The original word for chess is the Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning four members of an army, which were most likely elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers. According to a German Indologist researching on the origin of chess, in the 6th century, the Maukhari rulers of Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, used to play chaturanga with 16 cabinet terracotta…
Bananas are eaten both raw (ripe) and cooked. They are a rich source of many vitamins and potassium. India is the leading producer of bananas with an annual output of about 16.8 metric tons. This means about 23 per cent of the world’s total production happens in India.
Tagore started painting in 1924, at the age of 63. He was surrounded by exponents of visual arts, and so he always wanted to be a painter. The doodles in his various manuscripts and corrections made in an artistic way bear testimony to his intention and efforts. His first exhibition of paintings in Paris was…
Before the beginning of the Dandi March on 12 March 1930, Kasturba Gandhi, the wife of Gandhiji and Ba to millions of her children, applied the benedictory tilak on Gandhiji’s forehead, garlanded him with khadi and handed him the stick. Tilak, khadi and the stick were respectively the symbols of devotion, simplicity and strength.
Back in the nineteenth century, the Brahmo Movement emerged in colonial Bengal. It was a social and religious movement that centred around the institution known as the Brahmo Samaj. The movement was initiated by Raja Rammohan Roy (1772–1833), who is famous in history for his crusade against the age-old practice of Sati. Rammohan established the…
The gates of the walled city of Delhi were built by different rulers at different times. Delhi is an aggregate of nine cities. In the seventh city built by Shah Jahan, there were 14 gates. However, there are only five gates that are standing today. These are Ajmeri Gate facing Ajmer in Rajasthan; Lahori Gate…
