Tag: #India

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

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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

Malik Ambar – Journey from a Slave to a Kingmaker

itihaastohistory

Indian history is known for it’s diversity and the detailed accounts it holds. From the rise of powerful dynasties to the collapse of the 150-year-old British Empire, it has been a witness to it all.

But hidden among the shadows of these well-known tales, is yet another undiscovered account. This one belongs to one of the most important figures in Mughal, Maratha and Deccan history, without whom Indian History would have had an altogether different story to tell – Malik Ambar.

Click on the image above to know more! … Continue readingMalik Ambar – Journey from a Slave to a Kingmaker

Rani Tarabai – The Savior of the Maratha Empire

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Rani Tarabai, a name that very few have heard of, and even fewer remember the valiance and courage of this Queen. Married off at the young age of 8 years to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s younger son Rajaram, Tarabai was supposed to be just like the other queens of the court – perform her duties as a wife and enjoy the luxuries of royal life.
But even fate knew that she was destined for so much more.
After her father-in-law passed away, the Mughals attacked the Maratha kingdom and forced the young Queen to flee with her husband and infant son.

After being widowed at the age of 25 years, she returned to the Maratha Capital and took control of the Army and the administration of the vast Maratha Empire. But that’s not where the troubles ended… .In her life span of 86 long years, Tarabai was a witness to the glorious years of the Maratha Empire, it’s decline, its revival and the Third Battle of Panipat.
Click on the the title above to read more about the fascinating life of Maharani Tarabai Bhonsle – The Savior of the Maratha Empire. … Continue readingRani Tarabai – The Savior of the Maratha Empire

BRITAIN’S WORST FAILURE – The Bengal Famine of 1943

itihaastohistory

During the course of the 150 years that the British ruled over the Indian subcontinent, they were accused of committing several atrocities against Indians – racial discrimination, lathi charges, and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919.
However, we tend to forget one of the worst of the lot – The Bengal Famine of 1943 which consumed the lives of around 3 million people. What is unique about this famine, is that unlike the 6 other major famines that had struck India during the reign of the British, the one in 1943, was a result of policy failure on part of Winston Churchill’s War Time Cabinet, and not natural factors.
Click on the picture above to read more about the shocking conditions that prevailed in Bengal in 1943 … Continue readingBRITAIN’S WORST FAILURE – The Bengal Famine of 1943

Anandi Gopal Joshi: India’s 1st Female Doctor

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Anandibai Joshi – a woman who was, in every sense, a brilliant one. Of all the women whom I have written about till now, the one string of familiarity that binds them all together is the fact that they were all empowered self-made women, who made a name for themselves in an otherwise male-dominated world. And so, as a part of my series – Women of the Past: Rediscovered, I bring to you a story of yet another woman who broke through the barriers of a patriarchal society and became a beacon of hope for all other women who had dreams that needed to be fulfilled – Dr. Anandi Gopal Joshi. … Continue readingAnandi Gopal Joshi: India’s 1st Female Doctor

UNHEARD: THE MISSING PAGES OF HISTORY – The Black Hole Horror of Calcutta

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The late 16th and early 17th century clearly showed the development of British and French control in India. During this time, the roles were slightly reversed with the Indians in much more control than the British. On one such day in the year 1756, a horrendous event took place, which is now infamously known as the Black Hole Horror of Calcutta. This event took place exactly 264 years ago on the sinister night of 20th June, 1756. Click on the title above to unfold the events that transpired that eerie night.
This is the very first article which is a part of my new series – UNHEARD: The Missing Pages of History. … Continue readingUNHEARD: THE MISSING PAGES OF HISTORY – The Black Hole Horror of Calcutta

UNHEARD: THE MISSING PAGES OF HISTORY – SANGHA TENZIN: The 500-year-old Mummified Monk

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What if I told you that Mummies don’t just exist in Egypt, but also in India? What if I told you that these kind of Mummies are unlike the ones that are found in Egypt, and are one-of-a-kind?
In the small, remote village of ‘Gue’ in Himachal Pradesh, lies yet another piece of undiscovered history. A 15th century Buddhist monk, who underwent a very baffling and obscure method of Mummification.
Curious yet? Click on the title above to reveal the mystery behind the monk that is – Sangha Tenzin! … Continue readingUNHEARD: THE MISSING PAGES OF HISTORY – SANGHA TENZIN: The 500-year-old Mummified Monk

Noor Inayat Khan – Princess Turned Spy

itihaastohistory

As the Second World War ended in 1945, all the secret missions deployed by the Allied and Axis powers were exposed. One such unique organization that deployed several such missions
was the British-set up – Special Operations Executive (SOE). Very few were aware about the existence of this organization and even fewer knew about the agents that were part of the missions. Noor Inayat Khan, was one such lady who was a part of one of the missions deployed by the SOE. A woman, who as a young girl was described as ‘quiet’, ‘shy’, and ‘dreamy’, went on to become the first woman radio operator to operate from an enemy territory. So how did this girl transform from a ‘sensitive dreamer’ to a trained SOE wireless operator? Presenting you, the story of another extraordinary woman – Noor Inayat Khan. Click on the title above to know more! … Continue readingNoor Inayat Khan – Princess Turned Spy