India has great variety in geography, climate, soil and economic conditions. From the scorching heat of the deserts of Rajasthan or Rajputana to the snowing cold of Himalayan-ranges, we have the dry rocky tablelands of Deccan and the most tropical luxuriances of Bengal and Malabar. This character of Indian culture has inspired Prof. K.M. Panikar to remark. “The continental character of India is an essential factor in her History.”

No doubt, we have Himalayas in the North and the seas in the east, west and south. They appear to cut India from the rest of the world. But that is not the whole truth. Himalayas have never stood as barrier between the people of India and those of other side. The ocean had no terror for Indians who, showing the adventurous spirit, joined Samatra and the entire east Indians. M. Chalpathi Rao rightly remarked : “India is not her rivers and mountains. No country means only its geography or history. India is essentially the people. People made their Gods, their temples, mosques, churches to reflect the awe of the Divine. People of different colours and many racial stocks produced many languages, literature, living old and new ways of life, so different from each other yet all Indians.”

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