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Overview: India

India is a land of contrasts. There is a saying that goes, "Whatever you say about India, the reverse is also true." It is a country that exists in several centuries at once. On the one hand, India is a sophisticated and modern society, a leader in the industrial world. On the other hand, it is home to millions of wretchedly poor who live without the "modern" conveniences that most Americans accept as part of their everyday life.

India is vast; this single country is the size of Europe. More than 1600 languages and dialects are spoken, and fierce regional loyalties exist. There are 15 official languages. English is the only language known throughout the country; yet only three in 100 speak it.

India's population is huge. In 1947 when the British bid farewell to the "jewel in the crown of their empire" there were 350 million people. Today, there are more than one billion people in India, and the population is growing. One in six people is Indian in today's world. Another paradox of life in India is that improvements in public health, disease control and agricultural production all contribute to a growing population.

REGION: Chennai is one of the mercantile ports developed during the British colonial period and is also the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. To the west is the state of Karnataka, with its distinct Dravidian culture based in the Kannada language. On the southwest coast is the state of Kerala. The southern states are less influenced by Moslem and British forces; but, at the same time, are oriented to the traditional sea trade of the Indian Ocean. Thus, Tamils are found in Malaysia and Sri Lanka, and one-fourth of Kerala's population is Catholic. The South is culturally more 'pure' and yet fairly cosmopolitan. The people are also quite warm and hospitable. 'South' in India shares some of the connotations with 'South' in the United States, the pace is slower, and some say the life is richer and less hectic.

CLIMATE Chennai lies in an equatorial, tropical region (i.e. HOT). As March begins the transition to the summer months, temperatures may range from 91? - 99?F during the day with little noticeable change at night.

FOOD The food of India is one of its great pleasures. Inexpensive Indian restaurants can be found in almost any town. South India is famous for its delicious coffee and for its two breakfast foods, idli and dosa. Both are made from a slightly-fermented batter of ground rice and lentils. Idli is steamed so it emerges as a light, fluffy, snow white, savory cupcake, while dosa is spread to paper thinness and fried to crispness on a flat griddle.

CURRENCY: The unit of currency is the rupee and is divided into 100 paise.

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