Category: Indian History

The Hyderabad Saga: Part One

itihaastohistory

August 1947 – India attains Independence, but at a cost. Three princely states are still posing fight, maintaining their sovereignity, refusing accession. One of these is situated in the heart of the Indian Union – Hyderabad.

There are several characters at play in this saga. The Nizam of Hyderabad, the head of an amataeur militant faction – Kasim Razvi, and the Indian Government led by Nehru and Sardar Patel. Who will prevail? How does Hyderabad ultimately accede to India and at what cost?

This is a tale of high-octane drama, theatrics, brutal politics and raging violence. The Hyderabad Saga narrates the on-ground realities and behind-the-scene politics that ultimately shaped India as the Independent Union it is today. Split in two parts, the first article traces the build-up to the violence that exploded in the months of August and Septembet 1948.

Click to know more! … Continue readingThe Hyderabad Saga: Part One

A Royal Riot – The Mystery of the ‘Royal’ Family of Awadh

itihaastohistory

The decade is sometime in the early 1970s. A woman arrives at the New Delhi railway station and shakes up the atmosphere by proclaiming herself as Wilayat, the Begum of Awadh. Along with her, she brought an entire household to the platform and unloaded sets of royal crockery, carpets, two Great Danes and two young children. She settled in the V.I.P room and would stay there for almost a decade before the government finally gave into their demands.

But the story was about to get more and more twisted. As the decades passed by and the family’s demands to be handed over possession of all the properties held by the Awadhi Royal Kingdom grew dimmer and faded away, one journalist’s frenzy would soon bring them back into the limelight.

This is the fascinating story of the ‘Royal’ Family of Awadh. The article contains intricate details , photographs and videos about them and the truth that had so long been hidden in this mess of a Royal Riot. … Continue readingA Royal Riot – The Mystery of the ‘Royal’ Family of Awadh

Nur Jahan – The Power Behind the Veil

itihaastohistory

While history remembers the great Mughal Kings and the legacy they left behind, it hasn’t been too kind to the Empress who weilded and astounding amount of power, at a time when women had little to no status in society.

Nur Jahan, the twentieth and most beloved wife of Emperor Jahangir, the fourth Mughal Emperor, is one of history’s most powerful rulers who has sadly been widely misrepresented .

A superb marksman, hunter and administrator, Nur was known throughout the vast and mighty Mughal Empire for her razor-sharp political skills.

Unfortunately, her brilliant political reign was completly erased from history when Jahangir’s son, Emperor Shah Jahan came to power. He dismissed Nur Jahan and rewrote history from his perspective – one wherein public opinion about the former Empress was extremely biased and inaccurate.

She was now portrayed as a “a gold-digger and schemer” and was remembered as the one who intoxicated Jahangir in order to seize power from him. This is how posterity remembers her as well.

Click on the title above to unfold the marvelous reign of one of India’s most successful Empresses. Presenting the story of “Nur Jahan – The Power Behind the Veil” … Continue readingNur Jahan – The Power Behind the Veil

Jinnah – Beyond the Pages…

itihaastohistory

‘Muhammad Ali Jinnah’ – a name that we know little about beyond his life as the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah’s career as a barrister and a lawyer is an extremely impressive one, and one that isn’t well-known to us.

As I wrote this article, so many details about this leader, who is now remembered as the ‘Quaid-e-Azam’ of Pakistan, came to light. From his campaigning for the creation of a secular India to his demand for the creation Pakistan, Jinnah’s life and story is a fascinating journey and makes for a riveting read!

Click on the title above to read about – “Jinnah – Beyond the Pages…” … Continue readingJinnah – Beyond the Pages…