Country Assessment of India

The ancient social system of India believed that society should be based on the division of labor focusing the majority on the specialization and and functionality of each person. This follows the idea of Plato in much of his work. India has been running a caste system based on innate nature and an individual's choice of work for centuries. They believe that the caste system is the only way to prevent chaos within society. The system has 5 different levels: The Brahman which is the priests, Kshatriya the ruler, warrior, and landowner, Vaishya which is the merchants of India, Shudra the artisans and agriculturalists, and the Harijan which is outside the "caste" system and were once considered the untouchables. Within each of these levels are the actual castes which people are born into, marry and die.

Family values are deep rooted within the Indian families. Men are still considered the head of the household and make all the decisions even though they may not be the sole breadwinner. Parents are looked upon with respect and regard and children are supported by their parents all the way through their education.

India is the land of many religions all being an integral part of life. The majority of Indians are Hindus with a large minority of Muslims. Other religions include Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrinism. In the early stages of the national movement, both Hindus and Muslims worked towards independence of the country. Currently, Hindus make up 80% of the population. India also has the second largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia. Most common practices have become a part of religious faiths in India. These beliefs are celebrated each year through festivals of dance, music, and feasting that are shared by all communities. Each has it's own pilgrimage sites, heroes, legends, and culinary specialties that are shared throughout the community. Different religions and cultures living together in one community is what makes the people of India so interesting.

The Indian culture is known for metalworking of images and icons that goes back to 2500 B.C. This metalwork, is designed into everyday items such as lamps, platters, and other items used for worship. The metals used are gold, silver, brass, and bronze. Another well known figure of the Indian culture is the dancer Nataraja. Earthen pottery is also a rich tradition in India. The potter creates