Ferdinand Kittel: The German Who Found Love & Belonging In Karnataka
Ferdinand Kittel, a scholar & author, though forgotten in Germany, is celebrated in Southern India for his contribution to the language and culture of Karnataka.
Are We What We Eat?
The politics of food divides Indian society and acts as an indicator of social hierarchy. It’s time to be more inclusive of food habits.
Tarabai Bhonsale: The Regent Who Averted Maratha Extermination
Queen Tara Bai, with her administrative genius and strength of character, saved the Marathas from an awful crisis.
Barabar Caves & The Lost Story Of Ajivikas
Ajivika, a rival tradition of Buddhism & Jainism, no longer exists. The only evidence are the caves in the Barabar hill.
The Red Crowned Roof Turtle Is Critically Endangered: Here’s Why
The population of Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle, also known as Batagur Kachuga, has declined dramatically. Can it be saved from going extinct?
Ambedkar & W.E.B. Dubois: Their Fight Against Oppression
Dubois fought against racism while Ambedkar fought against casteism.
Housing Apartheid In India: Passive Untouchability
The residential segregation in India’s largest cities is greater by caste and tribe than socioeconomic status.
The Vedic Text Akin To The Turing Machine
Panini’s metalanguage uses Sanskrit phonemes as auxiliary markers to control grammatical derivations.
How Advertisers Manufactured Lies To Sell Cigarettes
Cigarettes—health hazards and severe sources of addiction—were presented as symbols of community empowerment.
How Gandhi Built A Community & Began Satyagraha At The Sabarmati Ashram
The Satyagraha Ashram was monumental in the development of the theory of self-reliance, which became central to the idea of Swaraj.
Mahendravarman I: Pallava King, Artist & Patron of Arts
Mamallapuram attests to the dedication of the Pallava dynasty to art and culture, especially that of King Mahendravarman I.
How Colonialists Used Phrenology, A pseudoscience, To Justify Racism & Slavery
The use of Phrenology, a pseudoscience sans evidence, to justify racism, colonialism and slavery is just one of the many instances of how human ignorance, cloaked as science, paved the way for inequity and oppression.
Begum Rokeya: A Pioneer Of Equal Rights In Colonial India
Begum Rokeya—author, feminist & reformer—was a pioneer of women’s empowerment. Here’s her story.
Punch: The Forefather Of Cocktails
The etymology of Punch comes from the Sanskrit word panchan or pancha, which means five.
Mother Teresa & The Missionaries Of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity continues Mother Teresa’s vision of taking care of the hungry, the crippled, the naked, and the homeless in around 100 countries. It is important to let such organisations function fully & freely.