The Lotus in Indian Art
In the vast repertoire of Indian ornamental motifs, among the symbols and devices that recur in traditional art and architecture, the lotus occupies pride of place. Unlike western art, in which great emphasis is laid on photographic realism and the...
Vaishali – World’s First Republic
Although it is widely believed that the idea of democracy and a constitution were created in democratic Athens, around 506 BCE, India saw the emergence of city republics around 6th BCE where the concept of an elected ruler had taken...
The Indus – The Masters of the River (Documentary)
This documentary, made by NHK (Japan) and Canadian TV, looks at the early Indus Valley civilisation, focusing on one of the lesser known sites at Dholavira, in what is now Gujarat, in western India. A well-done professional introduction to the city...
Kalaripayattu – Mother of all Martial Arts
Martial arts are often attributed to South-east Asian countries, namely China, Japan and Korea. However few people know that the idea of martial arts originated in a least expected part of the world. The region is none another than the...
15th-century Neemrana Fort Palace
The Fort Palace of Neemrana is about 125 km from Delhi, on the road to Jaipur in Rajasthan. Built in 1464, Neemrana Fort Palace became the third capital of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III, who had fled Delhi in...
Contributions of Sikhs as Soldiers and Warriors
Sikhs by nature are respectful, courageous, hardworking, and enterprising. Look into their short span of history and you will find their pitcher is full of sacrifices and hard work which has contributed so much towards the building of the Indian...
My Son Sanctuary – Shiva temple in Central Vietnam
Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Vietnam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a...
Marvels of Solanki Rajputs
Solanki Dynasty was established by Mulraj that ruled the western and central India during the 10th century to the 13th century AD. This was the last Hindu dynasty. Mulraj Solanki’s reign marked the start of the most glorious period in the...
Indian Origins of Zoroastrians or Parsees
Indians (Indus valley residents) and Iranians (Mesopotamians) shared a common religious past, which led historians to sometimes even term the common ancestral religion as Proto-Indo-Iranian religion. Have we ever understood the implications of this common religious past of the two...
Hydrology in Ancient India
Natural entities and forces, such as Sun, Earth, Rivers, Ocean, Wind, Water, etc. have been worshipped in India as Gods since time immemorial. Perhaps it is not a sheer coincidence that the King of these Gods is Indra, the God...