South India 678583 225984489 2008-07-16T09:32:16Z 202.141.29.131 /* External links */ {{Infobox South India}} '''South India''' is the area encompassing [[India]]'s states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] as well as the [[Union territories of India|union territories]] of [[Lakshadweep]] and [[Pondicherry]]. South India lies in the [[peninsula]]r [[Deccan Plateau]] and is bounded by the [[Arabian Sea]], [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]] in the west, south and east respectively. The geography of the region is diverse, encompassing two mountain ranges &mdash; the [[Western Ghats]] and [[Eastern Ghats]] and a plateau heartland. [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Krishna River|Krishna]], [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] and [[Kaveri River|Kaveri]] rivers are important non-[[Perennial stream|perennial]] sources of water. Inhabitants of South India are referred to as ''South Indians''. A majority of South Indians speak one of the four [[Dravidian languages]] &mdash; [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]]. During its [[History of South India|history]], a number of dynastic kingdoms ruled over parts of South India whose invasions across [[South Asia|southern]] and [[Southeast Asia|southeastern]] [[Asia]] impacted the history and cultures of modern nation-states such as [[Sri Lanka]], [[Indonesia]], [[Thailand]] and [[Malaysia]]. The region was [[British East India|colonised]] by [[Early Modern Britain|Britain]] and gradually incorporated into the [[British Empire]]. After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]], the economies of South Indian states have registered higher than national average decadal growth over the past three decades. While South Indian states have improved in some [[socio-economics|socio-economic]] metrices,<ref name=outlook1>[http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=AOpenning+Essay+%28F%29&sid=1 The Better Half]. Outlook India. July 16, 2007</ref><ref name=outlook2>[http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=HThe+Stats&sid=1 Also A Head for Numbers]. Outlook India. July 16, 2007</ref> economic disparity, illiteracy and poverty continue to affect the region much like the rest of the country. [[Agriculture]] is the single largest contributor to the regional [[net domestic product]], while [[Information technology]] (IT) is a rapidly growing industry. Literary and architectural styles, evolved over two thousand years, differ from other parts of the country. Politics in southern India is dominated by smaller regional political parties rather than by national political parties. South India ranks the highest in terms of social and economic development in areas such as fertility rate and infrastructure; the fertility rate of South India is 1.9, the lowest of all regions in India.<ref>http://www.nfhsindia.org/</ref> == Etymology == Apart from the English language terms ''South India'' and ''Peninsular India'', southern India has been known by several other historic names. The region has been referred to as the ''Deccan'' (from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''dakshina'' meaning ''south''). This term currently refers only to the area covered by the [[Deccan Plateau]], a major geographic feature of the region.<ref name="deccan">{{cite web |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/deccan |title=Dictionary definitions of 'Deccan' from Anwsers.com |accessdate=2006-09-15}}</ref> ''The Carnatic'' is an English term derived from ''"Karnād"'' or ''"Karunād"'', meaning ''black country''. The terms ''Karnād'' and ''Carnatic'' have long overgrown particular association with the plateau and refer to all of South India, including the coasts, the eastern of which is named the Carnatic coast. The name ''Karnātaka'' is derived from the same root.<ref name="hobsons">{{cite web |url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:415.hobson |title=Origins of the word 'Carnatic' in the Hobson Jobson Dictionary. |accessdate=2006-09-15}}</ref> == History == [[Image:Brihadeshwara back right.jpg||thumb|right|The Great Temple at Thanjavur built by [[Rajaraja Chola I]]]] [[Image:Belur4.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hoysala Empire]] sculptural articulation in [[Belur]]]] {{main|History of South India}} [[Carbon dating]] on ash mounds associated with [[neolithic]] cultures in South India date back to 8000&nbsp;BCE. Artefacts such as ground stone axes, and minor copper objects have been found in the region. Towards the beginning of 1000&nbsp;BCE, [[Iron Age|iron technology]] spread through the region; however, there does not appear to be a fully developed [[Bronze Age]] preceding the Iron Age in South India.<ref name="prehistory">Agarwal, D.P. [http://www.arkeologi.uu.se/afr/projects/BOOK/agrawal.pdf "Urban Origins in India"], 2006. Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala Universitet</ref> South India was a crossroads of the ancient world, linking the [[Mediterranean]] and the Far East. The southern coastline from [[Karwar]] to [[Kodungallur]] was the most important trading shore in the Indian subcontinent resulting in intermingling between locals and traders.<ref name= "Pillai"> T. K. Velu Pillai, 1940; Wilfred Schoff 1912 "Periplus Maris Erythraei" (trans) 1912, Menachery, G 1998; James Hough 1893; K.V. Krishna Iyer 1971</ref> The South Indian coast of [[Malabar]] and the [[Tamil people]] of the [[Sangam]] age traded with the [[Graeco-Roman]] world. They were in contact with the [[Phoenicians]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Greeks]], [[Arabs]], [[Demographics of Syria|Syrians]], [[Jew]]s, and [[China|Chinese]].<ref name= "Blandstrom">(Bjorn Landstrom, 1964; Miller, J. Innes. 1969; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973; Leslie Brown, 1956</ref> There were several significant rulers and dynasties in south Indian history. Dynasties such as the [[Satavahanas]] of [[Amaravati]], [[Kadambas]] of Banavasi, [[Western Ganga Dynasty]], [[Chalukya dynasty]] of Badami, [[Western Chalukyas]], [[Eastern Chalukya]], [[Chera dynasty|Chera]]s, [[Cholas]], [[Hoysalas]], [[Kakatiya dynasty]], [[Pallavas]], [[Pandyas]], and [[Rashtrakuta]]s of Manyaketha have ruled over South India. The late [[Medieval India|medieval period]] saw the rise of [[Muslim]] power in South India. The defeat of the [[Kakatiya dynasty]] of [[Warangal]] by [[Tughlaq]] forces of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] in 1323&nbsp;CE heralded a new chapter in South Indian history. The struggle of the period was between the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] based in [[Gulbarga]] (and later, [[Bidar]]) and the [[Vijayanagara|Vijayanagara Empire]] with its capital in Vijayanagara in modern [[Hampi]]. With the fall of Vijayanagara and the break-up of the Bahmani sultanate, the [[Qutb Shahi]] dynasty of [[Golconda]] and Hyderabad became the dominant power in the region. Qutb Shahi dominance of the region continued until the middle of the seventeenth century, when the [[Mughal]]s under [[Aurangzeb]] made determined inroads into the Deccan. Following Aurangzeb’s death, Mughal power weakened, and South Indian rulers gained autonomy from Delhi. The [[Wodeyar]] kingdom of [[Mysore]], the [[Asaf Jahis]] of Hyderabad, and [[Maratha]]s all gained power. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the [[France|French]] and the [[United Kingdom|British]] initiated a protracted struggle for military control of South India. Shifting alliances between the two [[Europe]]an powers and the local powers marked the period with mercenary armies being employed by all sides causing general anarchy in South India. As the British consolidated power over much of India in the late 1850s, they allowed the French to retain their possessions over Pondicherry. The four [[Anglo-Mysore wars]] and the three [[Anglo-Maratha Wars]] saw Mysore, Pune and Hyderabad allying themselves with the British or the French. South India during the British colonial rule was divided into the [[Madras Presidency]] and [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]], [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], [[Thiruvithamcoore]] (also known as Travancore), [[Kingdom of Kochi|Kochi]] (also known as Cochin or ''Perumpadapu Swaroopam''), [[Vizianagaram]] and a number of other minor princely states. British Residents were stationed in the capitals of the important states to supervise and report on the activities of the rulers. The ''[[States Reorganisation Act]]'' (1956) created new states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala) and reorganised modern-day Tamil Nadu along linguistic lines. Additionally, the [[enclave]]s of [[French India]], which were ceded to India in the 1950s, were constituted into the union territory of [[Pondicherry]]. {{seealso|Middle kingdoms of India|History of India}} ==Geography== {{Main|Geography of South India}} [[Image:SivaSamudram.JPG|thumb|[[Sivasamudram Falls]] on the [[Kaveri]] River near [[Mysore]]]] South India is a [[peninsula]] in the shape of a vast inverted triangle, bounded on the west by the [[Arabian Sea]], on the east by the [[Bay of Bengal]] and on the north by the [[Vindhya]] and [[Satpura]] ranges. The [[Narmada River|Narmada]] flows westwards in the depression between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. The Satpura ranges define the northern spur of the [[Deccan plateau]]. The [[Western Ghats]], along the western coast, mark another boundary of the plateau. The narrow strip of verdant land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is the [[Konkan]] region. The Western Ghats continue south, forming the [[Malnad]] ([[Kanara|Canara]]) region along the Karnataka coast, and terminate at the [[Nilgiri]] mountains, an inward (easterly) extension of the Western Ghats. The Nilgiris run in a crescent approximately along the borders of [[Tamil Nadu]] with northern [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]], encompassing the [[Palakkad District|Palakkad]] and [[Wayanad]] hills, and the [[Satyamangalam]] ranges, and extending on to the relatively low-lying hills of the [[Eastern Ghats]], on the western portion of the [[Tamil Nadu]] - [[Andhra Pradesh]] border. The [[Tirupati]] and [[Annamalai]] hills form part of this range. The low lying [[coral]] islands of [[Lakshadweep]] are off the south-western coast of India. [[Sri Lanka]] lies off the south-eastern coast, separated from India by the [[Palk Strait]] and the chain of low sandbars and islands known as [[Rama's Bridge]]. The [[Andaman and Nicobar]] islands lie far off the eastern coast of India, near the [[Tenasserim]] coast of [[Burma]]. The southernmost tip of mainland India is at [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] (Cape Comorin) on the [[Indian Ocean]]. The [[Deccan plateau]] is the vast elevated region bound by the C-shape defined by all these mountain ranges. No major elevations border the plateau to the east, and it slopes gently from the Western Ghats to the eastern coast. The plateau is watered by the east flowing [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna]] rivers. The other major rivers of the Deccan plateau are the [[Pennar]] and the [[Tungabhadra]], a major tributary of the Krishna. The three major river deltas of South India, the Kaveri, the Godavari and the Krishna, are located along the Bay of Bengal. These areas constitute the ''rice bowls'' of South India. The region has a very [[tropical climate]] with the monsoons playing a major part. The [[monsoon|South - West Monsoon]] accounts for most of the rainfall in the region and much of it falls from about June to October. The south-west monsoon starts from Kerala during June and moves up towards the northern parts of [[India]]. [[Tamil Nadu]] and southeast [[Andhra Pradesh]] receive rains from the North - East Monsoon from about November to February. Much of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Karnataka]] has a distinct dry season from about October - May when there is not much rainfall. This region also experiences cooler nights from October to March while the days are pleasantly warm. In the northern parts of the region temperatures can fall below 10 degrees Celsius on occasions at night during this time. Days are very hot from March to June when temps can go over 40 degrees. The southern coastal region has an average minimum temperature of 20 degrees and maximum of 35 degrees. ==Flora and fauna== {{main|Wildlife of Karnataka|Wildlife of Tamil Nadu|Wildlife of Kerala}} [[Image:Bangaram Island.jpg‎|thumb|right|Bingaram Island in the [[Union territories of India|union territory of Lakshadweep]].]] There is a wide diversity of plants and animals in South India, resulting from its varied climates and geography. [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests|Deciduous forests]] are found along the [[Western Ghats]] while [[South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests|tropical dry forests]] and scrub lands [[Deccan thorn scrub forests]] are common in the interior Deccan plateau. The southern Western Ghats have high altitude rain forests called the [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]]. The [[Malabar Coast moist forests]] are found on the coastal plains.<ref name="netgeo_terres">{{cite web| url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_im.html| title = Indo-Malayan Terrestrial Ecoregions| accessmonthday = April 15 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> The Western Ghats itself is a [[biodiversity hotspot]].<ref name="cons_intl_hotspots">{{cite web| url=http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/ghats/| title= Biodiversity Hotspot - Western Ghats & Sri Lanka, Conservation International| accessmonthday = April 15 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> Some of India's famous protected areas are found in South India. These include [[Project Tiger]] reserves [[Periyar National Park]], [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve|Kalakad - Mundanthurai]] and [[Nagarjunsagar Wildlife Sanctuary|Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve]]. Important ecological regions of South India are the [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]], located at the conjunction of the borders of Karnataka, Kerela and Tamilnadu in the [[Nilgiris district|Nilgiri Hills]] including [[Mudumalai National Park]], [[Bandipur National Park]], [[Nagarhole National Park]] [[Silent Valley National Park]], [[Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary]] and Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary and the [[Anamalai Hills]] including the [[Eravikulam National Park]], [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary]] and the adjacent[[Indira Gandhi National Park| The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]] of the Western Ghats. Important bird sanctuaries including [[Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary]], Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Neelapattu Sanctuary and Pulicat Sanctuary are home to numerous migratory and local birds. Other protected ecological sites include the [[backwaters]] like the Pulicut Lake in Andhra Pradesh, Pitchavarum in Tamil Nadu and the famed backwaters of Kerala formed by the [[Vembanad Lake]], the [[Ashtamudi Lake]] and the Kayamkulam Lake. [[Banana]], ''Musaparadisiaca'' and ''[[Moringa oleifera]]'' are found extensively in [[Lakshadweep]] while [[coconut]] plantations provide economic support to the islands. Lashadweep has been declared a bird sanctuary by the Wildlife Institute of India. <ref name=wii>[http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/list_proposedwls.pdf List of Proposed Wildlife Sanctuaries in India]. Wildlife Institute of India.</ref> [[Crab]]s, chiefly [[hermit crab]]s, [[parrot fish]] and [[butterfly fish]] are also found on the islands. == Subdivisions == [[Image:South Indian territories.svg|thumb|right|Map of South Indian states prior to the ''[[States Reorganisation Act]]'' (1956).]] South India consists of the four southern Indian states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] as well as the [[union territories]] of [[Puducherry]] and the [[Lakshadweep]] [[archipelago]]. Together with Pondicherry, each South Indian state has an elected state government, while the Lakshadweep islands are [[Government of India|centrally]] administered by the [[President of India]]. The modern states of South India were created as a result of the ''[[States Reorganisation Act]]''<ref name=statesreorg>[http://www.commonlii.org/in/legis/num_act/sra1956250/ States Reorganisation Act, 1956]. Government of India.</ref> (1956), which established states and union territories based on linguistic boundaries. As a result of this act: * '''Andhra Pradesh''' was formed with the transfer of all districts from [[Hyderabad State]] and some ''[[taluk]]s'' from [[Raichur district|Raichur]], [[Bidar district|Bidar]], and [[Gulbarga district|Gulbarga]] to [[Andhra State]], * '''Kerala''' was created with the transfer of [[Malayalam]]-dominated territories from Madras State, [[Kasaragod]] ''taluk'' and [[Malabar district]] to unapportioned districts of [[Travancore-Cochin|Travancore-Cochin State]], * '''Mysore State''' was formed with the transfer of [[Belgaum district|Belgaum]], [[Bijapur district|Bijapur]], [[Dharwad district|Dharwad]] and [[Canara]] districts from [[Bombay State]], [[Kollegal]] ''taluk'' of [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]] from Madras State, unapportioned ''taluks'' of Raichur, Bidar and Gulbarga from Hyderabad State and all territories of Coorg to the erstwhile [[Kingdom of Mysore]], * '''Madras State''' was reorganised with the transfer to some ''talkus'' from Travancore-Cochin to form the districts of [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]] and [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]], * '''Pondicherry''' was formed out of the territories that were under the control of [[French India|France]], * '''Lakshadweep''' was formed out of the [[archipelago]] under the Malabar district of Madras State. Madras State was renamed ''Tamil Nadu'' in 1968, while Mysore State was renamed ''Karnataka'' in 1973. Each subregion is further divided into [[Districts of India|districts]]; the region of South India has over 100 districts. Each state is headed by a [[Governor]], who is a direct appointee of the President of India, while the [[Chief Minister]] is the elected head of the state government and represents the states ruling party or [[coalition government|coalition]] (the role of the Governor is largely [[ceremonial]]). == Demographics == {{Main|Dravidian languages}} {{Dravidian languages}} The estimated population of South India is 233 million.<ref name=demographics>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/Religion_WhizMap1/housemap.htm |title=Census India Maps |accessdate=2006-04-11}}</ref> The largest linguistic groups in South India include the [[Telugu people|Telugu]]s, [[Tamil people|Tamils]], [[Kannadiga]]s, [[Malayali]]s, [[Tuluva]]s, [[Kodava]]s and [[Konkani people|Konkani]]s. About 83% of South Indians follow [[Hinduism]]. [[Islam]] has the second-highest number of followers in the region, with 11%, while 5% follow Christianity. The average [[literacy rate]] of South India is approximately 73%, considerably higher than the Indian national average of 60%.<ref name="ciaindia">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html |title=CIA factbook |accessdate=2006-04-11}}</ref> Kerala leads the nation with a literacy rate of 91%. The [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] in South India is fairly equable at 997; Kerala is the only state in India with a favourable sex ratio.<ref name="demographics"/> The [[population density]] of the region is approximately 463. [[Scheduled Castes and Tribes]] form 18% of the population of the region. Agriculture is the major employer in the region &mdash; 47.5% of the population is involved in agrarian activities. About 60% of the population lives in permanent housing structures. 47.8% of South India has access to [[tap water]]. [[Water well|Well]]s and [[Spring (hydrosphere)|spring]]s are other major forms of water supply. The languages of South India are the Dravidian represented by Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam besides Gondi and other minor dialects, and the Austro-Asiatic by the [[Munda]] languages.<ref name="Sastri">K.A. Nilakanta Sastri., "A History of South India"7th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.</ref> South India's predominant language family is [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]], a [[language family|family]] of approximately seventy-three languages<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=90422 Language Family Trees - Dravidian.] [[Ethnologue]].</ref> spoken in [[South Asia]].<ref name="RCaldwell">Robert Caldwell., "A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages" 3rd ed. rev. and edited by J.L. Wyatt, T. Ramakrishna Pillai. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1998. ISBN 81-206-0117-3</ref> The [[States Reorganisation Act]] of 1956 divided states in India along linguistic lines and led to the creation of separate states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] in areas where Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil respectively were dominant. In the 2001 [[Census]], [[Telugu]] had the third largest base of native speakers in India (74 million), after [[Hindi]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. Tamil was accorded the status of [[classical language]] by the [[Government of India]] in 2002 and had about 60 million native speakers. Kannada had 38 million, while Malayalam had 33 million native speakers.<ref name="indiacensuslang">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.htm "Abstract of speakers’ strength of languages and mother tongues –2001"]<u>.Office of the Registrar General</u>. Government of India</ref> Each of these languages is listed as an ''[[Official languages of India|official language]]'' of India, per the ''Official Languages Act'' (1963). [[Urdu]] is spoken by over half of the 25 million [[Indian Muslims|Muslims]] in South India. <ref name=indiacensuslang /><ref name=simuslims>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Social_and_cultural/Religion.aspx "Socio-cultural aspects"], <u>Office of the Registrar General</u>, Government of India</ref> South Indian Muslims in some regions of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka speak a [[dialect]] of Urdu called [[Dakhni]], while some in the [[Dakshina Kannada]] region of Karnataka and regions in Kerala speak ''[[Beary bashe]]''.<ref>Upadhyaya, U. Padmanabha. Coastal Karnataka: Studies in Folkloristic and Linguistic Traditions of Dakshina Kannada Region of the Western Coast of India. Udupi: Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra, 1996. P- '''ix''', ISBN 81-86668-06-3, First All India Conference of Dravidian Linguistics, Thiruvananthapuram, 1973</ref> Both Dakhni and ''Beary bashe'' are influenced by other South Indian languages. <ref name=indiacensuslang /> [[Tulu]], a Dravidian language prevalent in coastal Kerala and Karnataka, is spoken by about 1.5 million people in the region, while [[Konkani language|Konkani]], an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] language, is spoken by over half a million people in the region. [[English language|English]] is also widely spoken universal language of South India. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.languageinindia.com/junjul2002/baldridgeindianenglish.html|title=Language in India}}</ref> ==Economy== {{main|Economy of South India}} {|class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size: 0.90em; width: 400px; float: right;" !colspan=3 style="background: #008080; color: white; align: center;" | '''Economic and demographic indicators''' <ref name=ecoindicators>[http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070716&fname=HThe+Stats&sid=1 Also A Head For Numbers]. Outlook India. July 16, 2007</ref> </tr> <tr style="background: #B0C4DE;"> |'''Parameter''' ||'''South India'''||'''National''' </tr> |Per capita [[net domestic product|net state domestic product]] (SDP) |{{INRConvert|25027.75}} |{{INRConvert|23222}} |- |Percentage share in total [[foreign direct investment|FDI]] approved (1993-2003) |5.48 |NA |- |Average annual growth of SDP |5.6 |5.6 |- |Percentage of population below [[poverty line]] |17.41 |26.10 |- |Percentage of urban population |32.82 |27.81 |- |Percentage of households with electricity |89.32 |67.9 |- |[[Literacy rate]] |72.87 |61 <ref name="ciastats>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html India]. World Factbook. <u>Central Intelligence Agency</u>. March 20, 2008</ref> |} India's economy after [[Independence of India|independence]] in 1947 conformed to a [[socialist]] framework, with strict governmental control over [[private sector]] participation, [[foreign trade]] and [[foreign direct investment]] (FDI). Through 1960-1990, South Indian economies experienced mixed economic growth. In the 1960s, Karnataka and Kerala achieved above average economic growth, while Andhra Pradesh's economy declined during this period. Similarly, Kerala experienced economic decline in the 1970s while the economies of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu consistently exceeded national average growth rates after 1970. Karnataka experienced the highest positive differential in [[economic growth]] after the [[liberalization|liberalisation]] of the Indian economy in 1991, while Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were noted by some to be more [[Economic reforms in India|reform-oriented]] in terms of economic policy when compared to other Indian states.<ref name=krishna>[http://www.icrier.org/pdf/wp144.pdf "PATTERNS AND DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDIAN STATES"], Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations. September 2004</ref> Over 48% of South India's population is engaged in [[agriculture]], which is largely dependent on seasonal [[monsoon]]s<ref name="demographics"/> Some of the main crops cultivated in South India include [[Paddy field|paddy]], [[sorghum]], [[pearl millet]], pulses, [[sugarcane]], cotton, [[chile pepper|chilli]], and [[ragi]]. [[Areca]], [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[vanilla]], [[rubber]], [[black pepper|pepper]], [[tapioca]], and [[cardamom]] are cultivated on the hills, while [[coconut]] grows in abundance in coastal areas. Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of rice in India,<ref name="aponline">{{cite web |url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/apfactfile/apfactmain.html |title=Andhra Pradesh Online |accessdate=2006-04-10}}</ref> while Karnataka produces 70% of India's coffee. Frequent droughts in northern Karnataka, [[Rayalaseema]] and [[Telangana]] have left farmers debt-ridden, forcing them to sell their livestock and sometimes even to commit suicide.<ref name=farmersuicide>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3769981.stm |title=BBC |accessdate=2006-04-10}}</ref> The region also suffers from water scarcity, especially during summer. Since the liberalisation of the Indian economy, South India has seen a decrease in revenue from agriculture and agriculture related services <ref name=bhide>[http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/asarc/novcon2001/Shand.pdf Growth in India’s State Economies Before and With Reforms: Shares and Determinants]. Shand, Bhide. November 2001</ref>. Traditionally, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been home to large, [[public sector]] industries (referred to as [[Public Sector Undertaking]]s, or PSUs), with both states posting above average growth rates in this sector following economic liberalisation. <ref name=bhide /> Chennai accounts for about 35% of India's overall automotive components<ref name=chennaiauto>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2000/oct/25cars.htm "Madras, the Detroit of South Asia"]. rediff.com. Oct 25, 2000</ref> while the registered headquarters of 42% of all Central PSUs in South India are located in Karnataka. <ref name=centralpsus>[http://dpe.nic.in/survey0506/vol1/APENDIX3.pdf "List of Central Public Sector Enterprises Under Different States" (Appendix III)]. Department of Public Enterprises. Government of India. March 31, 2006</ref> Additionally, the growth of information technology (IT) hubs in the region have spurred economic growth and attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country. [[Bangalore]], the ''[[Silicon Valley of India]]'', is India's IT hub, and is home to over 200 software companies. In [[fiscal year|fiscal]] 2006-2007, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka attracted the third and fourth highest total FDI approvals in India, respectively, totalling to over {{INRConvert|41700|c}} <ref name=fdi>[http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2004-05/chapt2005/chap76.pdf "Foreign Direct Investment"]. Government of India.</ref> Software exports from South India grossed over {{INRConvert|64000|c}} in fiscal 2005-06.<ref name="stpi">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050702500300.htm |title=BusinessLine article on Tamil Nadu Software Exports |accessdate=2006-10-05}}</ref> Change in policies made the agriculture rich state Andhra Pradesh to move into a very refined state in terms of IT and pharmaceutical areas. With major defence establishments in Hyderabad it has become a major city to a cosmopolitan city next to Mumbai. Though Kerala lags behind many of the Indian states in terms of industrialisation, it ranks first in the country in terms of [[Human Development Index|quality of life]].<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1913/19130810.htm A state of disparity<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Politics == {{main|Politics in South India}} [[Image:Cpmernakulam (40).jpg|thumb|A [[Left Democratic Front]] rally in Kerala.]] [[Image:Mgree456R.jpg|thumb|right|Election poster of [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|AIADMK]] founder and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu [[MG Ramachandran]].]] Politics in South India is dominated by a mix of regional parties and larger national political parties like the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] (INC), the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)). With the exclusion of [[Karnataka]], each state has at least [[Two-party system|two parties]] dominating politics in that state.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Pre-independence politics in the Madras Presidency was dominated by the [[Justice Party]] and the [[Indian National Congress|INC]]. [[Periyar Ramasami]] who started the [[Periyar movement]] was elected leader of the Justice party in 1938 and in 1944 renamed it to [[Dravidar Kazhagam]], with its initial aim being the secession of ''[[Dravida Nadu]]'' from the rest of India on independence.<ref name="periyar">{{cite web |url=http://www.periyar.org/html/dk_movement_eng.asp |accessdaymonth=19 April |accessyear=2006 |title="Periyar Movement- Periyar.org"}}</ref> Following independence, Periyar strongly believed that the party should not participate in elections in the newly created India, something his closest followers disagreed with. In 1948, [[C. N. Annadurai]], a follower of Periyar and a Joint Secretary of Dravidar Kazhagam parted ways with Periyar to form the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] political party.<ref name="periyar"/>INC's political influence over Tamil Nadu gave way to the rise of the DMK which formed its first government in 1968 and again in 1978. The following year, a split in the DMK resulted in the formation of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK), lead by [[M. G. Ramachandran]]. Together, the AIADMK and the DMK currently command a 60% share in Tamil Nadu state elections. The main facets of state politics in Tamil Nadu included ''language'' &mdash; the distinction between Tamil and non-Tamil speakers was an important tool used by the DMK in the 1960s and ''caste'' &mdash; such as the [[Self-respect Movement]]. The imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking areas of India has often been a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu. In January-February 1965, large scale anti-Hindi agitations, a cause championed by the DMK,<ref name=dmkantihindi>Guha, Ramachandra.&nbsp;[http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2005/01/16/stories/2005011600260300.htm "Hindi against India"]. 2006. <u>The Hindu</u>. The Hindu Group. 16 Jan. 2005</ref> occurred in Tamil Nadu. In 1982, the establishment of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] in Andhra Pradesh by former Telugu actor [[Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao]] (NTR) broke the dominance of the INC in Andhra Pradesh politics. NTR successfully challenged the INC's supremacy in the state and his party was voted into power a total of four times. In 1996, a year after winning the state assembly election by a landslide, a dispute between NTR, his wife Lakshmi Parvati and his immediate family resulted in a split in the TDP. Concerned over undue influence over NTR and his policies, the bulk of the party favoured the family under the leadership of NTR's son-in-law, [[N Chandrababu Naidu]], who later became Chief Minister of the state. Naidu was regarded as a visionary who promoted the growth of information technology in the state. The [[Janata Dal]] has been far more successful in Karnataka than it has been in national politics. National political parties such as the BJP and INC have experienced more comparative success in Karnataka than they have in other states of South India. Karnataka's political environment is dominated by two rival caste groups &mdash; the [[Vokkaliga]]s and the [[Lingayat]]s.<ref name="karnatakapolitics">Price, Pamela. [http://www.isec.ac.in/Karnataka_Price16.5.05_aligned.pdf "Ideological Elements in Political Instability in Karnataka..."]. <u>University of Oslo</u></ref> [[Ramakrishna Hegde]] played an integral part in the ascent of the Janata Dal into the national foray in the late 1980s. However, it was his political rival [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], then the Chief Minister of Karnataka, who later went on to become the [[Prime Minister of India]]. Kerala hosts two major political alliances: the [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF, led by the [[Indian National Congress]]) and the [[Left Democratic Front]] (LDF, led by the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]). Kerala numbers among India's most left-wing states. An interesting phenomenon of Kerala politics is the alternate election of Congress and the Communists to power. ==Culture and heritage== {{main|South Indian culture}} {{Citations missing|date=April 2008}} [[Image:Tamil brahmin couple circa 1945.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Tamil people|Tamil]] couple ''c. 1945''; the wife is wearing a ''madisara'' [[sari]].]] [[Image:Tirumalatemple.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]], A famous temple located in [[Tirupati]], [[Andra Pradesh]]]] According to some experts, the ''[[weltanschauung]]'' of South Indians is essentially the celebration of the eternal [[universe]] through the celebration of the beauty of the body, and [[mother]]hood, which is exemplified through their dance, clothing, and sculptures.<ref name="beck"> Beck, Brenda. 1976; Bharata, 1967; Boulanger, Chantal; 1997; Dehejia, Vidya, Richard H. Davis, R. Nagaswamy, Karen Pechilis Prentiss, 2002; Wadley, Susan, ed. 1980</ref> South Indian women traditionally wear the [[Saree]] while the men wear a type of [[sarong]], which could be either a white ''[[pancha]]'' or a colourful ''[[lungi]]'' with typical [[batik]] patterns. [[Rice]] is the staple diet, while fish is an integral component of coastal South Indian meals. [[Coconut]] is an important ingredient in Kerala whereas [[Andhra cuisine|Andhra Pradesh cuisine]] is characterized by [[Pickling|pickles]] and spicy [[curry|curries]]. [[Hyderabadi cuisine]] a legacy of the past, is popular for its [[Hyderabadi biryani|Biryani]]. [[Dosa]], [[Idli]], [[Uttapam]] are popular throughout the region. There are large [[coffee]] estates in southern Karnataka and parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The music of South India is known as [[Carnatic music]], which includes [[rhythm]]ic and structured music by composers like [[Purandara Dasa]], [[Kanaka Dasa]], [[Tyagaraja]], [[Annamacharya]], [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], [[Shyama Shastri]], Subbaraya Shastri, Mysore Vasudevachar and [[Swathi Thirunal]]. The contemporary singer [[Dr. K. J. Yesudas]] is a cultural ambassador of Carnatic music. The motion picture industry has emerged as an important platform in South India, over the years portraying the cultural changes, trends, aspirations and developments experienced by its people. Some movie classics like [[Nammukku paarkkaan munthiri thoppukal]] (1986) by [[Padmarajan]], [[Adi Shankara (movie)|Adi Shankara]] (1984) by director [[G V Iyer]], and [[Perumthachan]] (1990) by [[Ajayan (director)|Ajayan]] have gained worldwide acclaim. South India is home to several distinct dance forms &mdash; the [[Koodiyattam]], [[Bharata Natyam|Bharatanatyam]], [[Kuchipudi]], [[Kathakali]], [[Yakshagana]], [[Theyyam]], [[Ottamthullal]], [[Oppana]], [[Kerala Natanam]] and [[Mohiniaattam]]. South India has an independent literary tradition going back over 2000 years. The first known literature of South India are the poetic [[Sangam]]s, which were written in Tamil between 2000 to 1500 years ago. The 850 CE Kannada classic ''[[Kavirajamarga]]'' written by King Amoghavarsha I makes references to Kannada literature of King Durvinita in the early sixth century CE. Tamil Buddhist commentators of the tenth century CE ''Nemrinatham'' make references to Kannada literature of the fourth century CE. Distinct Malayalam and Telugu literary traditions developed in the following centuries. South India has two distinct styles of rock architecture, the ''pure dravida'' style of Tamil Nadu and the ''[[Vesara]]'' style (also called ''Karnata dravida'' style) present in Karnataka. The inspirational [[temple]] sculptures of [[Hampi]], [[Badami]], [[Bhattiprolu]], [[Pattadakal]], [[Aihole]], [[Belur]], [[Halebidu]], [[Lakkundi]], [[Shravanabelagola]], [[Mahabalipuram]], [[Tanjore]], [[Madurai]] and the mural paintings of [[Travancore]] and Lepakshi temples, also stand as a testament to [[South Indian culture]]. The paintings of [[Raja Ravi Varma]] are considered classic renditions of many a scenes of South Indian life and mythology.[[Murudeshwara]], a town in [[Uttar Kannada]] district is known for the world's tallest Shiva statue. The main spiritual traditions of South India include both [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] and [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] branches of [[Hinduism]], although [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]] philosophies had been influential several centuries earlier. [[Shravanabelagola]] in Karnataka is a popular pilgrimage center for [[Jains]]. [[Ayyavazhi]] is spread significantly across the southernmost parts of South India.<ref>Dr. R.Ponnu's, ''Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India'', 2000, Page 100, "''At present thousands of Pathis ([[Nizhal Thangal]]s) are seen throughout South India.''"</ref> Its followers are more densely populated in South [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>[[Dina Thanthi]] (Tamil Daily), ''[[Nagercoil]] Edition'', 4-3-2007, Page 23: ''"The Ayyavazhi followers are highly populated in the districts of [[Chennai]], [[Virudunagar]], [[Tirunelveli]], [[Tuticorin]] and [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]]."'' </ref> and [[Kerala]].<ref>Tha. Krishna Nathan's, Ayyaa vaikundarin vaazvum sinthanaiyum (Tamil), (Thesis in [[Madurai Kamaraj University]]), ''Thinai Veliyeettagam'', Chapter - 4, page 83. </ref> There is a large [[Muslim]] community in South India, particularly in the [[Malabar]] coast, which can trace its roots to the ancient maritime trade between Kerala and [[Oman]]is and other Arabs. [[Christianity]] has flourished in coastal South India from the times of [[St. Thomas the Apostle]] who is believed to have come to Kerala and established the Syrian Christian tradition today called as Saint Thomas Christians or [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani|Nasrani]]s.<ref name= "LeslieBrown">Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956</ref> Kerala is also home to one of the oldest [[Cochin Jews|Jewish communities]] in the world who are supposed to have arrived in the Malabar coast during the time of [[Biblical account of King Solomon|King Solomon]].<ref name="Koder">David de Beth Hillel, 1832; Lord, James Henry, 1977; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Koder S. 1973</ref> The oldest surviving Jewish [[synagogue]] in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] is the [[Paradesi Synagogue]] in [[Kochi India|Kochi]], Kerala. == See also == * [[India]] * [[North India]] * [[North-East India]] * [[West India]] * [[East India]] {{South India topics|state=expanded}} ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References and bibliography== <div class="references-small"> * Beck, Brenda. 1976. “The Symbolic Merger of Body, Space, and Cosmos in Hindu Tamil Nadu." Contributions to Indian Sociology 10(2): 213-43. * Bharata (1967). The Natyashastra [Dramaturgy], 2 vols., 2nd. ed. Trans. by Manomohan Ghosh. Calcutta: Manisha Granthalaya. * Boulanger, Chantal; (1997) Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping, Shakti Press International, New York. ISBN 0-9661496-1-0 * Craddock, Norma. 1994. Anthills, Split Mothers, and Sacrifice: Conceptions of Female Power in the Mariyamman Tradition. Dissertation, U. of California, Berkeley. * Danielou, Alain, trans. 1965. Shilappadikaram (The Ankle Bracelet) By Prince Ilango Adigal. New York: New Directions. ISBN 0-8112-0001-9 * Dehejia, Vidya, Richard H. Davis, R. Nagaswamy, Karen Pechilis Prentiss (2002) The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India. ISBN 0-295-98284-5 * Hart, George, ed. and trans. 1979. Poets of the Tamil Anthologies: Ancient Poems of Love and War. Princeton: Princeton U. Press *Kallarasa Virachita Janavasya Ed: G.G. Manjunathan. Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe, University of Mysore, Mysore 1974. * Gover, Charles. 1983 (1871). Folk-songs of Southern India. Madras: The South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society. * Nagaraju, S. 1990. “Prehistory of South India.” In South Indian Studies, H. M. Nayak and B. R. Gopal, eds., Mysore: Geetha Book House, pp. 35-52. * Trawick, Margaret. 1990a. Notes on Love in a Tamil Family. Berkeley: U. of California Press. * Wadley, Susan, ed. 1980. The Powers of Tamil Women. Syracuse: Syracuse U. Press. * Zvelebil, Kamil. 1975. Tamil Literature. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-04190-7 * Economy referenced from the Encyclopaedia [[Britannica]] online. * Some economic statistics from [http://indiabudget.nic.in Union Budget and Economic Survey, Government of India]. URL accessed April 10<sup>th</sup>, 2006. * Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press * Mundalan, A. Mathias. (1984) ''History of Christianity in India'', vol.1, Bangalore, India: Church History Association of India. * Leslie Brown, (1956) ''The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.) * Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd, 1970. * Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8]. * David de Beth Hillel (1832) "travels"; madras publication; * Menachery G (ed) (1982) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B.N.K. Press, vol. 1; * Lord, James Henry (1977) "The Jews in India and the Far East"; Greenwood Press Reprint; ISBN 0-8371-2615-0). * Poomangalam C. A. (1998) The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians; Kottayam, Kerala. * James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India". * K.V. Krishna Iyer (1971) Kerala’s Relations with the Outside World, pp. 70, 71 in "The Cochin Synagogue Quatercentenary Celebrations Commemoration Volume", Kerala History Association, Cochin. * ''Periplus Maris Erythraei'' "The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea", (trans). Wilfred Schoff (1912), reprinted South Asia Books 1995 ISBN 81-215-0699-9 * Miller, J. Innes. (1969). The Spice Trade of The Roman Empire: 29 B.C. to A.D. 641. Oxford University Press. Special edition for Sandpiper Books. 1998. ISBN 0-19-814264-1. * Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur. * Koder S. 'History of the Jews of Kerala". The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Ed. G. Menachery,1973. * Vellian Jacob (2001) Knanite community: History and culture; Syrian church series; vol. XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam * Weil, S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology,16. * Bjorn Landstrom (1964) "The Quest for India", Double day English Edition, Stockholm. * T. K. Velu Pillai, (1940) "The Travancore State Manual"; 4 volumes; Trivandrum * Caldwell, R (1998) "A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages" 3rd ed. rev. and edited by J.L. Wyatt, T. Ramakrishna Pillai. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0117-3 * Bloch, J. (1954) "The grammatical structure of Dravidian Languages". tr. of 'Structure grammaticale des langues Dravidiennes' (1946) Poona: Deccan College Handbook Series. </div> ==External links== {{portal|India|Flag of India.svg}} {{sisterlinks}} * [http://www.southindia.com/Index1.html More about South India] * {{wikitravel}} * {{dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Regions/Southern_India}} * [http://www.hampi.in/tourist-locations-in-southindia.htm A list of attractions of South India] *[http://www.kanchipuraminfo.com Information on Kanchipuram - a holy city in Tamilnadu] <!--Categories--> [[Category:South India| ]] [[Category:Peninsulas of India]] [[Category:Regions of India]] [[Category:South Asia]] <!--Other languages--> [[bn:দক্ষিণ ভারত]] [[hi:दक्षिण भारत]] [[ml:തെക്കേ ഇന്ത്യ]] [[nl:Zuid-India]] [[ja:南インド]] [[simple:South India]] [[fi:Etelä-Intia]] [[sv:Sydindien]] [[ta:தென்னிந்தியா]] [[te:దక్షిణ భారతదేశము]] [[vi:Nam Ấn Độ]] [[ur:جنوبی ہند]] [[zh:南印度]] [[wuu:South India]]