A study from the early days to the middle of the 18th century 

TECHNOLOGY IN MEDIEVAL INDIA — c. 650-1750: Irfan Habib; Tulika Books, 35 A/1, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi-110049. Rs. 275.
ANIRUDDHA RAY
Researches on technology including its origin and development in both ancient and medieval India have been continuing for more than 70 years […]

Glimpses of the methods and means adopted by the pioneers in archaeology to unravel India’s past 

ARCHAEOLOGY IN INDIA — Individuals, Ideas and Institutions: Edited by Gautam Sengupta and Kaushik Gangopadhyay; Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers (P) Limited, in association with the Centre for Archaeological Studies and Training, Eastern India, Kolkata, 54, Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi-110055. […]

Discover the art and heart of rural India with a Roli Books’ offering showing glimpses of Bharat. 

These pictures from the book depict the colourful woven motifs on Assamese mekhela-chador.
RANA SIDDIQUI ZAMAN
“If the path is beautiful, you should not worry about the destination. And if the destination is beautiful, you should not worry […]

A 4,500-year-old Golden Lyre sings once again, transcending boundaries of space and time… 

The reconstructed Sumerian Lyre. PHOTO: LYRE OF UR PROJECT
A. RANGARAJAN
The great city of Ur was a glorious trading port some 4,500 years ago and it was situated on the mouth of the Euphrates at the Arabian Gulf in ancient Mesopotamia […]

Even when Indian weddings are held abroad, most of the shopping is still done in India… 
SEEMA SANGHI
Many from the Indian Diaspora have been shuttling back and forth ever since they left. But, more and more, the ‘homeward’ bound trip is for purchasing wedding paraphernalia.
Anjali Phadke, born in Sydney to Indian parents (living in […]

The Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh played a crucial role in the battle of succession between the sons of Aurangzeb

R.V. SMITH 
June 10 this past week went unnoticed though it is an important date in history, for on this day in 1707, people of Delhi were waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the […]

R.V. Smith digs out some interesting facts about Qutubuddin Aibak’s life
 

As the 800th death anniversary of Qutubuddin Aibak approaches, one’s thoughts turn to the establishment of Delhi Sultanate and this Tajdar-e-Hind who was the first crown-bearer of the Slave dynasty.
The title was an exalted one and those who followed Qutubuddin numbered 34, not counting the […]

Summer squalls are nasty and they proved it by knocking down the cross at the Church of St. James this past week

 R.V. SMITH
Squalls do bring relief during the sweltering summer days but they also cause a lot of damage – uprooting trees, crushing cars, causing injuries and death and damaging buildings. Last week’s freak […]

Rampur gharana, which gave Hindustani classical music many a name to reckon with, is struggling to survive on its home turf. 

Sakuntala Narasimhan’s book “The Splendour of Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana” highlights the genre’s singularities. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash
S. KASHIF ALI
Rampur in Uttar Pradesh is a historical city known for its eventful past, grand architectural legacy, […]

Gulzar releases Sivasankari’s book, the last volume of a mega project 

 
Lyricist Gulzar releases Tamil writer Sivasankari’s book “Knit India through Literature” at the India International Centre Annexe in New Delhi on Wednesday. Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo is at right. — Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Parul Sharma  
NEW DELHI: “The book serves as a guide to the […]