Punjab has a long and an illustrious history. Under the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, its borders extended to the west of the Indus river and kissed the foothills of the Himalayas. Most of the events of that era were recorded in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and Farsi text. Apart from the sacred texts, the archives were stored; but in a deplorable state. In the year 2003, Panjab Digital Library undertook the task of finding and saving these manuscripts and archives
Heritage
On A Treasure Hunt, And Finding a Jewel
Situated on the outskirts of Delhi, a village called Mangar would hardly seem like a location for a jewellery museum. But then, that is what hidden and buried treasures are all about - secret locations. I was introduced to the Village Jewel Museum and Eco-lodge, a gem of a place courtesy Lalit Mangar, where I spend a wonderful mid-week staycation. About a 20-minute drive from the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway, the Lalit Mangar is already becoming a beacon for this sleepy village. A
The saga of the great Indian flag
Before the independence movement began, India as a country did not have a common flag. Independent states had their own flags. But it was after the Revolt of 1857; the British suggested the idea of a common one for Indians. The first flag known as the Star of India was based on British symbols. It was a group of flags, which the Britishers used for different purposes during their rule in India. In 1905, the first partition of Bengal gave a
The downfall of Mughal empire with Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb was appointed as the Viceroy of Deccan by Shah Jehan on July 14, 1636. Aurangzeb in Indian history is a highly controversial figure. Loved by some and hated by some, he was the last of the powerful Mughal ruler during whose reign the Mughal dynasty flourished and expanded. Sixth in line as the Mughal emperor, his forty-eight-year rule is often called the golden period of the Mughal Empire. Since an early age, Aurangzeb was courageous and ambitious. He started his
Scottish Church College, the first English medium institution of India
One of the oldest college for liberal arts and sciences in India, the Scottish Church College, was established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Alexander Duff on July 13 in the year 1830. Located in Kolkata, the college began with only five students. During the early part of the nineteenth century, the East India Company supported setting up institutions but only in the native language. They helped in establishing the Calcutta Madrasah College and the Sanskrit College. They were not in
Why June 21 became International Day of Yoga?
Last year, on June 21, 2015, the first International Day of Yoga was celebrated with various programmes organised the world over. June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. This was in response to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for adopting June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. This India led resolution had 175 out of 193 countries joining in as co-sponsors, the highest number for
Humayun’s Tomb, a jewel in the Mughal crown
Last month, The Humayun's Tomb - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of three in Delhi - got its much-awaited a gold crown. A 24-carat gold finial was installed atop the tomb's majestic dome on April 18, World Heritage Day. The ultimate resting place of Mughal Emperor Humayun, located in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi, is perhaps the first ever specimen of distinctive Mughal architecture. It is said that the architecture of this mausoleum inspired the design of the Taj Mahal, a
Zari Mahal: fit for your inner princess
There is no such thing as too many clothes, especially if you are a woman. The question that needs pondering is of course, from where to pick what. Life would be so much easier if there was a one-stop shop where your inner diva could order a saree one day, an opulent lehnga another or a chic block-printed fusion maxi the next. That too at the snap of that delicately manicured finger. The wishing genie heard you and now brings