Saha Sutra
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Elections are not new to India. There are numerous mentions of republican forms of governments in Buddhist literature as well as in the accounts of Greek invaders who described some states as 'pure democracies'. This excerpt from V.S. Rama Devi and S.K. Mendiratta's book 'How India Votes: Election…
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Along with Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen was one of the three iconic Bengali film-makers of the 20th century. He not only influenced a generation of political film-makers in India, but also introduced Indian films to a global audience. Here we look at Sen’s ideology, the politics in…
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Saadat Hasan Manto was constantly at war with himself. Following the footsteps of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the iconic writer separated Saadat Hasan, the person, from Manto, the writer. We take a close look at the ‘one–two’ man, who was at times unheroic and self-contradictory, yet brutal and free-…
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Visit the temples of Khajuraho, Konark in Odisha, or even the Rani ki Vav stepwell in Gujarat, and you will find yourself in the company of stunning celestial beauties who adorn the facade and walls of these monuments. Unknown to many, and often dismissed as either simple decoration or sensual…
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As with many progressive Hindus of the time, Rabindranath Tagore had some conflicting ideas about the role of women in marriage and marital life. We look at how Tagore underwent brief but visible phases of social and cultural conservatism. (Photo Source: Cherishsantosh/Wikimedia Commons) [i]
In a…
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Many among us know about roza as an essential practice among Muslims during Ramzan (also called Ramadan). Did you know there are many other rituals that are followed as well? This ranges from e'tikaaf (a form of seclusion) to taraweeh (a special prayer at the end of the day). (Photo Source: Ayan…
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Thomas Daniell (1749–1840) and his nephew William Daniell (1769–1837) travelled extensively in India between 1786 and 1793. On their return to Britain they produced many paintings, drawings and prints based on the sketches they had made while travelling. The 144 aquatint prints, collectively known…
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The celebrated Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali was instrumental in popularising ghazals in the West. One figure who brought him closer to the form was the legendary ghazal singer Begum Akhtar. We look at Akhtar’s influence on the poet and his work, their relationship and how he beautifully…
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While the Targaryens and the Lannisters continue to fight for the coveted Iron Throne in the iconic TV series ‘Game of Thrones’, we look at some of the historic Indian thrones that were symbols of power and wealth.
While many might think that there is no other throne as powerful and coveted as…
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Renowned Hindi author Nirmal Verma’s writings often deal with themes such as alienation, migration and historical trauma. One of the pioneers of the ‘Nayi Kahani movement’, he is a unique figure among his contemporaries, more so since he’d mastered over three languages. Here we look at the life and…
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