India Since 1947: The Independent Years, takes us through the events, personalities and changes that have shaped the country in the seventy years since independence. Arranged chronologically, India since 1947 covers a wide range of topics, from agriculture, archaeology and the arts to science and technology, sports and wars, and everything else in between.
Let us read 10 interesting facts about the Indian Cinema since 1947.
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1. 1949
2. 1959
3. 1969
4. 1971
5. 1986
6. 1988
7. 1995
8. 2000
9. 2003
10. 2004
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Category: Specials
5 Times Leila Seth Struck A Perfect Balance Between the Home and the World
Leila Seth was the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court and the first woman to be a Chief Justice of a state in India. She was responsible for the report on Free and Compulsory Education of Children. In this autobiography, On Balance: An Autobiography, Leila talks about life’s joyous as well as its difficult moments.
Let’s look at 5 charming and often amusing vignettes from her life.
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5 Ways in which The Skull of Alum Bheg made us rethink History
Kim A. Wagner is senior lecturer in British Imperial History, Queen Mary, University of London. He has written three previous books on Thuggees and on the 1857 Uprising. In his latest, The Skull of Alum Bheg: The Life and Death of a Rebel of 1857, he presents an intimate and vivid account of life and death in British India in the throes of the largest rebellion of the nineteenth century. Examining the colonial practice of collecting and exhibiting human remains, this book offers a critical assessment of British imperialism that speaks to contemporary debates about the legacies of Empire and the myth of the ‘Mutiny’.
Let’s go through these 5 facts about Alum Bheg that make us rethink history.
Demystifying the Spirited Queen of Chittor, Padmini
At the beginning of the fourteenth century, Ala-ud-Din Khilji became infatuated with the famed beauty of Rani Padmini. He arrives at her doorstep in Chittor and lays siege to her fort. Despite putting up a brave fight, when defeat came to her doorstep, she chose jauhar over dishonour.
Mridula Behari in ‘Padmini’ gives a voice to the famed queen and brings to life the atmosphere and intrigue of medieval Rajput courts.
Here are a few facts about the legendary queen.
“Once an eminent astrologer had visited Tamragarh…Mother had invited the acharya to her chambers. On his arrival, she had asked him to carefully study the stars of the daughter of the Pratihar Pawar king and foretell her future. Upon hearing about the prophecy, little Padma had watched her mother beam as though her heart had turned into a heaven-kissing tower of joy and a vast ocean of love at the same time . . .”
“There were already murmurs about her beauty, of the poetry that spun out of the lips of those who had seen her. There were those eager to see her and those who waited to scoff at the beauty they had only heard about. Yet, when the ghunghat was gently raised, it rendered everyone speechless.”
“Veerbhan had thought that he could sweet talk Padmini into accepting the decision… What he saw of her was beyond his wildest imagination. Her eyes, her cheeks, her forehead turned red with indignation. Affronted by his brazen retort, she felt aggressive and resolute in her conviction.”
“Her eyes were fixed on the tip of her nose. She stopped breathing. She appeared to be taking the agni samadhi, meditating in the lap of the leaping flames. More firewood was thrown in. With the ghee being poured in, the flames rose higher and higher, and her delicate, beautiful body became one with the fire.”
Aren’t these facts fascinating?
Know Lord Meghnad Desai
Meghnad Desai was born in Vadodara, Gujarat and is now an active member of the British Labour Party since 1971. He was made Lord Desai of St Clement Danes in 1991 and awarded the Bharatiya Pravasi Puraskar in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
His latest book, ‘The Raisina Model: Indian Democracy at 70’ reflects on Indian democracy as it completes seventy years of colourful, eventful and energetic parliamentary existence.
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5 lines from literature that go beyond ‘I love you’
Since time immemorial, the most famed couples of literature have used the three magical words, “I Love You” to express their deepest sentiments. However, there are some that have found a way beyond.
Here, we look at five such quotes which expresses love in an equally beautiful way.
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Meet the characters from Fear is the Key
In Juggi Bhasin’s new title, Fear is the Key, Simone, fiancée-to-be to Rahul, founder of a digital infotainment site, goes missing. As all investigations come to naught, Rahul takes matters into his own hands and soon uncovers the twisted, bizarre and utterly unbelievable truth.
Let’s meet the three main characters of Juggi Bhasin’s gripping new thriller, Fear is the Key.
Rahul Abhyankar
Suhel Bagga
Simone
Atypical characters and a fast-paced, mind numbing plot; Fear is the Key has to be your must read thriller this month!
Listicle: 6 exercises to get you warmed up for functional fitness
Shivoham is the trainer behind Aamir Khan’s muscular look in Dhoom 3, Sonakshi Sinha’s bodacious curves in Dabangg, Jacqueline Fernandez’s lean physique and Abhishek Bachchan’s fitness. His book, The Shivfit Way will ensure that you won’t just get back in shape, you’ll also look forward to working out. The book is co authored by Shrenik Avlani, who is a newsroom veteran with nearly two decades of work experience as a leading writer in the field of endurance sport and fitness.
Here are 6 warming up exercises from the book that get you warmed up for functional fitness.
Do these seem helpful?
Get your copy of The Shivfit Way: A Comprehensive Functional Fitness Programme and start working on your fitness goals.
5 Facts about the Landmark Cases of Modern India that will Blow Your Mind
The Dramatic Decade: Landmark Cases of Modern India, is a collection of some of the landmark cases of Modern India that have impacted the collective conscious of the entire nation.The book gives the reader a ringside view of what happened both inside and outside the courts.
Let’s take a look at these facts.
1. The Parliament Attack – 13 December 2001
2. Nirbhaya – 16 December 2012
3. The 26/11 Mumbai Attacks – 26 November 2008
4. The Babri Masjid Demolition – 6 December 1992
5. The Uphaar Tragedy – 13 June 1997
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5 Star-crossed Couples From Literature Who Make Us Believe in Love
Literature has given us some iconic couples who have enthralled us with their story and made us believe that in the end love conquers all. They also show us how love can be found in the unlikeliest of places.
In this blog post, we cherish five of them.
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1. Jay and Daisy – The Great Gatsby
2. Sarah and Charles – The French Lieutenant’s Woman
3. Florentino and Fermina – Love in the Time of Cholera 
4. Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky from Anna Karenina
5. Lady Chatterley and Oliver from Lady Chatterley’s Lover
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