History

The legendary king Vikramaditya of Ujjain has been a fascinating character in Indian history and culture. Etymologically, 'Vikramaditya' means 'the sun of valor', with 'Vikram' denoting 'valor' and 'Aditya' denoting the Sun.  According to research scholars, the title of Vikramaditya can be used both as a person's name and as a regal title by kings to describe themselves. The first postulation is that Vikramaditya was a king who belonged to the Gardabhila clan of the Malwa region between 300 BCE and 300 AD. He was known for his just nature and courage, who successfully exterminated the Shaka yoke from the Indian subcontinent, thus earning him the epithet of 'Shakari' or 'enemy of the Shakas.' He was also referred to as 'Sahasanka' or 'one whose characteristic mark is his daring courage.'  He is also one who began Vikram Samvat calendar in 57 BCE according to Jain work Kalakacaryakatha. Jain works and Puranas sub...

Indo-Aryans reside in northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other neighbors. They were the ones who brought the illustrious Vedic civilization to the fertile Gangetic plains. Their origin in the Central Asian steppes is widely accepted by academia around the globe. These peoples were divided into two branches: one that traveled south to northwest India and another that shifted its efforts toward the Middle East. The Mitanni kingdom and the Hittites are the empires built by the western branch. The Mitannis and the Hittites were two of the four major powers in the region alongside the Egyptians and Assyrians. Their Aryan roots have been evidenced by the famous Boghaz-koi inscription which mentions the Rig-Vedic gods such as Indra, Varuna, Mitra, and Ashwini Kumars. This inscription dates to at least the 14th century BCE and was found in the capital Hittite city of Hattusa. This is a fascinating find as the gods mentioned here would have made their first appearance in the Rig Veda, wr...

Monarchy has existed since the advent of civilizations. It is one of the oldest forms of governance in which an individual is chosen from a group of people to lead and rule. Most often it is hereditary whereas it can sometimes differ in a way in which an eligible candidate is chosen based on their worth or merit. In India, both forms have existed and thus monarchy in the Indian subcontinent contrasts with monarchy seen in other foreign countries. The process of choosing an able ruler also varies in the way on who chooses one. In many cases, the responsibility is given to an important advisor who is a visionary and an able teacher whereas in other cases, the people of the specific region are involved in planning and decide among themselves on who would lead them. Indian monarchs have made a mark on Indian history but most of them are male. Female presence is not seen in many cases and if they had been prominent in those days, their achievements have not been highlighted. In the recent y...

India in its extensive history has been plagued by the destructive forces of invasions led by despotic individuals and merciless monarchs. Throughout history, we hear the names of different invaders whether it be the Greeks, Turks, Persians, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, Danes, French or British, though the latter would colonize India for about 200 years before India could be called a free and independent republic. India's history textbooks refer greatly to Alexander's expansionist ideals and the Turks along with other Middle-Easterners desire to loot the "golden bird" of its riches and culture but other invaders have come but their tyranny has not been mentioned due to their small influence and short spans of rule. Although they are not mentioned or are mentioned with little significance, they are important to India's past as they have nonetheless influenced India's history to some extent.  Much more crucial than these invaders' identity are the names of thos...

Navies are the armed forces of the sea. They stand to protect the coastlines from foreign dangers and in the modern world, all countries who have access to the sea have navies. India too has navy which is an important sub-part of Indian armed forces. It's motto " Sham No Varunah " is a death call to anyone who dares threaten the security of the nation. Although the navy was formally established after Indian independence in 1950, navies have been known to exist even in historical times. Though India has a long maritime history, this article would provide insights of the big achievements that occurred in history. Maurya Dynasty Chandragupta Maurya Navy as a concept emerged during the Mauryan times especially under the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. He was known to have a standing navy and Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador has written in his own journals the administration of navy under Chandragupta's reign. Hence it can be stated that the concept of navy emerged in India a...

India, a country situated in Southern Asia, boasts of a unique civilization where diversity merges with unity. From climates and soils to languages and customs, India has always been to name. India with its vast and ancient heritage is also known worldwide for its food. Indian culinary is one aspect that many foreigners love to talk about. Indian cuisine is home to innumerable kinds of dishes, many of which have gained international recognition and fame. Indian cuisine is known worldwide but its origins, the process of preparation and the different crockery and cutlery required to prepare many of these dishes have remained shrouded in mystery. The Indian cuisine that we know today has been influenced by cuisines brought in by invaders and colonizers. India's culinary history is quite vast and much of the knowledge associated with it is lost or has not been looked into yet. Hence this post would only be giving glimpses of culinary history of this magnificent country. This topic is v...