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Of Poets, Kings, and Gods It is said that India has only two seasons, the monsoon season and the mango season. Monsoon rains replenish the soil and the literati claim that mangoes replenish India’s soul. The fruit has been a subject of Indian poetry over the years. One of the popular poems, “Aam Naama”, by […]

Celebrating Indian Flowering Trees Heritage Liquor In 2021, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh declared mahua as a heritage liquor. This was the cue for enterprising community members of the Bhilala tribe to begin commercial mahua liquor production in earnest. Ancestors of these tribes had been producing the liquor for centuries. This liquor produced in

    Delhi’s Hierarchy To mark the 100th anniversary of the Delhi Gymkhana Club on July 3, 2013, the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee spoke. He described the club as an important meeting place for officials. Mahatma Gandhi met Viceroy Irwin in 1931 shortly before their landmark political agreement. General K. M. Cariappa, the

The following book review was submitted to me by Gary Guthrie. “Once I read the title it sparked my interest. It was about a country that I have a lot of interest in, and I love real history compared to filtered presentations. My background is British and this was the first time I had a

  Father of Municipal Government If you cross the Dadabhai Naoroji Road at the intersection with Mahapalika Marg opposite to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, you face the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation building. Outside the building is an impressive bronze statue of the “Father of Municipal Government in Bombay.” His name is Pherozeshah Mehta. On

Socialism at Humboldt At the turn of the nineteenth century, Germany was the cultural hub of Europe. Philosophers such as Kant, Hegel and Nietzsche had provided a strong intellectual influence to new students. At the same time, economic theories of Marx and Engels were shaping the German working class and politics. At this vibrant time,

Salt production and distribution was a lucrative monopoly of the British government in India. Indians were prohibited from producing salt and had to purchase expensive imported salt. Despite the gradual reduction in salt tax, it remained a significant source of government revenue. In the year ended March 31, 1928, revenues from salt tax amounted to

    The rugged Khyber Pass is a historical gateway between Central and South Asia. It is part of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which is immortalized by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. At six feet three inches, ‘Frontier Gandhi’ walked the hilly terrain spreading Mahatma Gandhi’s gospel of satyagraha, non-violent resistance. Of his long life