15th August. A red letter day, will continue to be of utmost importance in the history of India. We have completed 70 years of independence and it has not always been a smooth sail. But we have been slowly but steadily making progress.
One of the fastest growing country, India is still sometimes considered as an underdog and is underestimated. So, let’s take a look at these 15 facts that prove otherwise and make us proud to be called an Indian.
Source: Jaago Re
-
Right To Vote From Day 1 After Independence
India is the largest democracy in the world, and it has the unique distinction of being the only country that gave its citizens the Right to Vote from the very first day after Independence.
2. Third In Claiming World Records
As per the records of The Guinness Book of World Records, after UK and US, India is in the third position in claiming the number of world records each year.
Source: South Report
3. Highest Bailey Bridge In The World
In August 1982, the Indian Army built the world’s highest Bailey Bridge at an altitude of 5602 meters. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains.
4. Currency Notes With Braille Features
The Indian currency notes has Braille feature which aid the visually impaired to identify and differentiate between the notes. Mexico, Israel, Canada and Russia are some of the other countries to adopt this feature.
5. Invention Of Sugar Refining
The process of sugar refining was first discovered by India during the Gupta dynasty, around 350AD where they discovered how to crystallize sugar.
Source: nitinenterprises
6. Invention of Chess And Snakes & Ladders
Believed to be originated during the Gupta dynasty, in Eastern India, Chess, in its early form was known as chaturanga in the 6th century.
Snakes & Ladders originated in India, as a part of the dice board games family which included Gyan chauper (Ludo) and pachisi (Parcheesi).
7. Manufacturer of Supercomputers
Supercomputers are computers that have a high level of computing performance in comparison to general computers. And are made, by only three countries in the world, India being one of them besides US and Japan.
8. The First University Of The World Was Established In India
Takshila, is said to be the very first university in the world that started around 700 BC. From all over the world, more than 10,500 students came to study more than 60 subjects.
Source: The Checker News
9. Sushruta, The Father Of Surgery
Sushruta, a physician, made tremendous contributions to the field of plastic and cataract surgery in 6th century BC. Reconstructive surgery techniques were being carried out as early as 800 BC in India. Hence, Sushruta is considered as the Father of Surgery.
Source: America Space
10. The Only Country To Send A Spacecraft To Mars In Its First Attempt
India has joined the elite group of countries that have managed to successfully send a spacecraft to Mars. India became the fourth country to do so, but the very first one to manage it in its very first attempt. Whoopee!
11. Largest Postal Network In The World
India has the largest portal network in the world. And not just that, India also has the highest post office in the world, which is located at a height of 15,500 ft in Hikkim, Himachal Pradesh. And why just stop at the highest point, India has a floating post office too! The Dal lake in Srinagar opened a floating post office in 2011.
Source: The Indian Express
12. The Invincible Indian National Kabaddi Team
The Indian national Kabaddi team of India has won all the Kabaddi World Cups held till now and have been unbeatable. Both the men’s team and women’s team have achieved this awe-inspiring feat. Go India!
13. Origination Of Algebra, Trigonometry And Calculus
Quadratic equations were used by Sridharcharya in the 11th century. While the Greeks and Romans were using 106, the Indians were using numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e 10 to the power of 53), as early as 500 B.C.
Source: chandrayaan-i.com
14. Discovery Of Water On Moon, Zero.
India’s ISRO Chandrayaan – 1, in September, 2009 detected water on Mars for the first time using its Moon Mineralogy Mapper.
In working out the place value system, Aryabhatta discovered zero for the very first time and also invented the number system.
15. India – Wary Of Wars
Although, India is the largest importer of arms, in her last 100000 years of history, India has never invaded any country.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more facts, like the art of shampooing being discovered in India, the Human calculator – Shakuntala Devi, origin of Yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism in India, the largest number of vegetarians in India, etc.
All this, gives us a reason to hold our heads high and be proud to be an Indian. So this Independence Day, let us all pledge, that we will continue to make inroads into making our country even better and greater.
