At Rakhigarhi in Haryana, archaeologists uncovered the 4500-year-old skeleton of a middle-aged woman from the Harappan period. Scientists recovered ancient DNA from her remains;
A casket within a casket… within another. Buried beneath centuries of earth at Lalitgiri, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable series of nested caskets in 1985.
Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer was only 32 when he published an edition of the great Tamil epic, Jeevaka Chintamani, on paper for the first time. This was the culmination of a seven-year quest that had taken him to the remotest corners of Tamil Nadu. Read on to know the story of the man who unearthed a treasure mine of ancient classical Tamil literature.
Different communities across the world celebrate their New Year’s Day on different days of the year, based on the calendars they follow. The Parsis celebrate their New Year, Navroze, twice a year! Read on to find out why.
A lot of what we know of Mughal history has been pieced together from royal chronicles – and travellers’ accounts. Niccolao Manucci was an Italian adventurer who spent most of his life in India, during which he documented the Mughal reign in an epic work called Storia do Mogor. Read on for the story of his fascinating life.
Why is Robert Bruce Foote, an Englishman, considered to be the ‘father of Indian prehistory’? What is the significance of ‘Madrasian Culture’? Read on for the fascinating story of a man who made Madras an unforgettable name in anthropology.
The Mongols were infamous for their remarkable conquests that spanned a vast expanse of the world. Yet, they were never able to conquer Delhi, despite it being within striking distance. Why? The answer is most likely – Alauddin Khilji. The Mongols’ repeated attempts to capture Delhi were thwarted by Khilji’s resolute defence.
One of the many ways in which the British East India Company gained control over various regions of India was by forging advantageous friendships with local rulers and getting involved in internal politics. And some conquests were made simply through financial wheeling and dealing…
His face can be seen on Portuguese bank notes. There are gardens in Lisbon and in Goa that are named after him. He wrote one of the first books printed in India. And yet, his body was actually dug up and burned in a posthumous public denouncement. This is the story of Garcia de Orta, a Portuguese physician who fled to India.
Once a thriving Dutch colony, Sadras is an obscure town lost in the annals of history. Today, the echoes of its captivating past linger amidst the scattered ruins of Sadras Fort, where the legends of a ghostly Dutchman abound. Read on for its story.
The women of the Mughal Empire were not mere ornaments in the imperial court. They were educated, artistic and commercially and politically savvy, and significantly influenced government decisions even during Aurangzeb’s dictatorial reign. Read on for the remarkable story of Aurangzeb’s sisters.
The 63 Nayanmars – poet-saints devoted to Shiva – were among the earliest ambassadors of the Bhakti movement. Karaikal Ammaiyar was one of the three women who were part of the group. Once a great beauty, she is usually depicted as a ‘ghoul’, apparently a form she begged to be blessed with! This is her story.
