Indian History

Zahirudding Muhammad Babur , better known simply today as Babur, who defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate at the first battle of Panipat on the 21st April, 1526, founded the Mughal empire in India. However, it seems that this Central Asian adventurer was not interested in setting up of an empire in India.  According to eminent historian R. P. Tripathi, Babur’s conquest of Hindustan was “a result of chance thought”. As a matter of fact, he was invited to invade the Lodi ruler by some of the disgruntled nobles of the Delhi sultanate. According to some authorities, Rana of Mewar, Sangram Singh or Rana Sanga , had also entered into some kind of deal with Babur.  Babur was a descendant of Timur on his father’s side and of Chengiz khan on the side of his mother. The Mughals loved to call Timurids because they were so proud of their connections with Timur. On the death of his father U mar Shaikh Mirza , Babur inherited the ancestral principality of Farghana (

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Taj Mahal at Agra was built by 5th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal .

Situated on the west bank of the Bhagirathi river, Ambika Kalna , known as Kalna in common parlance, was once a prosperous port town in the state of West Bengal. Located some 80km from Kolkata in the district of Purba   Bardhaman (East Burdwan), the grandeur of Kalna can be ascertained by the presence of many beautiful temples featuring intricate terracotta ornamentation. Built by the Maharajas of Bardhaman, these magnificent temples are the mute spectator to Kalna’s glorious past. Kalna is also home to religious structures dedicated to Sree Chaitanya , the greatest Vaishnavite saint of Bengal. Nava Kailash or 108 Shiv Mandirs , Pratapeshvara Mandir , Lalji Mandir , Krishnachandra Mandir , Gopalbari Mandir and Anantabasudev Mandir are some of the famous temples of Kalna.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is bringing out an illustrative book on John Marshall, under whose directions excavations were carried out in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa leading to the discovery of one the greatest civilizations of the world. From 1902 to 1928, John Marshal was the first and longest severing Director-General of ASI which undertakes archaeological researches and protection of the India’s cultural heritage. The collection, ‘The Marshall Albums Photography and Archaeology', contains some rare photographs taken by Marshall and will be made available for public access in more than 99 libraries of the ASI across the country. Read Full Story

During my college days, I had an opportunity to read a novel by eminent Hindi writer Acharya Chatursen . The novel entitled Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu was an interesting read. As the name suggests, the novel describes Ambapali , as the Nagarbadhu of Vaisali, hailed as the first republic of the world. A royal courtesan, Ambapali, variously known as Amrapali or Ambapalika, has been accorded a place of high respect in the Buddhist Scriptures. A contemporary of the Buddha , Ambapali was wealthy, highly intelligent and famous far and wide. Her matchless beauty together her youth, talent and intelligence made Amrapali the cynosure and dream of entire Vaishali. While passing through Vaishali , the Buddha accepted her invitation to dine with her. This indicates that the better status of the courtesan in ancient India.  The early life of Ambapali is veiled in obscurity. She was named because she was born at the foot of a mango tree in one of the royal gardens in the Vaishali kingdom. A woman

Brazilian-born actress Daniela Lavender is all set to play Kandahari Begum, the first wife of 6th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of Taj Mahal in Ben Kingsley’s much awaited venture Taj, a historical saga based on the events leading up to the building of the Taj Mahal. In January this year she was in Agra with Ben Kingsley who also happens to be her husband. Read Full Story