk attack: A terrorist attack on July 29, 2005 at Srinigar's city centre, Budshah Chowk, killed two and left more than 17 people injured. Most of those injured were media journalists.[8]
• Murder of Ghulam Nabi Lone: On October 18, 2005 suspected Army man killed Jammu and Kashmir's then education minister Ghulam Nabi Lone. No Terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. [9]
Terrorist activities elsewhere
The attack on the Indian Parliament was by far the most dramatic attack carried out by Pakistani terrorists. India blamed Pakistan for carrying out the attacks, an allegation which Pakistan strongly denied and one that brought both nations to the brink of a nuclear confrontation in 2001-02. However, international peace efforts ensured the cooling of tensions between the two nuclear-capable nations.
Apart from this, the most notable was the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 en route New Delhi from Kathmandu, Nepal. The plane was hijacked on December 24, 1999 approximately one hour after take off and was taken to Amritsar airport and then to Lahore in Pakistan. After refueling the plane took off for Dubai and then finally landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Under intense media pressure, New Delhi complied with the hijackers' demand and freed Maulana Masood Azhar from its captivity in return for the freedom of the Indian passengers on the flight. The decision, however, cost New Delhi dearly. Maulana, who is believed to be hiding in Karachi, later became the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, an organisation which has carried out several terrorist acts against Indian Security Forces in Kashmir.[10]
On December 22, 2000, a group of terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba stormed the famous Red Fort in New Delhi. The Fort houses an Indian military unit and a high-security interrogation cell used both by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Indian Army. The terrorists successfully breached the security cover around the Red Fort and opened fire at the Indian military personnel on duty killing two of them on spot. The attack was significant because it was carried out just two days after the declaration of the cease-fire between India and Pakistan.[11]
Two Kashmiri terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed raided the Swami Narayan temple complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat killing 30 people, including 18 women and five children. The attack was carried out on September 25, 2002, just few days after state elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir. Two identical letters found on both the terrorists claimed that the attack was done in retaliation for the deaths of thousands of Muslims during the Gujarat riots.[12]
Two car bombs exploded in south Mumbai on August 25, 2003; one near the Gateway of India and the other at the famous Zaveri Bazaar, killing at least 48 and injuring 150 people. Though no terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attacks, Mumbai Police and RAW suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba's hand in the twin blasts.[13]
In an unsuccessful attempt, six terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba, stormed the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhomi complex on July 5, 2005. Before the terrorists could reach the main disputed site, they were shot down by Indian security forces. One Hindu worshipper and two policemen were injured during the incident.[14]
Alleged Human rights violations by India
A report by the Human Rights Watch, stated two main reasons for the improving human rights condition in the region: First, sincere efforts were made by the new Jammu and Kashmir state government headed by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to investigate cases of human rights abuses in the state and to punish those guilty including Indian soldiers. More than 15 Indian army soldiers were convicted by the Indian government in 2004 for carrying out human rights abuses in the state. Second, the decrease in cross-border infiltration into India by armed insurgents.[15]
Developments since 2004
Violent activities in the region declined in 2004. There are two main reasons for this: warming of relations between New Delhi and Islamabad which consequently lead to a ceasefire between the two countries in 2003 and the fencing of the LOC being carried out by the Indian Army. Moreover, coming under intense international pressure, Islamabad was compelled to take actions against the militants' training camps on its territory. In 2004, the two countries also agreed upon decreasing the number of troops present in the region.
Under pressure, Kashmiri militant organisations have made an offer for talks and negotiations with New Delhi, which India has welcomed.
India's Border Security Force blamed the Pakistani military for providing cover-fire for the terrorists whenever they infiltrated into Indian territory from Pakistan. Pakistan has in turn has also blamed India for providing support for terrorist groups inside Pakistan such as the MQM
In 2005, Pakistan's information minister, Sheikh Rashid, was alleged to have run a terrorist training camp in 1990 in N.W. Frontier, Pakistan. The Pakistani government dismissed the charges against its minister as an attempt to hamper the ongoing peace process between the two neighbours.
Both India and Pakistan have launched several mutual confidence-building measures (CBMs) to ease tensions between the two. These include more high-level talks, easing visa restrictions, and restarting of cricket matches between the two. The new bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad has also helped bring the two sides closer. Pakistan and India have also decided to co-operate on economic fronts.
A major clash between Indian Security Forces and militants occurred when a group of insurgents tried to infiltrate into the Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan in July 2005. The same month also saw a Kashmiri militant attack on Ayodhya and Srinagar. However, these developments had little impact on the peace process.
Some improvements in the relations are seen with the re-opening of a series of transportation networks near the India–Pakistan border, with the most important being bus routes and railway lines.
An Indian man held in Pakistani prisons since 1975 as an accused spy walked across the border to freedom March 3, 2008, an unconditional release that Pakistan said was done to improve relations between the two countries.[19]
In 2006, a "Friends Without Borders" scheme began with the help of two British tourists. The idea was that Indian and Pakistani children would make pen pals and write friendly letters to each other. The idea was so successful in both countries that the organisation found it "impossible to keep up". The World's Largest Love Letter was recently sent from India to Pakistan.[20]
In April 2010 a high profile Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Malik married the Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.[21] The wedding received much media attention and was said to transfix both India and Pakistan.[22]
On 10 Feb, 2011, India agreed to resume talks with Pakistan which were suspended after 26/11 Mumbai Attacks.[23] India had put on hold all the diplomatic relations saying it will only continue if Pakistan will act against the accused of Mumbai attacks.
Possible solutions to the Kashmir issue
Many consider that the best way to end present violence in Kashmir is negotiations between various Kashmiri-separatists groups, Pakistan and India. Here are a few possible solutions [16] to the Kashmir dispute[17] -
The status quo Currently a boundary - the Line of Control (LOC)- divides the region in two, with one part administered by India and one by Pakistan. India would like to formalize this status quo and make it the accepted international boundary. Factors Opposing - Pakistan rejects the plan partially as it will get lesser control over the region and wants greater. Kashmiri political parties too would oppose the plan as it violates the UN resolution for a referendum
Kashmir becomes a part of India
Though New Delhi and much of the Hindu population of Jammu and Buddhists in Ladakh would have no objections to such a plan.[24] Factors Opposing– The Muslim majority population of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, might object the outcome as would a majority of those in Kashmir valley in India
The status quo for something else Pakistan accepts the status quo in return for India giving away disputed Sir Creek
Kashmir becomes a part of Pakistan
Kashmir joining Pakistan. Factors Opposing– The communities of Hindus of Jammu and the Buddhists of Ladakh would object the outcome. Hindu Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced out of Kashmir by militants are also a major topic to consider.
Kashmir becomes an independent sovereign republic As an independent state, the region would most likely be economically viable with tourism probably being the largest source of income, however being a landlocked country, it would be heavily dependent on India and Pakistan. Factors Opposing - The outcome is unlikely because it requires both India and Pakistan (and potentially China) to give up territory.
A smaller independent Kashmir A smaller independent Kashmir formed out of the current strip of Kashmir (administered by Pakistan) and the Kashmir valley (controlled by India). This would leave the Northern areas with Pakistan while India retains Jammu and Ladakh. However this region should maintain good relations with both India and Pakistan as it is landlocked and is covered with snow in winter. This region can also have its defence and foreign relations jointly handled by India and Pakistan. Factors Opposing - The outcome is unlikely because it requires both India and Pakistan to give up territory.
Re-evaluation
The insurgents who initially started their movement as a pro-Kashmiri independence movement, have gone through a lot of change in their ideology. Most of the insurgents portray their struggle as a religious one.
Indian analysts allege that by supporting these insurgents, Pakistan is trying to wage a proxy war against India while Pakistan claims that it regards most of these insurgent groups as "freedom fighters" rather than terrorists
Internationally known to be the most deadly theatre of conflict, nearly 10 million people, including Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, have been fighting a daily battle for survival. The cross-border firing between India and Pakistan, and the terrorist attacks combined have taken its toll on the Kashmiris, who have suffered poor living standards and an erosion of human rights.
Kargil crisis
Attempts to restart dialogue between the two nations were given a major boost by the February 1999 meeting of both Prime Ministers in Lahore and their signing of three agreements.
These efforts have since been stalled by the intrusion of Pakistani forces into Indian territory near Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir in May 1999. This resulted in intense fighting between Indian and Pakistani forces, known as the Kargil conflict. Backed by the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army successfully regained Kargil. A subsequent military coup in Pakistan that overturned the democratically elected Nawaz Sharif government in October of the same year also proved a setback to relations.
In 2001, a summit was called in Agra; Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf turned up to meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The talks fell through.
On June 20, 2004, with a new government in place in India, both countries agreed to extend a nuclear testing ban and to set up a hotline between their foreign secretaries aimed at preventing misunderstandings that might lead to a nuclear war. [18]
As of early 2005, both countries are committed to a process of dialogue to solve all outstanding issues. Baglihar Dam issue was a new issue raised by Pakistan in 2005.
Sporting ties
Main article: Sports diplomacy#Cricket
Cricket and hockey matches between the two (as well as other sports to a lesser degree such as those of the SAARC games) have often been political in nature. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan General Zia-ul Haq traveled to India for a bout of "cricket diplomacy" to keep India from supporting the Soviets by opening another front. Pervez Musharaff also tried to do the same more than a decade later but to no avail.
Diasporic relations
Indians and Pakistanis living in the Britain are said to have friendly relations with one another.[25][26] There are various cities such as Birmingham, Blackburn and Manchester where both communities live alongside each other in peace and harmony. Both Indians and Pakistanis living in the UK fit under the category of British Asian. The UK is also home to the Pakistan & India friendship forum.[27]
The MEP Saj Karim is of Pakistani origin. He is a member of the European Parliament Friends of India Group, Karim was also responsible for opening up Europe to free trade with India.[28][29] He has given his full support to the Indian government for a death sentence to be given to Ajmal Kasab,[30] who was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
INDIA VERSUS PAKISTAN RIVALARY
India versus Pakistan cricket rivalry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have been long-time arch rivals and their rivalry is considered one of the most intense sports rivalries in the world[1][2]An India-Pakistan cricket match has been estimated to attract up to one hundred million television viewers according to well respected TV ratings firm Initiative, and defeat is usually unacceptable to fans of both teams. In the World Cup matches, India has a 4-0 record over Pakistan. Although in Champions Trophy matches between the sides, Pakistan has a 2-0 record over India.
Background
The rivalry began with the Partition of India in 1947, with Pakistan being created, the subsequent Kashmir dispute and the wars and conflicts that followed afterward between the two countries. This dispute has affected both diplomatic and political relations, and the same animosity can be felt on the field. A match between the two countries is often equated with war. Often a political or diplomatic tension has a fallout on the cricket relations between the two countries including suspension of cricket tours to the other country.
Matches
The first ever test match between India and Pakistan was played at Delhi - 16 to 18 October 1952. It was a four day test, India required just three days to beat Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs. India won the 5-match series 2-1 and then, the following 10 tests were draws. Pakistan's first series win against India came after 26 years, in 1978-79 series. In the late 1980s & 90s, the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams played each other in non-Test-playing nations venues such as Canada (Toronto) and the United Arab Emirates (Sharjah). The series between the teams in Canada in the 1990s and early 2000s were officially known as the "Friendship Cup".[3] In early 2009, India was scheduled to begin a tour of Pakistan from January 13 to February 19, 2009, but was cancelled because of the tension existing between the two countries after the Mumbai Terror Attacks, in November 2008.[4]
India Vs Pakistan - Head-to-Head statistics
As of 23 March 2011.
Tests[5]
ODIs[6]
T20Is[7]
Matches played 59 119 2[8]
Won by Pakistan 12 69 0
Won by India 9 46 1
Draw/Tie/No result 38 4 1
Test records
Highest team score
Pakistan - 699/5, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on December 1, 1989 - Match Result: Drawn
India - 675/5 (declared), at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan, on March 28, 2004 - Match Result: India won by an innings and 52 runs.
Lowest team score
India – 106 all out, Pakistan won by an innings and 43 runs at University Ground, Lucknow – October 23 to October 26, 1952
Pakistan – 116 all out, Pakistan won by 16 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore – March 13 to March 17, 1987
Highest individual scores
Virender Sehwag (India) - 309 at Multan stadium, on March 28, 2004
Javed Miandad (Pakistan) – 280* at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad on January 14, 1983
Highest total series wicket taker
Imran Khan (Pakistan) – 94 wickets
Kapil Dev (India) – 99 wickets
Best bowling figures in an innings
Anil Kumble (India) – 10/74 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on February 7, 1999
Imran Khan (Pakistan) - 8/60 at National Stadium, Karachi on December 27, 1982
ODI Statistics
Highest innings score
India – 356/9,[9] India beat Pakistan by 58 runs at ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam on April 5, 2005
Pakistan – 344/8,[9] India beat Pakistan by 5 runs at National Stadium, Karachi on March 13, 2004
Lowest innings score
India – 79, Pakistan beat India by 8 Wickets at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot on October 13, 1978
Pakistan – 87, India beat Pakistan by 38 Runs at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah on March 22, 1985
Highest total chased
Pakistan – 322, Pakistan beat India by 4 wickets at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali – Chandigarh on November 8, 2007
India – 316, India beat Pakistan by 3 Wickets at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka on Jan 18, 1998
Most career runs
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) 2403 runs
Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 2389 runs
Highest individual score
Pakistan - Saeed Anwar 194
India - MS Dhoni 148
Highest Partnerships
India - 231 between Sachin Tendulkar & Singh Sidhu at Sharjah
Pakistan - 230 between Saeed Anwar & Ijaz Ahmed at Dhaka
Best bowling figures
India - 5 wickets for 16 runs by Sourav Ganguly in 1997 at Toronto
Pakistan - 7 wickets for 37 runs by Aaqib Javed in Sharjah
Biggest Victory margins
Pakistan - 150 run victory at Delhi in 2005
India - 140 run victory at Dhaka in 2008
Smallest totals & victory margins
Pakistan - 4 runs at Sharjah in 1993
India - 4 runs at Quetta in 1978
Most Extras
India conceded 41 extras at a Mohali game on 8 November 2007. Pakistan have conceded 31 extras.
All-time highest wicket taker
Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 60 Wickets
Anil Kumble & Javagal Srinath (India) – 54 Wickets
ODI matches summary
Total 119 Matches - 46 won by India, 69 won by Pakistan. No result 4
26 matches in India - 9 won by India, 17 won by Pakistan.
27 matches in Pakistan - 11 won by India, 14 won by Pakistan. No result 2.
66 matches in neutral countries. 26 won by India. 38 won by Pakistan. No result 2
Winner in ODI Series
None Refers to 3rd Team
1978 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1982 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1983 Pakistan in India Winner India
1984 Asia Cup Winner India
1984 India in Pakistan, called off
1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket (in Australia) Winner India
1985 Rothmans Four-Nations Cup (Australia, England, India, Pakistan in United Arab Emirates) Winner India
1985 Rothmans Sharjah Cup (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1986 Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1986 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1987 Pakistan in India Winner Pakistan
1987 Sharjah Cup Winner None
1988 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1988 ASIA CUP Winner India
1989 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
1989 MRF World Series (Nehru Cup) Winner Pakistan
1989 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1990 Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1991 Wills Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
1994 Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1994 Singer World Series (Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka) Winner India
1995 Asia Cup Winner India
1996 Singer Cup (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Singapore) Winner Pakistan
1996 Pepsi Sharjah Cup (India, Pakistan, South Africa in United Arab Emirates) Winner (None)
1996 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner Pakistan
1997 Pepsi Independence Cup (India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in India) Winner (Pakistan)
1997 Pepsi Asia Cup (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka) Winner (None)
1997 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner India
1997 India in Pakistan ODI Series Winner Pakistan
1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan in Bangladesh) Winner India
1998 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner Pakistan
1999 Pepsi Cup (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in India) Winner Pakistan
1999 Coca-Cola Cup (England, India, Pakistan in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
2000 Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
2000-2003 No Series
2004 India in Pakistan Samsung Cup Winner India
2004 Asia Cup Winner (None)
2005 Pakistan in India Videocon Cup Winner Pakistan
2006 India in Pakistan Hutch Cup Winner India
2007 Pakistan in India Indian Oil Cup ODI Series Winner India
2008 Asia Cup Winner (None)
2009 No Series
2010 Asia Cup Winner India
2011 Worldcup (Semi-final) Winner [TBD]
Memorable Moments (India)
In 1984, the Indian team led by Kapil Dev was bowled out for 125 in Sharjah. In the dressing room, Kapil asked his bowlers to just go and make things difficult for Pakistan, since they had nothing to lose. In reply, India bowled out Imran Khan's Pakistan team for a paltry 87. Catches win matches, and it was a cliche come true at Sharjah. This was one of those rare matches in the sub-continent a low-scoring game that was a thriller all the way. With Imran Khan firing on all cylinders, India were shot out for a miserable 125 and it seemed all over bar the shouting. It was India's fielding that won the day and leading the way was veteran opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar. Pakistan were all out for 87. Gavaskar's four brilliant catches at slip would stand as a world record till it was broken by Jonty Rhodes in 1993.
During 1996 World Cup Quarter Final, in Bangalore, Aamir Sohail smashed a delivery from Indian seamer Venkatesh Prasad through the covers for a four. After this, he pointed his bat towards the Prasad & boundary where the ball had gone. In the very next delivery, Prasad bowled out Sohail and pointed his finger towards the pavilion. In the same match, Ajay Jadeja had hit Waqar Younis for 18 & 22 in 48th & 50th over. Though numerically insignificant, Ajay Jadeja smashing 45 swung the match away from Pak in this tension-packed knockout match. Coming in for the slog, Jadeja was particularly severe on Waqar whose first eight overs had cost 47 runs. The next two went for 18 and 22 with Jadeja smashing four 4s and two 6s off a mere 26 balls. That took India to a formidable 287 for 8 which proved too much for Pakistan.
In Sahara Friendship series, Toronto, 1997 Sourav Ganguly dominated a series with both bat and ball like no cricketer has before or since. He almost single-handedly guided India to a 4-1 rout of Pakistan. A total of 222 runs, 15 wickets and three catches in the six games (the third was abandoned after 31.5 overs) was a dazzling performance and earned Ganguly the Man of the Series award. Ganguly started quietly with two wickets and 17 runs in the first game. In the second he again took two wickets and scored 32. He took two of three wickets to fall in the washed out third game and then routed Pakistan in the fourth with figures of 5 for 16 to make it three wins in a row. The fifth saw him shine with the bat 75 not out plus two wickets and then in the sixth and final the only defeat for India-he top scored with 96 and picked up another two wickets. It was virtually Ganguly vs Pakistan.
In the final of the Independence Cup at the national stadium Dhaka, India pulled off a sensational three-wicket win with one ball to spare against Pakistan when Hrishikesh Kanitkar's hit Saqlain Mushtaq for a crucial boundary off the second-last ball of the match in India's memorable victory over Pakistan. In this match Sourav Ganguly played a wonderful knock of 124, and this was the India's first such a big chase. Sourav was adjudged man of the match for the breath-taking knock that he played.
It was a golden moment when Anil Kumble took 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan to become one of the two bowlers in Test cricket history to achieve the feat. On 8 February 1999, History was created at d Feorzeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi when One of India's Greatest Spinners Anil Kumble became only the Second Bowler ever (the other being Jim Laker(England)) to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. Anil Kumble achieved this feat against Pakistan in the second Test played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi and leading India to Victory by very huge margin of 212 runs.
In a group game of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, at Centurion, India were chasing 273 against a legendary Pakistani attack (Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar, Razzaq, Afridi) on a lively pitch. In response, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag got of to a stunning flyer scoring 53 in 5 overs by demoralizing Pakistan's bowlers hitting heavily with sixes & fours to Shoaib Akhtar. India eventually won the game with 4 overs to spare. Thus, India maintained always a "winning consistency" or "never loose" against Pakistan in world cup cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar scored 98 in that Centurion, World Cup, 2003 match. It is one of the ironies of cricket that despite his tons of centuries in ODIs, Tendulkar's most momentous innings was one that fell two short of the mark. From the very start of India's reply to Pakistan's 273, the full house were treated to a dazzling exhibition. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had been talking up a storm and Tendulkar went about his bowling with a vengeance. In his very first over he was carted for a six and two fours and the fight went out of the Pakistan camp as Tendulkar and the rest raced to victory.
India won a stunning game in a thrilling finish- 1st ODI Karachi 2004 India tour of Pakistan, as Pakistan failed to hit the nine runs needed off the final over.Ashish Nehra held his nerve brilliantly, conceding just three runs and ending with the wicket of Moin Khan needing a six off the very last ball to win the match.
Sachin Tendulkar scored 141 in Rawalpindi, 2004. It was the first ODI century on Pakistan soil by an Indian batsman in 26 years of trying. But just as his fantastic 123 failed to prevent victory for Pakistan in the fourth ODI at Ahmedabad the other day, it was a similar story a year back at Rawalpindi. Having narrowly won the first match at Karachi after topping 300, it was now the turn of India to fail in the chase while going after Pakistan's 329 for 6. It was Tendulkar's highest ODI score against Pakistan at more than a run a ball and was full of glorious shots which brought him 17 fours and a six. India fell short by 12 runs but the Man of the Match award went to Tendulkar. It was his 37th ODI hundred and during the innings he crossed 13,000 runs.
Virender Sehwag's blazing knock of 309 (375 balls, 531 minutes, 39 fours, 6 sixes) had come against Pakistan in 1st Test match-India's tour of Pakistan-2004 played at Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan. Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to hit a Test triple century. This test match was memorable because India clinched an historic win i.e India's first-ever Test victory in Pakistan. At the stroke of 1 Six, Sehwag launched Saqlain Mushtaq into the stands over midwicket to become the first Indian to reach 300 in style with a fearless six. In this match Anil Kumble (6/30 in the second innings) andSachin Tendulkar (194 not out in the first inning) played sterling roles in the win.
India's 2004 tour to Pakistan was a huge success, with both Test and one-day series victories. For the first time ever India won a series in Pakistan. India won the Test series by 2-1 and ODI series by 3-2 in Pakistan in the tour. The Indian cricket team went for a complete tour to Pakistan after a long gap of 15 years in 2004 and hence, the tour was considered as historical even before it started. And it ended in India`s First Test Series Win in Pakistan, 2004 with the powerful performance of complete Indian team specially Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and the strong emergence of Virender Sehwag,Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji.
At the Vishakhapatnam Ground in 2005, Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated his maiden ODI century against Pakistan with a cracking 148, the highest score by an Indian against Pakistan, off just 123 balls, with 15 bounadries and four sixes, batting at number three, Dhoni hit a breezy ton of 148 as India posted their highest total against Pakistan i.e. 356 for 9. Thus Dhoni arrived to international cricket by this marvellous inning and he was always remembered for this killing innings that destroyed Pakistan bowling attack completely. There were two magic moments in course of Dhoni's innings, and neither had anything to do with the free-flowing player's shot-making. The first was when he completed his century; the second, when he was finally out. On both occasions, the cameras panned to the team dressing room -- and there, up on his feet, a smile as wide as all outdoors, stood Virender Sehwag, furiously applauding. Virender Sehwag clapped right through as Dhoni walked into the pavilion. And as the young wicket-keeper walked up to him, Viru grabbed his hand and slapped him on the back, his smile getting even wider. The signal was clear: Sehwag, who increasingly has become the go-to guy every time India needs quick runs, was recognizing the emergence of a kindred spirit, a young lad without a shadow of fear in his heart or doubt in his mind.
India won the 5 match ODI series 4–1 in India's 2005 tour to Pakistan in which Indian batsmen demonstrated a pressure handling run chase through out the series by Yuvraj Singh (who scored 344 runs in 5 matches) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni(who scored 219 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 137). Dhoni's performance in that tour of Pakistan propelled him to number three in ICC 2005 ranking among ODI batsmen.
Irfan Pathan claimed a first over hat-trick against Pakistan, becoming the second person , after Nuwan Zoysa, to achieve this feat in a test match in the first over. In a sensational start to the third Test of India's tour to Pakistan Jan 2006 played at National Stadium Karachi, Irfan Pathan took the wickets of Pakistan's top order batsmen - Salman Butt (caught by Rahul Dravid at slip), Younis Khan (LBW) and Mohammand Yousuf (bowled) of the last three deliveries of the first over. This feat made Pathan the second Indian to achieve a test hat trick (the other being Harbhajan Singh).
The First T20 World cup was played in South Africa, 2007 & the First T20 match between India & Pakistan ended in Tie and then the bowl-out took place, India won the bowl-out by 3-0. Twenty20 doesn’t allow a result to end in a tie and now it was time for the ‘Bowl Out’ as scores are levelled. Each team has to nominate five bowlers to bowl a ball each with both sides alternating. The team that hits the stumps most times would be the winners with overstepping the crease not counted. Shoaib Malik won the toss and he asked India to have first go. The crowd didn’t leave the stadium at all, they were praying for their respective teams to prevail in this unique contest on a cricket ground. India’s five bowlers were Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Harbhajan Singh,Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan while Pakistan’s were Asif, Umar Gul, Afridi, Arafat and Tanvir. Sehwag started the Bowl Out and bang he was on the target and in response Yasir Arafat nervously bowled it oustide the offstump! Next Harbhajan bowled an off break that went straight onto the stumps and in reply, Umar Gul bowled with cross seam which nicely swung away outside the offstump. Pakistan under all sorts of pressure, they now needed to fire in three out of three to just tie the Bowl Out and start it all over. Robin Uthappa came in next, hit the stumps and took a bow. His competitor Shahid Afridi drifted his leg break down the legstump leaving India victorious with a score of 3-0. The only consolation for Pakistan was the Man of the Match award which went to Mohammad Asif.
In the grand final of ICC T20 world cup 2007 between IND vs PAK, that held in South Africa, both the teams reached the finals and Pakistan needed 6 runs in 4 balls with 1 wicket remaining, Misbah Ul-Haq batting on 53 was on strike and got out to Joginder Sharma on the 4th ball and India won the match by 5 runs. India triumphed emphatically in the inaugural edition of the World Cup T20. This was also a golden moment for Indian Cricket team because India under captaincy of M.S.Dhoni beat their arch-rival Pakistan in the World Twenty20 final by five runs to clinch their first major trophy since 1983 World Cup.
In Asia Cup 2008, Karachi Sehwag's 119 and Raina's 84 seal thumping win against Pakistan. The 198-run stand between Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina shut Pakistan out of the game. India 301 for 4 (Sehwag 119, Raina 84) beat Pakistan 299 for 4 (Malik 125 retd, Younis 59) by six wickets. Raina did most of the early scoring with free-flowing cover drives when offered width outside off stump by Sohail Tanvir and Anjum. Raina scored his maiden hundred against Hong Kong during the first match of 2008 Asia Cup played in Pakistan. Bristling with confidence after his century against Hong Kong, He scored 84 of 69 against Pakistan and 116 of 107 against Bangladesh, in next two matches. Hence, Raina won man of the match award successively for three times in that 2008 Asia Cup played in Pakistan. This led to the emergence of Suresh Raina. Since then, Raina has been a member of India's full-strength ODI and T20 team.
India and Pakistan's eagerly anticipated clash at The Oval in a warm up match of second ICC T20 World Cup June, 2009 had been designated as a "Catch the Spirit" match by the ICC, a fundraiser to help support families of the victims of the attack on the Sri Lanka team and officials in Lahore in March. India thrashed Pakistan in that T20 warm-up match making it a one-sided Twenty20 game. Rohit Sharma with a 80-run blitzkrieg & Gautam Gambhir 52 not out continued to give India a combination dilemma and made the chase seem like an afternoon walk in a London park. Rohit Sharma tore apart Pakistan's bowling attack as India bulldozed their arch-rivals by nine wickets with three overs to spare in their final warm-up match of the ICC World Twenty20 on Wednesday night.
In response to the Sharma-Miandad classic, in the 4th game of the Asia Cup 2010, India were chasing 268 to win against Pakistan. With 9 needed off the last over, Harbhajan Singh hit a six in the penultimate ball sealing the victory for India, followed by a loud roar towards Shoaib Akhtar. That reaction was sparked by an altercation with Akhtar in the previous over. In response, Akhtar hand-gestured Singh with a 'V' sign.
Memorable Moments (Pakistan)
In the 1986 Australasia cup final in Sharjah, Chetan Sharma, famous for grabbing a hat-trick in a World-Cup, was about to bowl the last bowl of the match with Pakistan needing four runs to win. He bowled a low full-toss outside the leg-stump, which got hit for six by Javed Miandad. This made Sharma a villain in the eyes of Indian fans, and conversely Miandad was hailed as a hero.
In the first test match of the Pakistan-India test series in 1999 India needed 271 runs to win in the fourth innings. With only Tendulkar putting up resistance, with his dismissal and the score on 254, Pakistan tightened the screws and forced an Indian collapse winning the test match by 12 runs.
The 1999 tri series in Australia was a famous one for Pakistan. Although Pakistan did not win the series they were able to beat rivals India in 3 out of the 4 matches they played against India.
A sledging incident involving Javed Miandad and Kiran More where Miandad famously imitated More during a match by jumping up and down on the pitch. A scene questionable, but equally hilarious.
Saeed Anwar struck a superb 194 against India in Chennai, India in 1997. The match was won by Pakistan. It is one of the greatest innings played by a batsman in an ODI breaking Sir Viv Richards previous score of 189*.
Opening batsmen Saeed Anwar struck a match winning 188* against India in the Asian Test Championship in 1999 in India. Pakistan went on to win the match due to this knock.
In the Wills trophy final played in Sharjah, Aaqib Javed claimed a hat trick against India with his best bowling figures of 7/37 off 10 overs.
The first test match of the Asian Test Championship played at Eden Gardens, Calcutta from 16–20 February 1999 is arguably the most controversial test encounter the two nations have ever played. The match was and has remained the best-attended cricket match in history with total attendance of around 465,000 people. The game is particularly remembered due to the extraordinary performances by Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar for 4/71 and 4/47, Saeed Anwar for 188 not out for batting throughout the second innings. Controversy ensued when Tendulkar was run out in the second innings to which the Indian crowd reacted angrily to. It resulted in them causing a riot and the police and officials having to remove most of the crowd and the remainder of the test having to be watched with the stadium near empty, Pakistan eventually won the test by 46 runs.
Pakistan defeated India in the second match of the Carlton and United Series on 10 January 2000, with Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq making a 43 run partnership and scoring the winning runs off the last ball of the match.
Pakistan won their first ever win in an ICC event against India in the 2004 Champions Trophy in England. With Mohammad Yousuf (Yousaf Youhanna at that time) struck a beautiful knock of 81* and took Pakistan to the winning line.
Salman Butt scored five out of seven centuries of his career against the arch-rivals India in the time when Pakistan need it. Although he scored his debut century also against India at BCCI's Platinum Jubilee Celebration in 2005 at Eden Garden Calcutta which Pakistan had won by six wickets.
In the fifth ODI in Kanpur, 15 April 2005 Shahid Afridi smashed a 45 ball century making him first and third on the list of fastest centuries in ODI cricket (moved down to fourth after Mark Boucher's 44 ball century in 2006).
In the 2006 Karachi test, Pakistan came back from 39/6 in the first innings to win the match convincingly by 341 runs. Thanks to Kamran Akmal's knock of 113 in the first innings and Mohammad Asif's figures of 7/126.
Pakistan won a memorable 2006 series in India. After losing the first two ODI's, Pakistan went on to win the next 4 ODI's clinically claiming the series 4-2. It was a famous win for Pakistan as they were hinted as the weakest Pakistani team to tour India.
Pakistan beat India in 2009 edition of Champions Trophy by 54 runs.
Pakistan will play India in the semi finals of the 2011 ICC world cup on the 30th of March.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have been long-time arch rivals and their rivalry is considered one of the most intense sports rivalries in the world[1][2]An India-Pakistan cricket match has been estimated to attract up to one hundred million television viewers according to well respected TV ratings firm Initiative, and defeat is usually unacceptable to fans of both teams. In the World Cup matches, India has a 4-0 record over Pakistan. Although in Champions Trophy matches between the sides, Pakistan has a 2-0 record over India.
Background
The rivalry began with the Partition of India in 1947, with Pakistan being created, the subsequent Kashmir dispute and the wars and conflicts that followed afterward between the two countries. This dispute has affected both diplomatic and political relations, and the same animosity can be felt on the field. A match between the two countries is often equated with war. Often a political or diplomatic tension has a fallout on the cricket relations between the two countries including suspension of cricket tours to the other country.
Matches
The first ever test match between India and Pakistan was played at Delhi - 16 to 18 October 1952. It was a four day test, India required just three days to beat Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs. India won the 5-match series 2-1 and then, the following 10 tests were draws. Pakistan's first series win against India came after 26 years, in 1978-79 series. In the late 1980s & 90s, the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams played each other in non-Test-playing nations venues such as Canada (Toronto) and the United Arab Emirates (Sharjah). The series between the teams in Canada in the 1990s and early 2000s were officially known as the "Friendship Cup".[3] In early 2009, India was scheduled to begin a tour of Pakistan from January 13 to February 19, 2009, but was cancelled because of the tension existing between the two countries after the Mumbai Terror Attacks, in November 2008.[4]
India Vs Pakistan - Head-to-Head statistics
As of 23 March 2011.
Tests[5]
ODIs[6]
T20Is[7]
Matches played 59 119 2[8]
Won by Pakistan 12 69 0
Won by India 9 46 1
Draw/Tie/No result 38 4 1
Test records
Highest team score
Pakistan - 699/5, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on December 1, 1989 - Match Result: Drawn
India - 675/5 (declared), at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan, on March 28, 2004 - Match Result: India won by an innings and 52 runs.
Lowest team score
India – 106 all out, Pakistan won by an innings and 43 runs at University Ground, Lucknow – October 23 to October 26, 1952
Pakistan – 116 all out, Pakistan won by 16 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore – March 13 to March 17, 1987
Highest individual scores
Virender Sehwag (India) - 309 at Multan stadium, on March 28, 2004
Javed Miandad (Pakistan) – 280* at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad on January 14, 1983
Highest total series wicket taker
Imran Khan (Pakistan) – 94 wickets
Kapil Dev (India) – 99 wickets
Best bowling figures in an innings
Anil Kumble (India) – 10/74 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on February 7, 1999
Imran Khan (Pakistan) - 8/60 at National Stadium, Karachi on December 27, 1982
ODI Statistics
Highest innings score
India – 356/9,[9] India beat Pakistan by 58 runs at ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam on April 5, 2005
Pakistan – 344/8,[9] India beat Pakistan by 5 runs at National Stadium, Karachi on March 13, 2004
Lowest innings score
India – 79, Pakistan beat India by 8 Wickets at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot on October 13, 1978
Pakistan – 87, India beat Pakistan by 38 Runs at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah on March 22, 1985
Highest total chased
Pakistan – 322, Pakistan beat India by 4 wickets at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali – Chandigarh on November 8, 2007
India – 316, India beat Pakistan by 3 Wickets at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka on Jan 18, 1998
Most career runs
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) 2403 runs
Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 2389 runs
Highest individual score
Pakistan - Saeed Anwar 194
India - MS Dhoni 148
Highest Partnerships
India - 231 between Sachin Tendulkar & Singh Sidhu at Sharjah
Pakistan - 230 between Saeed Anwar & Ijaz Ahmed at Dhaka
Best bowling figures
India - 5 wickets for 16 runs by Sourav Ganguly in 1997 at Toronto
Pakistan - 7 wickets for 37 runs by Aaqib Javed in Sharjah
Biggest Victory margins
Pakistan - 150 run victory at Delhi in 2005
India - 140 run victory at Dhaka in 2008
Smallest totals & victory margins
Pakistan - 4 runs at Sharjah in 1993
India - 4 runs at Quetta in 1978
Most Extras
India conceded 41 extras at a Mohali game on 8 November 2007. Pakistan have conceded 31 extras.
All-time highest wicket taker
Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 60 Wickets
Anil Kumble & Javagal Srinath (India) – 54 Wickets
ODI matches summary
Total 119 Matches - 46 won by India, 69 won by Pakistan. No result 4
26 matches in India - 9 won by India, 17 won by Pakistan.
27 matches in Pakistan - 11 won by India, 14 won by Pakistan. No result 2.
66 matches in neutral countries. 26 won by India. 38 won by Pakistan. No result 2
Winner in ODI Series
None Refers to 3rd Team
1978 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1982 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1983 Pakistan in India Winner India
1984 Asia Cup Winner India
1984 India in Pakistan, called off
1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket (in Australia) Winner India
1985 Rothmans Four-Nations Cup (Australia, England, India, Pakistan in United Arab Emirates) Winner India
1985 Rothmans Sharjah Cup (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1986 Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1986 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1987 Pakistan in India Winner Pakistan
1987 Sharjah Cup Winner None
1988 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner None
1988 ASIA CUP Winner India
1989 Champions Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
1989 MRF World Series (Nehru Cup) Winner Pakistan
1989 India in Pakistan Winner Pakistan
1990 Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1991 Wills Trophy (India, Pakistan, West Indies in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
1994 Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
1994 Singer World Series (Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka) Winner India
1995 Asia Cup Winner India
1996 Singer Cup (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Singapore) Winner Pakistan
1996 Pepsi Sharjah Cup (India, Pakistan, South Africa in United Arab Emirates) Winner (None)
1996 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner Pakistan
1997 Pepsi Independence Cup (India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in India) Winner (Pakistan)
1997 Pepsi Asia Cup (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka) Winner (None)
1997 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner India
1997 India in Pakistan ODI Series Winner Pakistan
1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan in Bangladesh) Winner India
1998 Sahara 'Friendship' Cup (India, Pakistan in Canada) Winner Pakistan
1999 Pepsi Cup (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka in India) Winner Pakistan
1999 Coca-Cola Cup (England, India, Pakistan in United Arab Emirates) Winner Pakistan
2000 Asia Cup Winner Pakistan
2000-2003 No Series
2004 India in Pakistan Samsung Cup Winner India
2004 Asia Cup Winner (None)
2005 Pakistan in India Videocon Cup Winner Pakistan
2006 India in Pakistan Hutch Cup Winner India
2007 Pakistan in India Indian Oil Cup ODI Series Winner India
2008 Asia Cup Winner (None)
2009 No Series
2010 Asia Cup Winner India
2011 Worldcup (Semi-final) Winner [TBD]
Memorable Moments (India)
In 1984, the Indian team led by Kapil Dev was bowled out for 125 in Sharjah. In the dressing room, Kapil asked his bowlers to just go and make things difficult for Pakistan, since they had nothing to lose. In reply, India bowled out Imran Khan's Pakistan team for a paltry 87. Catches win matches, and it was a cliche come true at Sharjah. This was one of those rare matches in the sub-continent a low-scoring game that was a thriller all the way. With Imran Khan firing on all cylinders, India were shot out for a miserable 125 and it seemed all over bar the shouting. It was India's fielding that won the day and leading the way was veteran opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar. Pakistan were all out for 87. Gavaskar's four brilliant catches at slip would stand as a world record till it was broken by Jonty Rhodes in 1993.
During 1996 World Cup Quarter Final, in Bangalore, Aamir Sohail smashed a delivery from Indian seamer Venkatesh Prasad through the covers for a four. After this, he pointed his bat towards the Prasad & boundary where the ball had gone. In the very next delivery, Prasad bowled out Sohail and pointed his finger towards the pavilion. In the same match, Ajay Jadeja had hit Waqar Younis for 18 & 22 in 48th & 50th over. Though numerically insignificant, Ajay Jadeja smashing 45 swung the match away from Pak in this tension-packed knockout match. Coming in for the slog, Jadeja was particularly severe on Waqar whose first eight overs had cost 47 runs. The next two went for 18 and 22 with Jadeja smashing four 4s and two 6s off a mere 26 balls. That took India to a formidable 287 for 8 which proved too much for Pakistan.
In Sahara Friendship series, Toronto, 1997 Sourav Ganguly dominated a series with both bat and ball like no cricketer has before or since. He almost single-handedly guided India to a 4-1 rout of Pakistan. A total of 222 runs, 15 wickets and three catches in the six games (the third was abandoned after 31.5 overs) was a dazzling performance and earned Ganguly the Man of the Series award. Ganguly started quietly with two wickets and 17 runs in the first game. In the second he again took two wickets and scored 32. He took two of three wickets to fall in the washed out third game and then routed Pakistan in the fourth with figures of 5 for 16 to make it three wins in a row. The fifth saw him shine with the bat 75 not out plus two wickets and then in the sixth and final the only defeat for India-he top scored with 96 and picked up another two wickets. It was virtually Ganguly vs Pakistan.
In the final of the Independence Cup at the national stadium Dhaka, India pulled off a sensational three-wicket win with one ball to spare against Pakistan when Hrishikesh Kanitkar's hit Saqlain Mushtaq for a crucial boundary off the second-last ball of the match in India's memorable victory over Pakistan. In this match Sourav Ganguly played a wonderful knock of 124, and this was the India's first such a big chase. Sourav was adjudged man of the match for the breath-taking knock that he played.
It was a golden moment when Anil Kumble took 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan to become one of the two bowlers in Test cricket history to achieve the feat. On 8 February 1999, History was created at d Feorzeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi when One of India's Greatest Spinners Anil Kumble became only the Second Bowler ever (the other being Jim Laker(England)) to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. Anil Kumble achieved this feat against Pakistan in the second Test played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi and leading India to Victory by very huge margin of 212 runs.
In a group game of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, at Centurion, India were chasing 273 against a legendary Pakistani attack (Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar, Razzaq, Afridi) on a lively pitch. In response, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag got of to a stunning flyer scoring 53 in 5 overs by demoralizing Pakistan's bowlers hitting heavily with sixes & fours to Shoaib Akhtar. India eventually won the game with 4 overs to spare. Thus, India maintained always a "winning consistency" or "never loose" against Pakistan in world cup cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar scored 98 in that Centurion, World Cup, 2003 match. It is one of the ironies of cricket that despite his tons of centuries in ODIs, Tendulkar's most momentous innings was one that fell two short of the mark. From the very start of India's reply to Pakistan's 273, the full house were treated to a dazzling exhibition. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had been talking up a storm and Tendulkar went about his bowling with a vengeance. In his very first over he was carted for a six and two fours and the fight went out of the Pakistan camp as Tendulkar and the rest raced to victory.
India won a stunning game in a thrilling finish- 1st ODI Karachi 2004 India tour of Pakistan, as Pakistan failed to hit the nine runs needed off the final over.Ashish Nehra held his nerve brilliantly, conceding just three runs and ending with the wicket of Moin Khan needing a six off the very last ball to win the match.
Sachin Tendulkar scored 141 in Rawalpindi, 2004. It was the first ODI century on Pakistan soil by an Indian batsman in 26 years of trying. But just as his fantastic 123 failed to prevent victory for Pakistan in the fourth ODI at Ahmedabad the other day, it was a similar story a year back at Rawalpindi. Having narrowly won the first match at Karachi after topping 300, it was now the turn of India to fail in the chase while going after Pakistan's 329 for 6. It was Tendulkar's highest ODI score against Pakistan at more than a run a ball and was full of glorious shots which brought him 17 fours and a six. India fell short by 12 runs but the Man of the Match award went to Tendulkar. It was his 37th ODI hundred and during the innings he crossed 13,000 runs.
Virender Sehwag's blazing knock of 309 (375 balls, 531 minutes, 39 fours, 6 sixes) had come against Pakistan in 1st Test match-India's tour of Pakistan-2004 played at Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan. Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to hit a Test triple century. This test match was memorable because India clinched an historic win i.e India's first-ever Test victory in Pakistan. At the stroke of 1 Six, Sehwag launched Saqlain Mushtaq into the stands over midwicket to become the first Indian to reach 300 in style with a fearless six. In this match Anil Kumble (6/30 in the second innings) andSachin Tendulkar (194 not out in the first inning) played sterling roles in the win.
India's 2004 tour to Pakistan was a huge success, with both Test and one-day series victories. For the first time ever India won a series in Pakistan. India won the Test series by 2-1 and ODI series by 3-2 in Pakistan in the tour. The Indian cricket team went for a complete tour to Pakistan after a long gap of 15 years in 2004 and hence, the tour was considered as historical even before it started. And it ended in India`s First Test Series Win in Pakistan, 2004 with the powerful performance of complete Indian team specially Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and the strong emergence of Virender Sehwag,Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji.
At the Vishakhapatnam Ground in 2005, Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated his maiden ODI century against Pakistan with a cracking 148, the highest score by an Indian against Pakistan, off just 123 balls, with 15 bounadries and four sixes, batting at number three, Dhoni hit a breezy ton of 148 as India posted their highest total against Pakistan i.e. 356 for 9. Thus Dhoni arrived to international cricket by this marvellous inning and he was always remembered for this killing innings that destroyed Pakistan bowling attack completely. There were two magic moments in course of Dhoni's innings, and neither had anything to do with the free-flowing player's shot-making. The first was when he completed his century; the second, when he was finally out. On both occasions, the cameras panned to the team dressing room -- and there, up on his feet, a smile as wide as all outdoors, stood Virender Sehwag, furiously applauding. Virender Sehwag clapped right through as Dhoni walked into the pavilion. And as the young wicket-keeper walked up to him, Viru grabbed his hand and slapped him on the back, his smile getting even wider. The signal was clear: Sehwag, who increasingly has become the go-to guy every time India needs quick runs, was recognizing the emergence of a kindred spirit, a young lad without a shadow of fear in his heart or doubt in his mind.
India won the 5 match ODI series 4–1 in India's 2005 tour to Pakistan in which Indian batsmen demonstrated a pressure handling run chase through out the series by Yuvraj Singh (who scored 344 runs in 5 matches) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni(who scored 219 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 137). Dhoni's performance in that tour of Pakistan propelled him to number three in ICC 2005 ranking among ODI batsmen.
Irfan Pathan claimed a first over hat-trick against Pakistan, becoming the second person , after Nuwan Zoysa, to achieve this feat in a test match in the first over. In a sensational start to the third Test of India's tour to Pakistan Jan 2006 played at National Stadium Karachi, Irfan Pathan took the wickets of Pakistan's top order batsmen - Salman Butt (caught by Rahul Dravid at slip), Younis Khan (LBW) and Mohammand Yousuf (bowled) of the last three deliveries of the first over. This feat made Pathan the second Indian to achieve a test hat trick (the other being Harbhajan Singh).
The First T20 World cup was played in South Africa, 2007 & the First T20 match between India & Pakistan ended in Tie and then the bowl-out took place, India won the bowl-out by 3-0. Twenty20 doesn’t allow a result to end in a tie and now it was time for the ‘Bowl Out’ as scores are levelled. Each team has to nominate five bowlers to bowl a ball each with both sides alternating. The team that hits the stumps most times would be the winners with overstepping the crease not counted. Shoaib Malik won the toss and he asked India to have first go. The crowd didn’t leave the stadium at all, they were praying for their respective teams to prevail in this unique contest on a cricket ground. India’s five bowlers were Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Harbhajan Singh,Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan while Pakistan’s were Asif, Umar Gul, Afridi, Arafat and Tanvir. Sehwag started the Bowl Out and bang he was on the target and in response Yasir Arafat nervously bowled it oustide the offstump! Next Harbhajan bowled an off break that went straight onto the stumps and in reply, Umar Gul bowled with cross seam which nicely swung away outside the offstump. Pakistan under all sorts of pressure, they now needed to fire in three out of three to just tie the Bowl Out and start it all over. Robin Uthappa came in next, hit the stumps and took a bow. His competitor Shahid Afridi drifted his leg break down the legstump leaving India victorious with a score of 3-0. The only consolation for Pakistan was the Man of the Match award which went to Mohammad Asif.
In the grand final of ICC T20 world cup 2007 between IND vs PAK, that held in South Africa, both the teams reached the finals and Pakistan needed 6 runs in 4 balls with 1 wicket remaining, Misbah Ul-Haq batting on 53 was on strike and got out to Joginder Sharma on the 4th ball and India won the match by 5 runs. India triumphed emphatically in the inaugural edition of the World Cup T20. This was also a golden moment for Indian Cricket team because India under captaincy of M.S.Dhoni beat their arch-rival Pakistan in the World Twenty20 final by five runs to clinch their first major trophy since 1983 World Cup.
In Asia Cup 2008, Karachi Sehwag's 119 and Raina's 84 seal thumping win against Pakistan. The 198-run stand between Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina shut Pakistan out of the game. India 301 for 4 (Sehwag 119, Raina 84) beat Pakistan 299 for 4 (Malik 125 retd, Younis 59) by six wickets. Raina did most of the early scoring with free-flowing cover drives when offered width outside off stump by Sohail Tanvir and Anjum. Raina scored his maiden hundred against Hong Kong during the first match of 2008 Asia Cup played in Pakistan. Bristling with confidence after his century against Hong Kong, He scored 84 of 69 against Pakistan and 116 of 107 against Bangladesh, in next two matches. Hence, Raina won man of the match award successively for three times in that 2008 Asia Cup played in Pakistan. This led to the emergence of Suresh Raina. Since then, Raina has been a member of India's full-strength ODI and T20 team.
India and Pakistan's eagerly anticipated clash at The Oval in a warm up match of second ICC T20 World Cup June, 2009 had been designated as a "Catch the Spirit" match by the ICC, a fundraiser to help support families of the victims of the attack on the Sri Lanka team and officials in Lahore in March. India thrashed Pakistan in that T20 warm-up match making it a one-sided Twenty20 game. Rohit Sharma with a 80-run blitzkrieg & Gautam Gambhir 52 not out continued to give India a combination dilemma and made the chase seem like an afternoon walk in a London park. Rohit Sharma tore apart Pakistan's bowling attack as India bulldozed their arch-rivals by nine wickets with three overs to spare in their final warm-up match of the ICC World Twenty20 on Wednesday night.
In response to the Sharma-Miandad classic, in the 4th game of the Asia Cup 2010, India were chasing 268 to win against Pakistan. With 9 needed off the last over, Harbhajan Singh hit a six in the penultimate ball sealing the victory for India, followed by a loud roar towards Shoaib Akhtar. That reaction was sparked by an altercation with Akhtar in the previous over. In response, Akhtar hand-gestured Singh with a 'V' sign.
Memorable Moments (Pakistan)
In the 1986 Australasia cup final in Sharjah, Chetan Sharma, famous for grabbing a hat-trick in a World-Cup, was about to bowl the last bowl of the match with Pakistan needing four runs to win. He bowled a low full-toss outside the leg-stump, which got hit for six by Javed Miandad. This made Sharma a villain in the eyes of Indian fans, and conversely Miandad was hailed as a hero.
In the first test match of the Pakistan-India test series in 1999 India needed 271 runs to win in the fourth innings. With only Tendulkar putting up resistance, with his dismissal and the score on 254, Pakistan tightened the screws and forced an Indian collapse winning the test match by 12 runs.
The 1999 tri series in Australia was a famous one for Pakistan. Although Pakistan did not win the series they were able to beat rivals India in 3 out of the 4 matches they played against India.
A sledging incident involving Javed Miandad and Kiran More where Miandad famously imitated More during a match by jumping up and down on the pitch. A scene questionable, but equally hilarious.
Saeed Anwar struck a superb 194 against India in Chennai, India in 1997. The match was won by Pakistan. It is one of the greatest innings played by a batsman in an ODI breaking Sir Viv Richards previous score of 189*.
Opening batsmen Saeed Anwar struck a match winning 188* against India in the Asian Test Championship in 1999 in India. Pakistan went on to win the match due to this knock.
In the Wills trophy final played in Sharjah, Aaqib Javed claimed a hat trick against India with his best bowling figures of 7/37 off 10 overs.
The first test match of the Asian Test Championship played at Eden Gardens, Calcutta from 16–20 February 1999 is arguably the most controversial test encounter the two nations have ever played. The match was and has remained the best-attended cricket match in history with total attendance of around 465,000 people. The game is particularly remembered due to the extraordinary performances by Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar for 4/71 and 4/47, Saeed Anwar for 188 not out for batting throughout the second innings. Controversy ensued when Tendulkar was run out in the second innings to which the Indian crowd reacted angrily to. It resulted in them causing a riot and the police and officials having to remove most of the crowd and the remainder of the test having to be watched with the stadium near empty, Pakistan eventually won the test by 46 runs.
Pakistan defeated India in the second match of the Carlton and United Series on 10 January 2000, with Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq making a 43 run partnership and scoring the winning runs off the last ball of the match.
Pakistan won their first ever win in an ICC event against India in the 2004 Champions Trophy in England. With Mohammad Yousuf (Yousaf Youhanna at that time) struck a beautiful knock of 81* and took Pakistan to the winning line.
Salman Butt scored five out of seven centuries of his career against the arch-rivals India in the time when Pakistan need it. Although he scored his debut century also against India at BCCI's Platinum Jubilee Celebration in 2005 at Eden Garden Calcutta which Pakistan had won by six wickets.
In the fifth ODI in Kanpur, 15 April 2005 Shahid Afridi smashed a 45 ball century making him first and third on the list of fastest centuries in ODI cricket (moved down to fourth after Mark Boucher's 44 ball century in 2006).
In the 2006 Karachi test, Pakistan came back from 39/6 in the first innings to win the match convincingly by 341 runs. Thanks to Kamran Akmal's knock of 113 in the first innings and Mohammad Asif's figures of 7/126.
Pakistan won a memorable 2006 series in India. After losing the first two ODI's, Pakistan went on to win the next 4 ODI's clinically claiming the series 4-2. It was a famous win for Pakistan as they were hinted as the weakest Pakistani team to tour India.
Pakistan beat India in 2009 edition of Champions Trophy by 54 runs.
Pakistan will play India in the semi finals of the 2011 ICC world cup on the 30th of March.
Monday, March 28, 2011
100 BEST NOVELS
100 BEST NOVELS
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
9. Animal Farm by George Orwell
10. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
11. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
12. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
13. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
14. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
15. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
16. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
17. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
18. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
19. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
20. Ulysses by James Joyce
21. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
22. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
23. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
24. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
25. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
26. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
27. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
28. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
29. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
30. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
32. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
33. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
34. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
35. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
36. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
37. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
38. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
39. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
40. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
41. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
42. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
43. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
44. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
45. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
46. The Stranger by Albert Camus
47. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
48. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
49. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
50. Watership Down by Richard Adams
51. His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
52. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
53. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
54. Dracula by Bram Stoker
55. The Stand by Stephen King
56. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
57. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
58. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
59. Dune by Frank Herbert
60. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
61. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
62. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
63. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
64. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
65. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
66. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
67. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
68. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
69. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
70. Middlemarch by George Eliot
71. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
72. Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
73. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
74. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
75. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
76. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
77. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
78. Persuasion by Jane Austen
79. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
80. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
81. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
82. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
83. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
84. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
85. The Trial by Franz Kafka
86. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
87. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
88. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
89. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
90. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
91. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
92. Emma by Jane Austen
93. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
94. Siddharta by Hermann Hesse
95. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
96. Atonement by Ian McEwan
97. Beloved by Toni Morrison
98. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
99. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
100. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
9. Animal Farm by George Orwell
10. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
11. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
12. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
13. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
14. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
15. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
16. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
17. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
18. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
19. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
20. Ulysses by James Joyce
21. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
22. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
23. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
24. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
25. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
26. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
27. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
28. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
29. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
30. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
32. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
33. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
34. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
35. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
36. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
37. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
38. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
39. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
40. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
41. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
42. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
43. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
44. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
45. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
46. The Stranger by Albert Camus
47. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
48. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
49. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
50. Watership Down by Richard Adams
51. His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
52. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
53. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
54. Dracula by Bram Stoker
55. The Stand by Stephen King
56. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
57. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
58. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
59. Dune by Frank Herbert
60. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
61. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
62. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
63. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
64. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
65. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
66. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
67. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
68. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
69. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
70. Middlemarch by George Eliot
71. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
72. Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
73. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
74. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
75. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
76. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
77. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
78. Persuasion by Jane Austen
79. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
80. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
81. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
82. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
83. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
84. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
85. The Trial by Franz Kafka
86. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
87. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
88. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
89. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
90. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
91. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
92. Emma by Jane Austen
93. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
94. Siddharta by Hermann Hesse
95. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
96. Atonement by Ian McEwan
97. Beloved by Toni Morrison
98. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
99. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
100. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Saturday, March 26, 2011
MAJOR MONUMENTS LIST IN INDIA
.. Taj Mahal
.. Jantar Mantar
.. India Gate
.. Parlament House
.. Rashtrapati Bhavan
.. Qutub Minar
.. Fatehpursikri Monuments
.. Shimla Rajbhawan
.. Monuments of Lucknow
.. Bawadi
.. Rewakund
.. Solakhamba
.. Gwalior Excavations
.. Jantar Mantar
.. Gaitor Ruins
.. Vyasonkichhatri
.. Lucknow Monuments
.. Alaiminar
.. Shimla Rajbhawan
.. Pavaya Ruins
Temples in India
.. Khajuraho
.. Badrinath
.. Lotus Temple
.. Birlamandir
.. Hanuman Temple
.. Kedarnath Temple
Palaces
.. Bir Singh
.. Jaivilas
.. Lake Palace
.. Hawa Mahal
.. Havelis
Forts
.. Red Fort
.. Amber Fort
.. Gwalior Fort
.. Chittorgarh Fort
.. Jaisalmer
.. Purana Qila
More
Mosques
.. Jama Masjid
.. Jamali Kamali
.. Moti Masjid
.. Taj-ul-Masjid
.. Fatehpuri Masjid
More
Rajasthan Heritage
India Heritage Tour
Desert To Ganga Tour
Rock Heritage
Heritage India Tour with Taj
Historical Rajasthan
Taj Heritage
Heritage Tours in India
North India Heritage Tour
Tour on Delhi Rajasthan Agra
Rajasthan Forts and Palaces
South India Temples
Himachal Pilgrimage
Museums
.. Craft Museum
.. Dolls Museum
.. Rail Museum
.. Shimla Museum
.. Bhopal Museum
.. Albert Hall
.. Folklore Museum
.. Kalibanga Museum
Indian Architecture
.. Hindu
.. Jain
.. Islamic
.. Colonial
Archaeological Sites
.. Khajuraho
.. Nalanda
.. Tughlaqabad Fort
.. Fatehpur Sikri
.. Jantar Mantar
.. India Gate
.. Parlament House
.. Rashtrapati Bhavan
.. Qutub Minar
.. Fatehpursikri Monuments
.. Shimla Rajbhawan
.. Monuments of Lucknow
.. Bawadi
.. Rewakund
.. Solakhamba
.. Gwalior Excavations
.. Jantar Mantar
.. Gaitor Ruins
.. Vyasonkichhatri
.. Lucknow Monuments
.. Alaiminar
.. Shimla Rajbhawan
.. Pavaya Ruins
Temples in India
.. Khajuraho
.. Badrinath
.. Lotus Temple
.. Birlamandir
.. Hanuman Temple
.. Kedarnath Temple
Palaces
.. Bir Singh
.. Jaivilas
.. Lake Palace
.. Hawa Mahal
.. Havelis
Forts
.. Red Fort
.. Amber Fort
.. Gwalior Fort
.. Chittorgarh Fort
.. Jaisalmer
.. Purana Qila
More
Mosques
.. Jama Masjid
.. Jamali Kamali
.. Moti Masjid
.. Taj-ul-Masjid
.. Fatehpuri Masjid
More
Rajasthan Heritage
India Heritage Tour
Desert To Ganga Tour
Rock Heritage
Heritage India Tour with Taj
Historical Rajasthan
Taj Heritage
Heritage Tours in India
North India Heritage Tour
Tour on Delhi Rajasthan Agra
Rajasthan Forts and Palaces
South India Temples
Himachal Pilgrimage
Museums
.. Craft Museum
.. Dolls Museum
.. Rail Museum
.. Shimla Museum
.. Bhopal Museum
.. Albert Hall
.. Folklore Museum
.. Kalibanga Museum
Indian Architecture
.. Hindu
.. Jain
.. Islamic
.. Colonial
Archaeological Sites
.. Khajuraho
.. Nalanda
.. Tughlaqabad Fort
.. Fatehpur Sikri
SOME WEBSITES WHICH HELP YOU FOR GOAL SETTING
SOME WEBSITES WHICH HELP YOU FOR GOAL SETTING
• http://KeepAnyPromise.com
A Life Changing Workshop is possible now, no matter your age! In EVERY case, a life blueprint will help you DESIGN the future you want, and give you control over your life and your future.
• Banner Adblueprint Bonus
Finding the right opportunity that can forever change your life does not happen every day. Fortunately, this is precisely what Banner Ad Blueprint can do for you. Within this opportunity you will find a plethora of tips, information, tricks and secrets to making a living off of banner advertising
• Simple To Use Fitness, Nutrition, Goals, Mindset And Success Tools
LifeTrax is an extraordinary website offering simple to use tools to help you stay on track with your fitness, nutrition, goals, mindset and finances. Get on track and stay on track with LifeTrax.
• Everest Consulting
Success Skills.
• Zen Success
Purpose of life coupled with high achievement
• Achieve Goal Setting Success
Achieve your lifetime dreams and goal setting success using these FREE practical goalsetting tools including a step-by-step workbook, templates, personal analysis tools and product reviews.
• Cultivate Confidence
In Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP)the therapy session is moved from the office to the barn and the horses teach assertiveness, empowerment, boundaries, intuition, emotional intelligence, self-acceptance, persistence, awareness, calm, and healthy relationship. You also learn to cultivate openness, presence.
• Brian's Motivational Blog
This is a blog aimed at helping people to become motivated and to take action on the things that they know they need to do and to provide steps to help them achieve their goals.
• Goal-Setting: Set Goals with Goal Patrol
Goal Patrol is a motivational product for goal-setting and goal-getting. Set goals and achieve goals with this innovative 5 Baby Steps Motivational Bracelet System. Celebrate each milestone by switching bracelets each time a step is achieved.
• itcanbe.com - The Goal Setting Community
itcanbe.com is a free goal setting community where you can choose your goals, and build a path of how to get there. Join a community working towards the same things, and share successes, hints, tips, photos and videos. We can achieve more together.
• Business & Self Improvement NZ Centre
Are you looking for new ideas how to Improve your Business Success, Finances, Health, Relationships or just want to find some helpful tools to clear your limiting beliefs which hold you back? Learn from Top Business and Personal Development Masters, Mentors and Teachers.
• 21st Century Appreciative Inquiry
Come explore leading edge ideas on appreciative inquiry, the new science and integrating Web 2.0 tools to increase the impact of these processes and theories. Ideas range from mainstream to radical. Learn to apply these ideas for visioning, strategic planning, leadership development, team building, and more.
• 52 Ways to a Happier Life
52 Ways to a Happier Life is jam-packed with powerful, thought provoking ideas to help you create a happier and more fulfilling life.
• Clear Goals Coaching
Weekly articles helping you Attract your Goals with Lynn's revolutionary new system of goaling based on her book 'Inspirational Goaling'
• Self Improvement Information
Self Improvement to Enrich Your Life's Journey
• 2achieveyourgoals
Do you know that only 3% of the world’s population manage to plan and reach their goals? The main goal for 2achieveyourgoals.com is to help you become from the top 3% of the world’s population who know how to achieve any goal they desire in all areas of life.
• Two Page Mini Business Plan
Create a Mini Business Plan that will help you plan for your business success. What's Included: Business Plan template, Instruction Book, many sample Business Plans, Marketing tools, & The Success Book - Daily Action Planner
• Goal Setting Genie
Goal Setting Genie is only for those who are interested in a complete system for goal setting that will allow for reaching any goal you set with ease.
• Destiny Goals - A FREE Goal Setting Success Tool
A goal setting success tool helps people achieve their goals. Destiny Goals is a free goal setting resource that provides useful information on goal setting, achieving your personal goals and dreams.
• 43 Things
43Things.com is a great place to share information about your goals and get support for getting them done.
FOR MORE SITES CLICK BELOW LINK:-
http://www.selfgrowth.com/goal.html?sorting=highest-rated
• http://KeepAnyPromise.com
A Life Changing Workshop is possible now, no matter your age! In EVERY case, a life blueprint will help you DESIGN the future you want, and give you control over your life and your future.
• Banner Adblueprint Bonus
Finding the right opportunity that can forever change your life does not happen every day. Fortunately, this is precisely what Banner Ad Blueprint can do for you. Within this opportunity you will find a plethora of tips, information, tricks and secrets to making a living off of banner advertising
• Simple To Use Fitness, Nutrition, Goals, Mindset And Success Tools
LifeTrax is an extraordinary website offering simple to use tools to help you stay on track with your fitness, nutrition, goals, mindset and finances. Get on track and stay on track with LifeTrax.
• Everest Consulting
Success Skills.
• Zen Success
Purpose of life coupled with high achievement
• Achieve Goal Setting Success
Achieve your lifetime dreams and goal setting success using these FREE practical goalsetting tools including a step-by-step workbook, templates, personal analysis tools and product reviews.
• Cultivate Confidence
In Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP)the therapy session is moved from the office to the barn and the horses teach assertiveness, empowerment, boundaries, intuition, emotional intelligence, self-acceptance, persistence, awareness, calm, and healthy relationship. You also learn to cultivate openness, presence.
• Brian's Motivational Blog
This is a blog aimed at helping people to become motivated and to take action on the things that they know they need to do and to provide steps to help them achieve their goals.
• Goal-Setting: Set Goals with Goal Patrol
Goal Patrol is a motivational product for goal-setting and goal-getting. Set goals and achieve goals with this innovative 5 Baby Steps Motivational Bracelet System. Celebrate each milestone by switching bracelets each time a step is achieved.
• itcanbe.com - The Goal Setting Community
itcanbe.com is a free goal setting community where you can choose your goals, and build a path of how to get there. Join a community working towards the same things, and share successes, hints, tips, photos and videos. We can achieve more together.
• Business & Self Improvement NZ Centre
Are you looking for new ideas how to Improve your Business Success, Finances, Health, Relationships or just want to find some helpful tools to clear your limiting beliefs which hold you back? Learn from Top Business and Personal Development Masters, Mentors and Teachers.
• 21st Century Appreciative Inquiry
Come explore leading edge ideas on appreciative inquiry, the new science and integrating Web 2.0 tools to increase the impact of these processes and theories. Ideas range from mainstream to radical. Learn to apply these ideas for visioning, strategic planning, leadership development, team building, and more.
• 52 Ways to a Happier Life
52 Ways to a Happier Life is jam-packed with powerful, thought provoking ideas to help you create a happier and more fulfilling life.
• Clear Goals Coaching
Weekly articles helping you Attract your Goals with Lynn's revolutionary new system of goaling based on her book 'Inspirational Goaling'
• Self Improvement Information
Self Improvement to Enrich Your Life's Journey
• 2achieveyourgoals
Do you know that only 3% of the world’s population manage to plan and reach their goals? The main goal for 2achieveyourgoals.com is to help you become from the top 3% of the world’s population who know how to achieve any goal they desire in all areas of life.
• Two Page Mini Business Plan
Create a Mini Business Plan that will help you plan for your business success. What's Included: Business Plan template, Instruction Book, many sample Business Plans, Marketing tools, & The Success Book - Daily Action Planner
• Goal Setting Genie
Goal Setting Genie is only for those who are interested in a complete system for goal setting that will allow for reaching any goal you set with ease.
• Destiny Goals - A FREE Goal Setting Success Tool
A goal setting success tool helps people achieve their goals. Destiny Goals is a free goal setting resource that provides useful information on goal setting, achieving your personal goals and dreams.
• 43 Things
43Things.com is a great place to share information about your goals and get support for getting them done.
FOR MORE SITES CLICK BELOW LINK:-
http://www.selfgrowth.com/goal.html?sorting=highest-rated
Telugu wedding ceremony DETAILS
Telugu wedding ceremony
Teluginti Pelli (Marriage of the Andhra people) is such a grand, happy and beau. In olden days, like in the 19th century, it used to be 14 days of the whole ceremony, but now in modern times it is of 5+ days; this depends on the family financial, social status. The wedding is so that irrelevant to financial status they can have their dream wedding. As all the relatives of both sides and well wishers give a hand in every aspect of the ceremony it sure becomes a celebration in itself in planning the big day. That is why there is a saying in Telugu that marriage is not between 2 people but between 2 families. Some Marriages are done in the temple in presence of god but most of them are conducted outside because of the people attending the marriage are more. After every ceremony they serve food to all the guests which is also the main part of the culture of offering food to anyone who comes on an auspicious day. All the rituals conducted throughout the Telugu wedding ceremony hold religious significance. Each element in the ceremonies is connected with the other and is given special importance. Weddings relect the customs and the culture of Andhra people as in Telugu peoples warm hearts and close bondings. The decorations are mostly with flowers and mango leaves and in rich colors. They renovate their houses and invite all the guests going to each of their houses with the kumkum.
Pre-wedding customs
The rich and varied cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh, a southern state of India, is reflected in the ceremonies conducted there. Almost all festivals are celebrated with religious observance, holding supreme importance in the lives of the residents of the state.
Nischithardham
Andhraites (Telugu) generally believe in the ram so both the families approach their family astrologers and sit together to fix a date which is both auspicious and convenient for both sides. The date and time to the seconds is fixed, also known as muhurtham. The Telugu people generally avoid the months or a time period where asaadam, Bhadrapadam and Shunya maasam occurs, because they are considered inauspicious for the ceremonies. During this ceremony the future mother-in-law of the bride presents her with clothes, Gold and also silverware in this way the engagement (Nischithardham) ends.
Pellikuturu\Pellikodukuni cheyuta
In this ceremony at the bride and grooms respective houses all the relatives and well wishers gather and they smear them with turmeric paste (Nalugu - which is a mixture of floors and turmeric powder) and oils. This is done to cleanse their skin, so that a natural glow is radiated after they bath. This is where the actual ceremony starts. They are given a new set of clothing to wear and are blessed that everything goes by well in the preparation. The bride is told not to go out of the town until the actual wedding ceremony.
Snaathakam
Snaathakam ritual takes place at the bridegroom’s residence before the muhurtham. As a part of this custom, the groom is asked to wear a silver thread on his body. The ritual is conducted a few hours prior to the wedding.
Kaashi Yaatra
This is a cute ceremony which helps in closing distances between both sides of the family, here the groom pretends to go on a Kaashi Yaatra which is quite funny. He says that he has discarded the worldly pleasures (Marriage, relations and properties) and is no more interested in leading a family life. He is then stopped by the brother(Cousins) of the bride, who persuade him to assume the responsibility of a house hold as in they tease each other quite a lot.
Wedding customs
The rituals conducted by the Telugu speaking people during the ceremonious occasion of wedding are different from those conducted in neighbouring southern state of India. In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu people follow their own traditions, while conduction a wedding. The bride’s maternal uncle and her brother play a prominent role at the time of her marriage.
Mangala snaanam
As a part of Mangala snaanam custom, the bride and groom are required to take an auspicious bath on the wedding day. The aim is to purify them and make them prepared to perform sacred rites.
Aarthi
Oil is applied to the bride and groom at their respective houses. Thereafter, the family members get together to perform Aarthi. They pray to Lord to give wisdom to the bride and groom to lead their life happily.
Ganesh and Gowri Pooja
Before the wedding ceremony, the groom attends the Ganesh and Gowri pooja, which is conducted at the mandapam. And the bride does the Gowri Pooja at the house with all her family members and relatives attending before going to the ceremony.
Kanyaadaanam
Kanyaadaanam is the ceremony in which the girl’s family hands over their daughter’s responsibility to the groom. During the ceremony, the bride sits in a bamboo basket. Her maternal uncle brings her to the Mandapam. Until the completion of the kanyaadaanam, the bride and groom are not allowed to look at each other and therefore, they are separated by a curtain that is place between them, as a partition. Thereafter, the bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet, assuming him as an avatar of God.
Jeelakarra Bellam & Madhuparkam
The priest recites the shlokaas from the Vedaas. Thereafter, the couple is asked to smear a paste made from cumin seeds and jiggery on each other’s hand. This custom is referred to as Jeelakarra-Bellamu. This ceremony is observed to communicate that the relationship of the married couple is unbreakable and inseparable. This is the actual muhurtham time if this ceremony is done all relax and complete the other ceremonies slowly.
As a part of Madhuparkam ritual, the bride dresses up in white custom saari with red border. On the other hand, the groom wears white dhothi with red border. White is the colour for purity and red is for strength.
Sumangali
Ten married women (Sumangalis) accompany the bride. Six out of the ten women hold plates containing a mixture of rice and turmeric powder, while the rest of the four hold small lit lamp in their respective plates. Rice represents abundance, while the lit lamps symbolise light.
Tying of the Mangalasootram
In order to perform the ritual, the partition between the bride and groom are removed. After removing the partition, the groom ties the two strings of the mangalasootra, each with a golden disc, around the bride’s neck. The mangalasootra represents the physical, mental and spiritual union of the couple. In the Telugu wedding, the groom ties three knots of mangalasootra.
Akshintalu
In the Talambraalu ceremony, the bride and groom exchange garlands. People witnessing this occasion come forward to bless the couple, by sprinkling flower petals and rice coated with turmeric powder.
Saptapadi
As a part of the Saptapadi rituals, the groom and bride walk seven steps together around the fire, while taking their oaths of caring, protecting, understanding , loving and guiding each other. During this the pallu (edge of the sari) of the bride’s sari is tied to one end of the groom's scarf (Kanduva).
Sthaalipaakam
Sthaalipaakam is a ritual where in the groom adorns the feet of the bride with silver toe rings. This also is believed that the man bends to the woman in order to claim her as his. Also in order to ward-off the evil eye, the bride is adorned by a string of black beads during the ceremony. These beads along with the silver toe rings symbolises that she is a married woman.
Post-wedding customs
The post wedding rituals observed by the Telugu speaking people in India are very charming to look at. After the wedding ceremony is over, the bride enters the groom’s house formally. She is given a hearty welcome by the groom’s family members. The uniting of Mangalasootram takes place after a fortnight.
Gruhapraveshm
After the culmination of the wedding ceremony, the bride is formally taken to the groom’s house. This is called Gruhapravesham of the bride. As she steps into her new home, she is welcomed by the groom’s family members, including his mother and closes relatives. Also the bride has to kick a vessel full of rice with her right foot across the doorstep while entering her new house, such that the rice spills over and falls on the ground. This symbolizes abundance of wealth with her coming into the family.
Uniting the Mangalasootram
Gruhapravesham is followed by a ceremony, wherein the mangalasootram is united. As a customary, the Telugu speaking people unite the two mangasootraas (which was tied by the groom around the bride’s neck), on a common thread. This ritual is done sixteen days post wedding. This ritual can be performed by either the groom or an elderly member of the family. A few black or golden beads are slipped between the two ‘plates’ of the mangalasootram, so that they do not clash with each other. The unison of mangalasootram signifies the harmony between the two families. After the ceremony is over, the bride takes a bath and wears a new sari.
One point to be noted is Kaashi Yaatra is seen in Brahmins and few others.
Teluginti Pelli (Marriage of the Andhra people) is such a grand, happy and beau. In olden days, like in the 19th century, it used to be 14 days of the whole ceremony, but now in modern times it is of 5+ days; this depends on the family financial, social status. The wedding is so that irrelevant to financial status they can have their dream wedding. As all the relatives of both sides and well wishers give a hand in every aspect of the ceremony it sure becomes a celebration in itself in planning the big day. That is why there is a saying in Telugu that marriage is not between 2 people but between 2 families. Some Marriages are done in the temple in presence of god but most of them are conducted outside because of the people attending the marriage are more. After every ceremony they serve food to all the guests which is also the main part of the culture of offering food to anyone who comes on an auspicious day. All the rituals conducted throughout the Telugu wedding ceremony hold religious significance. Each element in the ceremonies is connected with the other and is given special importance. Weddings relect the customs and the culture of Andhra people as in Telugu peoples warm hearts and close bondings. The decorations are mostly with flowers and mango leaves and in rich colors. They renovate their houses and invite all the guests going to each of their houses with the kumkum.
Pre-wedding customs
The rich and varied cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh, a southern state of India, is reflected in the ceremonies conducted there. Almost all festivals are celebrated with religious observance, holding supreme importance in the lives of the residents of the state.
Nischithardham
Andhraites (Telugu) generally believe in the ram so both the families approach their family astrologers and sit together to fix a date which is both auspicious and convenient for both sides. The date and time to the seconds is fixed, also known as muhurtham. The Telugu people generally avoid the months or a time period where asaadam, Bhadrapadam and Shunya maasam occurs, because they are considered inauspicious for the ceremonies. During this ceremony the future mother-in-law of the bride presents her with clothes, Gold and also silverware in this way the engagement (Nischithardham) ends.
Pellikuturu\Pellikodukuni cheyuta
In this ceremony at the bride and grooms respective houses all the relatives and well wishers gather and they smear them with turmeric paste (Nalugu - which is a mixture of floors and turmeric powder) and oils. This is done to cleanse their skin, so that a natural glow is radiated after they bath. This is where the actual ceremony starts. They are given a new set of clothing to wear and are blessed that everything goes by well in the preparation. The bride is told not to go out of the town until the actual wedding ceremony.
Snaathakam
Snaathakam ritual takes place at the bridegroom’s residence before the muhurtham. As a part of this custom, the groom is asked to wear a silver thread on his body. The ritual is conducted a few hours prior to the wedding.
Kaashi Yaatra
This is a cute ceremony which helps in closing distances between both sides of the family, here the groom pretends to go on a Kaashi Yaatra which is quite funny. He says that he has discarded the worldly pleasures (Marriage, relations and properties) and is no more interested in leading a family life. He is then stopped by the brother(Cousins) of the bride, who persuade him to assume the responsibility of a house hold as in they tease each other quite a lot.
Wedding customs
The rituals conducted by the Telugu speaking people during the ceremonious occasion of wedding are different from those conducted in neighbouring southern state of India. In Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu people follow their own traditions, while conduction a wedding. The bride’s maternal uncle and her brother play a prominent role at the time of her marriage.
Mangala snaanam
As a part of Mangala snaanam custom, the bride and groom are required to take an auspicious bath on the wedding day. The aim is to purify them and make them prepared to perform sacred rites.
Aarthi
Oil is applied to the bride and groom at their respective houses. Thereafter, the family members get together to perform Aarthi. They pray to Lord to give wisdom to the bride and groom to lead their life happily.
Ganesh and Gowri Pooja
Before the wedding ceremony, the groom attends the Ganesh and Gowri pooja, which is conducted at the mandapam. And the bride does the Gowri Pooja at the house with all her family members and relatives attending before going to the ceremony.
Kanyaadaanam
Kanyaadaanam is the ceremony in which the girl’s family hands over their daughter’s responsibility to the groom. During the ceremony, the bride sits in a bamboo basket. Her maternal uncle brings her to the Mandapam. Until the completion of the kanyaadaanam, the bride and groom are not allowed to look at each other and therefore, they are separated by a curtain that is place between them, as a partition. Thereafter, the bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet, assuming him as an avatar of God.
Jeelakarra Bellam & Madhuparkam
The priest recites the shlokaas from the Vedaas. Thereafter, the couple is asked to smear a paste made from cumin seeds and jiggery on each other’s hand. This custom is referred to as Jeelakarra-Bellamu. This ceremony is observed to communicate that the relationship of the married couple is unbreakable and inseparable. This is the actual muhurtham time if this ceremony is done all relax and complete the other ceremonies slowly.
As a part of Madhuparkam ritual, the bride dresses up in white custom saari with red border. On the other hand, the groom wears white dhothi with red border. White is the colour for purity and red is for strength.
Sumangali
Ten married women (Sumangalis) accompany the bride. Six out of the ten women hold plates containing a mixture of rice and turmeric powder, while the rest of the four hold small lit lamp in their respective plates. Rice represents abundance, while the lit lamps symbolise light.
Tying of the Mangalasootram
In order to perform the ritual, the partition between the bride and groom are removed. After removing the partition, the groom ties the two strings of the mangalasootra, each with a golden disc, around the bride’s neck. The mangalasootra represents the physical, mental and spiritual union of the couple. In the Telugu wedding, the groom ties three knots of mangalasootra.
Akshintalu
In the Talambraalu ceremony, the bride and groom exchange garlands. People witnessing this occasion come forward to bless the couple, by sprinkling flower petals and rice coated with turmeric powder.
Saptapadi
As a part of the Saptapadi rituals, the groom and bride walk seven steps together around the fire, while taking their oaths of caring, protecting, understanding , loving and guiding each other. During this the pallu (edge of the sari) of the bride’s sari is tied to one end of the groom's scarf (Kanduva).
Sthaalipaakam
Sthaalipaakam is a ritual where in the groom adorns the feet of the bride with silver toe rings. This also is believed that the man bends to the woman in order to claim her as his. Also in order to ward-off the evil eye, the bride is adorned by a string of black beads during the ceremony. These beads along with the silver toe rings symbolises that she is a married woman.
Post-wedding customs
The post wedding rituals observed by the Telugu speaking people in India are very charming to look at. After the wedding ceremony is over, the bride enters the groom’s house formally. She is given a hearty welcome by the groom’s family members. The uniting of Mangalasootram takes place after a fortnight.
Gruhapraveshm
After the culmination of the wedding ceremony, the bride is formally taken to the groom’s house. This is called Gruhapravesham of the bride. As she steps into her new home, she is welcomed by the groom’s family members, including his mother and closes relatives. Also the bride has to kick a vessel full of rice with her right foot across the doorstep while entering her new house, such that the rice spills over and falls on the ground. This symbolizes abundance of wealth with her coming into the family.
Uniting the Mangalasootram
Gruhapravesham is followed by a ceremony, wherein the mangalasootram is united. As a customary, the Telugu speaking people unite the two mangasootraas (which was tied by the groom around the bride’s neck), on a common thread. This ritual is done sixteen days post wedding. This ritual can be performed by either the groom or an elderly member of the family. A few black or golden beads are slipped between the two ‘plates’ of the mangalasootram, so that they do not clash with each other. The unison of mangalasootram signifies the harmony between the two families. After the ceremony is over, the bride takes a bath and wears a new sari.
One point to be noted is Kaashi Yaatra is seen in Brahmins and few others.
The cheapest places to live in the world. $500 a month
The cheapest places to live in the world. $500 a month
Are you tired of busy cities, crowded streets, high rents and almost non-affordable mortgage? Well...there are places in the world where you can live well for less. The cheapest places to live are also the most beautiful and exotic destinations. So why not make your dreams come true, pack your bags and move to one of those paradise locations, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a year or two?
There are two simple rules to follow while searching for low cost destinations. Firstly: if you find a place cheap enough to travel to, then most probably you will also find it cheap to live in. Secondly: wherever you are, the further from the big cities and large agglomerations, the cheaper it gets.
Of course 'cheap' is a very relative concept, and what is cheap for you may not be cheap for people living some place else in the world.
But if 'cheap' means spending just a few dollars/euro/pounds a day, then these locations in Asia and Central America may interest you...
THAILAND
This could be your home. By rene ehrhardt
Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you remember that feeling of paying $1 (€0.70) for a glass of beer? Did you ask yourself then what it would feel like to pay that much for a drink back home? Or the other way round... what would it feel like to enjoy such prices on a daily basis? If your answers are yes, yes, yes ...then why not consider moving to the Land of Smiles for a while?
Life is short and, really, no one forces you to spend your days sitting in the office with a computer as your best friend. Think about sandy beaches, constant sunshine and excellent food and realize that you can have it all for less than $500 (€350) a month.
Of course this amount will not pay a beach apartment but you can easily find cheap accommodation in places as beautiful as Chang Mai, up north, where you will pay around $30 (€21) a month for a small flat. Nearer the coast, a room in the apartments runs at roughly $90 (€63) upwards.
Chang Mai by Dj Badly
Cooking at home will cost you nothing as fruits, vegetables and meat at the local markets fall into the budget category. If you are too lazy to cook then try excellent Thai food from street-side food stalls. You can get spicy chicken with rice or noodles for around $1 (€0.70). Spending around $200 (€142) for food a month, you still have around $200 (€142) spare to enjoy local trips, restaurants, parties and some small shopping.
CAMBODIA
Angkor Wat. By Jon 2
Thinking about Cambodian history, the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty, no one would dare to call the country a paradise, but in terms of living cost Cambodia rivals Thailand. It does not have as great beaches as its Thai neighbor but, well, it is not all about beaches, right? You can easily live for less than $500 (€350) in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh.
As there are more and more foreigners living in the town, the accommodation prices are getting higher – it would be hard to find something below $200 (€142) a month, but you can always reduce this cost by sharing a flat with a friend or some long-term travelers.
With $300 (€213) left, you can easily get by in the country. The food prices are similar or lower than in Thailand. Eating in local restaurants will cost you around $2 (€1.40) a meal and $1 (€0.70) a beer but if you really aim to trim your budget, you can try food from street stalls- simple but delicious. Traveling by tuk tuk will cost you several bucks/euro a day.
Getting around by tuk tuk. By tajai
Living in Phnom Penh, the town of no McDonald’s and Starbucks, may be a life changing experience for you. Be aware that Cambodians are extremely poor but modest people, so treat them with respect. Getting to know a few natives may help you to understand the complex history and tough life in the country. You can always teach English or get involved with some non-governmental organizations to help change the reality around you.
For visa details read an article at www.shelteroffshore.com
You will find similar costs of living in nearby countries such as Vietnam and Laos .
PHILIPPINES
Such beach on a daily basis? Why not...By Eric Uano
Another exotic destination where life will cost you not more than $500 (€350) a month is thePhilippines. Following the rule of getting away from big cities, Manila is not an option, as a rent prices start at $360 (€255) a month. But if you head for Cebu, one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with sandy beaches, golf courses and great shopping, you can get an apartment for $150 (€106) a month. In other bustling towns, such as Damaguete City, you can easily rent a room for around $40 (€28) per month.
Food is also cheap. $200 (€142) a month will be absolutely enough to provide you with all necessities including alcohol and tobacco - a big glass of beer and pack of cigarettes cost $0.55 (€0.39) and $0.80 (€0.57) respectively.
Ricefields in the Philippines. By Sekitar
Moreover, the Philippines offer a special resident retiree visa that you can get as early as at the age of 35, but you need to deposit $50K in a bank there. At the age of 50 and above you have to deposit $10K and prove a monthly pension of $800 single ($1K couple).
Malaysia , has a similar retiree offer called My Second Home program.
COSTA RICA
Surfing in Costa Rica might be an option...By Saaron83
Just a few dollars/euro would be enough to survive in Costa Rica. And surviving in Costa Rica may be just a pleasure. The land has 12 different climatic zones and abundant wildlife, but in general, the weather is hot tropical and the natives (called Ticos) are very spirited and friendly people.
Prices in San José are low - the cost of goods and services is among the lowest of all cities throughout the world. You can easily live on $500-$600 (€350-€425) a month if you share a house or flat with a partner or a friend.
Obviously the further away from San José, the lower the cost of housing. Around 75 km (50 miles) from the town you can rent a small or medium house for $250 (€177) a month.
In the restaurants you can have an excellent meal with desert for about $4.00 - $5.00 (€2.8-€3.5). And if you buy food at local markets and from the street vendors, you pay less- a bunch of bananas will cost you $0.50 (€0.30) or less. Cigarettes are only about $1.20 (€0.90) per pack. In general, the prices in supermarkets are 30% higher than on the local markets and street stalls.
Street stall in Costa Rica. By Angela Rutherford
While in Costa Rica you can learn or develop your surfing skills as the coast has great breaks and excellent surf conditions. And if you're not too lazy, you can learn or practice your Spanish. Lessons will cost you much less than back home or in Spain.
To find out more check the blog by Tim, who has lived in the country for several years. It seems that he knows a lot about living in Costa Rica.
If you seriously think about moving to Costa Rica, you should also read ‘Living Abroad in Costa Rica’ by Erin Van Rheenen, who herself moved to live there and wrote from experience. The book explores the country’s history and culture, describes the nation and, of course, suggests a reconnaissance trip to Costa Rica before you decide to move.
BELIZE
Belize sunset by Gold44
Your dream of a personal heaven for a bargain price may also come true in Belize, which is considered one of the most beautiful countries in Central America. It has it all: great beaches, subtropical climate, and diverse wildlife. The official language in the country is English – that makes things simpler, doesn’t it?
The country is also a paradise for scuba diving and snorkeling lovers .The Belize Barrier Reef offers 127 offshore Cayes (islands) where you will find the best preserved marine ecosystems in the world.
The costs of living are similar to those in Costa Rica. For a large house in Cayo district, a one-hour drive west from Belize City, you may pay $300 (€210) a month and if you share with two other friends, it is only $100 (€70)!!!
Groceries are cheap when bought locally. Imported stuff is in general 50% more expensive so if you want to trim your budget, you should shop at local markets and buy from street vendors.
If you’re 45 or more you may consider retiring to Belize. The Retired Person’s Incentive Programmay allow you to live a tax free lifestyle, which should definitely help you save up a few bucks.
Storm approaching the coast in Belize. By Grant Heller
Before you pack your bags, be aware that the country has dry and wet seasons so the weather is not always as perfect as you wish. The wet season starts in May and ends in October – it rains all the time and the hurricanes may occur, so if you want to spend just a few months in the country, go between November and April.
The world is changing fast and the bargain destinations may soon become less affordable, so go there before it is too late.
And don’t forget that the best things in life are for free. Living abroad for less than $500 a month is great but what counts most is the people you meet, friends you make, experience you acquire, places you see, tastes and smells you learn to recognize.
There are also countries in Europe and Africa where you can live for $500 a month. So keep checking the blog... the article is coming soon.
P.S. At the time of writing, the exchange rate was $1 - €0.71.
Are you tired of busy cities, crowded streets, high rents and almost non-affordable mortgage? Well...there are places in the world where you can live well for less. The cheapest places to live are also the most beautiful and exotic destinations. So why not make your dreams come true, pack your bags and move to one of those paradise locations, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a year or two?
There are two simple rules to follow while searching for low cost destinations. Firstly: if you find a place cheap enough to travel to, then most probably you will also find it cheap to live in. Secondly: wherever you are, the further from the big cities and large agglomerations, the cheaper it gets.
Of course 'cheap' is a very relative concept, and what is cheap for you may not be cheap for people living some place else in the world.
But if 'cheap' means spending just a few dollars/euro/pounds a day, then these locations in Asia and Central America may interest you...
THAILAND
This could be your home. By rene ehrhardt
Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you remember that feeling of paying $1 (€0.70) for a glass of beer? Did you ask yourself then what it would feel like to pay that much for a drink back home? Or the other way round... what would it feel like to enjoy such prices on a daily basis? If your answers are yes, yes, yes ...then why not consider moving to the Land of Smiles for a while?
Life is short and, really, no one forces you to spend your days sitting in the office with a computer as your best friend. Think about sandy beaches, constant sunshine and excellent food and realize that you can have it all for less than $500 (€350) a month.
Of course this amount will not pay a beach apartment but you can easily find cheap accommodation in places as beautiful as Chang Mai, up north, where you will pay around $30 (€21) a month for a small flat. Nearer the coast, a room in the apartments runs at roughly $90 (€63) upwards.
Chang Mai by Dj Badly
Cooking at home will cost you nothing as fruits, vegetables and meat at the local markets fall into the budget category. If you are too lazy to cook then try excellent Thai food from street-side food stalls. You can get spicy chicken with rice or noodles for around $1 (€0.70). Spending around $200 (€142) for food a month, you still have around $200 (€142) spare to enjoy local trips, restaurants, parties and some small shopping.
CAMBODIA
Angkor Wat. By Jon 2
Thinking about Cambodian history, the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty, no one would dare to call the country a paradise, but in terms of living cost Cambodia rivals Thailand. It does not have as great beaches as its Thai neighbor but, well, it is not all about beaches, right? You can easily live for less than $500 (€350) in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh.
As there are more and more foreigners living in the town, the accommodation prices are getting higher – it would be hard to find something below $200 (€142) a month, but you can always reduce this cost by sharing a flat with a friend or some long-term travelers.
With $300 (€213) left, you can easily get by in the country. The food prices are similar or lower than in Thailand. Eating in local restaurants will cost you around $2 (€1.40) a meal and $1 (€0.70) a beer but if you really aim to trim your budget, you can try food from street stalls- simple but delicious. Traveling by tuk tuk will cost you several bucks/euro a day.
Getting around by tuk tuk. By tajai
Living in Phnom Penh, the town of no McDonald’s and Starbucks, may be a life changing experience for you. Be aware that Cambodians are extremely poor but modest people, so treat them with respect. Getting to know a few natives may help you to understand the complex history and tough life in the country. You can always teach English or get involved with some non-governmental organizations to help change the reality around you.
For visa details read an article at www.shelteroffshore.com
You will find similar costs of living in nearby countries such as Vietnam and Laos .
PHILIPPINES
Such beach on a daily basis? Why not...By Eric Uano
Another exotic destination where life will cost you not more than $500 (€350) a month is thePhilippines. Following the rule of getting away from big cities, Manila is not an option, as a rent prices start at $360 (€255) a month. But if you head for Cebu, one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with sandy beaches, golf courses and great shopping, you can get an apartment for $150 (€106) a month. In other bustling towns, such as Damaguete City, you can easily rent a room for around $40 (€28) per month.
Food is also cheap. $200 (€142) a month will be absolutely enough to provide you with all necessities including alcohol and tobacco - a big glass of beer and pack of cigarettes cost $0.55 (€0.39) and $0.80 (€0.57) respectively.
Ricefields in the Philippines. By Sekitar
Moreover, the Philippines offer a special resident retiree visa that you can get as early as at the age of 35, but you need to deposit $50K in a bank there. At the age of 50 and above you have to deposit $10K and prove a monthly pension of $800 single ($1K couple).
Malaysia , has a similar retiree offer called My Second Home program.
COSTA RICA
Surfing in Costa Rica might be an option...By Saaron83
Just a few dollars/euro would be enough to survive in Costa Rica. And surviving in Costa Rica may be just a pleasure. The land has 12 different climatic zones and abundant wildlife, but in general, the weather is hot tropical and the natives (called Ticos) are very spirited and friendly people.
Prices in San José are low - the cost of goods and services is among the lowest of all cities throughout the world. You can easily live on $500-$600 (€350-€425) a month if you share a house or flat with a partner or a friend.
Obviously the further away from San José, the lower the cost of housing. Around 75 km (50 miles) from the town you can rent a small or medium house for $250 (€177) a month.
In the restaurants you can have an excellent meal with desert for about $4.00 - $5.00 (€2.8-€3.5). And if you buy food at local markets and from the street vendors, you pay less- a bunch of bananas will cost you $0.50 (€0.30) or less. Cigarettes are only about $1.20 (€0.90) per pack. In general, the prices in supermarkets are 30% higher than on the local markets and street stalls.
Street stall in Costa Rica. By Angela Rutherford
While in Costa Rica you can learn or develop your surfing skills as the coast has great breaks and excellent surf conditions. And if you're not too lazy, you can learn or practice your Spanish. Lessons will cost you much less than back home or in Spain.
To find out more check the blog by Tim, who has lived in the country for several years. It seems that he knows a lot about living in Costa Rica.
If you seriously think about moving to Costa Rica, you should also read ‘Living Abroad in Costa Rica’ by Erin Van Rheenen, who herself moved to live there and wrote from experience. The book explores the country’s history and culture, describes the nation and, of course, suggests a reconnaissance trip to Costa Rica before you decide to move.
BELIZE
Belize sunset by Gold44
Your dream of a personal heaven for a bargain price may also come true in Belize, which is considered one of the most beautiful countries in Central America. It has it all: great beaches, subtropical climate, and diverse wildlife. The official language in the country is English – that makes things simpler, doesn’t it?
The country is also a paradise for scuba diving and snorkeling lovers .The Belize Barrier Reef offers 127 offshore Cayes (islands) where you will find the best preserved marine ecosystems in the world.
The costs of living are similar to those in Costa Rica. For a large house in Cayo district, a one-hour drive west from Belize City, you may pay $300 (€210) a month and if you share with two other friends, it is only $100 (€70)!!!
Groceries are cheap when bought locally. Imported stuff is in general 50% more expensive so if you want to trim your budget, you should shop at local markets and buy from street vendors.
If you’re 45 or more you may consider retiring to Belize. The Retired Person’s Incentive Programmay allow you to live a tax free lifestyle, which should definitely help you save up a few bucks.
Storm approaching the coast in Belize. By Grant Heller
Before you pack your bags, be aware that the country has dry and wet seasons so the weather is not always as perfect as you wish. The wet season starts in May and ends in October – it rains all the time and the hurricanes may occur, so if you want to spend just a few months in the country, go between November and April.
The world is changing fast and the bargain destinations may soon become less affordable, so go there before it is too late.
And don’t forget that the best things in life are for free. Living abroad for less than $500 a month is great but what counts most is the people you meet, friends you make, experience you acquire, places you see, tastes and smells you learn to recognize.
There are also countries in Europe and Africa where you can live for $500 a month. So keep checking the blog... the article is coming soon.
P.S. At the time of writing, the exchange rate was $1 - €0.71.
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