Indian History

  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organizing a two-day international conference ‘Devayatanam – An odyssey of Indian temple architecture’ on 25th - 26th February, 2022 at the World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka.   The chosen venue, Hampi served as the capital of the great medieval era empire of Vijayanagara for more than two centuries from 1336 to 1556 CE.                                                              Lighting of the lamp The conference aims to deliberate upon the philosophical, religious, social, economic, technical, scientific, art and architectural aspects of temple. It also intends to initiate a dialogue on the evolution and development of the various styles of temple architecture such as the Nagara, Vesara, Dravida, Kalinga and others. The conference is attracting eminent scholars discussing on the various facets of the great temples of India.  The inaugural session of Devayatanam took place at Pattabhirama Temple in Hampi. Various sessions of discussio

Matangini Hazra was a woman revolutionary and brave freedom fighter who fought for the independence of India from the British and laid down her life for it.  She was from a small village called Hogla located near Tamluk, the headquarters of the Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal. Hazra was born on October 19, 1870. Matangini Hazra was one of the protagonists of the Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar (Tamralipta National Government), a parallel government established during the Quit India Movement.  Matangini Hazra was shot dead by the police in front of the Tamluk Police Station on 29 September 1942.  Matangini Hazra was  affectionately known as Gandhi buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi.  The famed Hazra Road in Kolkata is also named after her. 

Today India is celebrating the 157th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, a leading light of Indian Independence Movement.  One of the famous triumvirate called “Lal-Bal-Pal”, Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1856 in Ludhiana district in Punjab.  Lala Lajpat Rai was elected President of the Indian National Congress in its Calcutta Session In 1920. In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society.  On 17 November 1928 Lala Lajpat Rai succumbed to the injuries received by him during a protest in Lahore against the Simon Commission which had arrived in India in 1928 to study constitutional reform in the country. Unhappy India is one of the works of Lala Lajpat Rai. 

                                        Chennakesava Temple at Belur / Image Source An absolute must see destination in any cultural tour of India, Belur in the Hassan district of Karnataka was the capital of the powerful south Indian dynasty of the Hoysalas which ruled from 11th to 14th century AD Situated on the banks of the river Yagachi, Belur is also known as the Banaras of the South, “Dakshin Varanasi”. The place is home to the awe-inspiring Chennakesava Temple. This Vishnu temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture.  Commissioned by Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD, the Chennakesava temple took 103 years to complete. The Chennakesava temple has three entrances and is intricately carved with sculptures and pillars.                                         Chennakesava Temple at Belur /I mage source

Q.1. The actual name of Later Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was (a) Alamgir (b) Aziz-ud-Din (c) Ali Gauhar  (d) Muhammad Kam Bakhsh Q.2. Name the Mughal Queen whose name was inscribed on the coins and all royal firmans. (a) Mumtaz Mahal (b) Nur Jahan (c) Ladli Begum (d) Mariam uz-Zamani  Q.3. How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah's reign come to an early and? (a) He was addicted to drinking and died of too much consumption. (b) He was deposed by his Wazir (c) He died due to a slip while descending from the staircase (d) He was defeated by his nephew Farrukhsiyar in a battle Q.4. Who was the Mughal Emperor when the Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between Siraj ud Daula, the Nawab of Bengal and the English East India Company? (a) Muhammad Shah (b) Ahmad Shah (c) Aziz-ud-Din Alamgir II (d) Shah Alam II Q.5. Who was the last Mughal Emperor to sit on the peacock throne? (a) Aurangzeb  (b) Muhammad Shah Rangila  (c) Bahadur Shah I (d) Farrukhsiyar Q.6. Who is the author of the famo

Tai Khampti diorama / Image Credit Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has urged the Centre to declare Tai Khamti-British War of 1839 as the first war of India’s independence against the British.  80 British soldiers, including the British agent Colonel Adam White, were killed by the Tai Khamtis in Tai Khamti-British War that took place in 1839.  Recently the Centre has refused to accept Odisha’s demand to declare Paika rebellion as the First War of Independence. Paika Rebellion took place from 1817 to 1825 in Odisha. Currently, the Revolt of 1857, known variously as First War of Independence and Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of independence against British Rule. The Revolt of 1857 shook the very foundation of the British Empire in India. About Tai Khamti-British War of 1839 The Arunachal Deputy CM Chowna Mein also underscored the need to recognize battles between other communities of Arunachal Pradesh and the British. They include four Anglo-Abor wars f

                                             Khairul Manazil, opposite Purana Qila, Delhi. Image credit   Located opposite the Purana Qila in Delhi, Khairul Manzil mosque was built in 1561 by Maham Anga, the foster mother of the Mughal emperor Akabr. She was the mother of powerful Mughal noble Adham Khan who was killed by Akbar in Agra in 1562. Meaning ‘the most auspicious of houses’ in Persian, Khair-ul-Manazil mosque on the Mathura road is Delhi’s first mosque built by the Mughals.  The arch in the middle of the prayer chamber contains the inscription that says that the mosque was built by Maham Anga.