On Gurus, Godmen & Conmen
byThe self-appointed Godmen of the twentieth century eschewed asceticism and chose a life of opulence, fanfare & power-politics.
Editor’s Picks
The Peacock Throne Cost Two Times More Than Taj Mahal: Here’s Why
byShah Jahan’s peacock throne was costlier than any artefact made in the millennia beginning 1000 AD & ending in 1999 A.D.
In A Pinch
byThere’s more to acupuncture than needles, or what meets the eye.
Blood Lust & The Kohinoor Diamond
byThe Koh-i-noor––a diamond mined in India, adorned by Queen Elizabeth II of England, like many other diamonds mined across the world––has a history of blood lust.
From Eritrea To India: A Brief History Of Bhendi
byThe humble Okra, finely sliced & deliciously cooked, nourishes billions of people across the world. It is also a testimony to the history of globalisation.
Raja Deen Dayal: The ‘Bold Warrior of Photography’
byDayal brought to photography what Verma had brought to paintings, the elegant depiction of opulence and grandeur in lifelike documentation.
Mythology, Mughals & The History Of Alcohol
byAlcohol played an important role in mythology. It was considered divine & purifying. It was also considered as an exilir.
Akbar & His Horses
byAkbar loved horses. The Emperor personally chose people to swat flies off his precious horses when they were in the stables.
The Dilbert Effect
byScott Adams’ imagination is electric, apt, valid and funny, just like his ageless metaphors.
Archaic Traditions That Ostracise Widows Still Thrive In India
byDying & being considered a heavenly goddess versus belong alive and living in hell: these seem to be the only two options today for widows in India.
From ‘Ayurvedic Cures’ To Corporate Hospitals: Here’s How Health Care Frauds Flourish In India
byThe healthcare system in India is filled with fraudulent hospitals & health workers. It is, as they say, the ‘wild Wild West.’
Tracing The History Of The Word Loot
byHere’s the story of how the word “loot” was looted from Sanskrit and appropriated into the English language.
The Arabic Origins Of The Words “Hindu” & “India”
byThat the word ‘Hindu’ came from the early Muslim settlers is interesting, as is the long-standing camaraderie between India and the Middle East.
Pictured Realities
byWhy we hope that things would happen, or emerge, the way we visualise them.
Tryst With Nehru
byWhen the plane landed, Nehru stormed out. But, all was hunky-dory in a flash.