6. Buddhism
Buddhism, religion, and philosophy that developed from the teachings of the Buddha (Sanskrit: “Awakened One”), who lived in northern India between the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries BCE (before the Common Era). Spreading from India to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism has played a central role in the spiritual, cultural, and social life of Asia, and during the 20th century, it spread to the West.
7. Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India which the Indians gifted to the world. Although suppressed during years of foreign occupation, Ayurveda has recently been enjoying a major resurgence in both its native land and throughout the world.
8. Shampoo
The word ‘Shampoo’ is derived from chāmpo. It was initially used as a head massage oil for the Nawabs of Bengal during the Mughal Empire, around 1762. It evolved into shampoo over the years. After washing hair Indians dyed it in henna and perfumed it with various herbal oils or blow dried it in Jhuna (Dammar resin/frankincense) to keep in scented and to keep the lice away.
9. Snakes And Ladders
The Indians gifted Snakes and Ladders to the world, which originated in India as part of a family of dice board games, including Pachisi (modern-day Ludo). It was known as Moksha Patam or Vaikunthapaali or Paramapada Sopaanam (the ladder to salvation) game as popularly played in ancient India emphasized the role of fate or karma. A Jain version, Gyanbazi, dates to the 16th century. The game was called Leela and reflected the Hinduism consciousness surrounding everyday life.
10. Kohinoor Diamond
After the subjugation of Punjab in the Second Sikh War in 1849, Duleep Singh, the last Sikh ruler of Punjab, was ordered by the then governor-general of India, Lord Dalhousie, to personally hand over the Kohinoor to the British Queen.
Interesting right? Surely a proud moment to be an Indian! Read on more about these Inventions which you didn’t know were actually made by Indians!
