Article/Essay
 5 Dec 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
Behind the Veil : visual acuity
By Arindam Sen
July 31, 2011

This post is not a Tagore anthology attempt. In a year that has been dotted with Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations, the poet has predictably engaged many in the research and analysis of his artistic... Read More
 4 Dec 2013 Article/Essay
For whom was Jana Gana Mana composed?

Jana Gana Mana - an explanation by Mr P L Deshpande

In the issue of 3 May 1980 of Maharashtra Times of Mumbai I read a letter by Mr Bal Jere. He states that Ravindranath Tagore definitely composed the famous song Jana Gana Mana to welcome King George V.... Read More
 2 Dec 2013 Article/Essay
Controversy:
Understanding Jana Gana Mana
By Shumon Sengupta

18 July, 2006
Countercurrents.org

A friend of mine recently forwarded me an email chain that aims at mobilizing support to substitute Jana Gana Mana with Vande Mataram as India’s National Anthem.

And as far as the contrived Jana Gana... Read More
 11 Oct 2013 Article/Essay
Flora Annie Steel

Publishing from the 1880s through the first three decades of the twentieth century, Flora Annie Steel produced some thirty books. Most of her novels describe contemporary Anglo-Indian life, though some are set in Britain (seldom in England) and five are historical novels abou... Read More
 6 Oct 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
PAHARI Painting In India

Pahari painting in India largely dwelt on the symbols and themes from mythology and literature. Pahari painting is an umbrella term. It is used for the form of Indian painting which originated from Himalayan kingdoms of North India during 17th-19th century. Rema... Read More
 1 Oct 2013 Article/Essay
The Sri Lankan version...

A SHORT HISTORY OF HELADIVA

In the world map Sri Lanka (Heladiva) is in latitude 5.55 to 9.51 east. It’s in length and breadth is 432 and 224 kilometres respectively and in area is 65,525 square kilometres. The southwest monsoon starts in May and ends in September ... Read More
 1 Oct 2013 Article/Essay
The Sri Lankan version...

RAWANA - The historical King of HELADIVA

Rawana was the grandson of Rishi Pulasthi and son of Sage Visravasmuni. He was the younger brother of Vaisrawana Kuvera (Kubera) and the elder brother of Vibishana, Kumbhakarna, Mahi Rawana, Hema, Khara, Dushana, Luxhman, an... Read More
 1 Oct 2013 Article/Essay
Ramayana and Ravana - The Sri Lankan version:

The talk delivered by N.C.K Kiriella – Chairman Ramayana Trail Executive Committee of The Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry at The Indian Cultural Centre of The Indian High Commission on July 16th 2009.

Venerable Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I sincerely a... Read More
 28 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
'Bhagat Singh used to literally devour books; set a record of sorts'
By M M Juneja
Times of India

"His love for books endured till the very end. Pran Mehta, Bhagat Singh's lawyer was allowed to meet him on March 23, 1931, just a few hours before the hanging. Bhagat Singh was then p... Read More
 28 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Rare documents on Bhagat Singh's trial and life in jail
By Chaman Lal
The Hindu - 2011

Digitalised records with the Supreme Court reveal some inspiring facets of the revolutionary. Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt offered themselves for arrest after throwing harmless bombs in the Central... Read More
 13 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
Indian Textiles: Trade and Production
By Marika Sardar
Institute of Fine Arts, New York University

Trade:
In the international commerce of the pre-industrial era, spices and textiles were the principal commodities. India in particular was known for the quality of its textiles, and for cen... Read More
 10 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
George Stubbs, 'Self Portrait'
London, National Portrait Gallery

George Stubbs was classified in his lifetime as a sporting painter, and as such was excluded from full membership of the Royal Academy. He is best remembered for his paintings of horses and his conversation pieces. Having studied ... Read More
 9 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Hypothesis:
The Origin of Ganesha-Worship
By Srikara Dattatreya

Ganesha or Ganapati is one of the most widely worshipped deities in the pantheon of Hindu gods. Indians have loved and revered this deity as a remover of all obstacles (Vighna-Vinashaka), irrespective of their religious or geogr... Read More
 8 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
Hinduism and Hindu Art
By Vidya Dehejia
Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University

According to the Hindu view, there are four goals of life on earth, and each human being should aspire to all four. Everyone should aim for dharma, or righteous living; artha, or wealth ... Read More
 5 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
VO Chidambaram Pillai: Tilak's Southern Lieutenant
By R. Venkatachalapathy
The Hindu

V.O. Chidambaram Pillai serialised Tilak's biography in the 1930s in a Colombo Tamil magazine. A look at the relationship between the two men in the light of the new sources and correspondence between t... Read More
 5 Sep 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Doyen of Swadeshi shipping
By S. Dorairaj
The Hindu

The nation will always remember V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, whose 130th birth anniversary is on September 5th, principally for the pioneering role he played in building India's swadeshi shipping industry.

The life of Pillai, fondly know... Read More
 15 Aug 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Homai Vyarawalla - India’s First Female Photojournalist Captured a Nation in Transition
By Kainaz Amaria

In a career that spanned more than four decades, Vyarawalla stood, often the lone female photographer, on the front lines of a tumultuous transition from colonial rule to indepen... Read More
 15 Aug 2013 Article/Essay
Essay:
A Symbol of Freedom”: The Indian Flag and the Transformations of Nationalism, 1906–2002
By Srirupa Roy

The idea of a flag for India was initially introduced as an imperial rather than a nationalist initiative in the aftermath of the 1857 uprising and the subsequent establishment of direct... Read More
 8 Aug 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Rakhigarhi likely to be developed into a world heritage site
By Neha Pushkarna | Mail Today | Rakhigarhi, Hisar - March 31, 2013

The road to Rakhigarhi village in Hisar is hardly there. Muddy trails dotted with buffalo dung lead to the mounds inside the village where a well-planned... Read More
 8 Aug 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Is Haryana home to an older Indus Valley culture site?
By Jaideep Sareen

Is a village in Haryana sitting on top of a rare archaeological site that is older and larger than Mohenjo-daro, perhaps the best-known human settlement of the Indus Valley civilization?

Research and findings by a... Read More
 7 Aug 2013 Article/Essay
Article:
Excavations reveal Khirsara a major industrial hub of Harappan era
By T.S.Subramanian
The Hindu - 6 August 2013

January 2, 2011 was a golden day in the second season of excavation at Khirsara village, 85 km from Bhuj town, Gujarat. Nearly 30 trenches had been dug that season, each ... Read More