Written In History

Ironies of history: Vandemataram debate may throw up uncomfortable truths

What has come with the territory are the celebrations of 150 years of the composition of Vandemataram, which Parliament is expected to "debate" next week

Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude gets memory feature to recall past chats

Claude's new memory feature lets users resume chats and projects on demand, keeping context without starting over or storing details automatically

The Keeladi question: Tamil pride, archaeology and political rivalry

The village becomes a flashpoint as Tamil parties champion ancient roots and the BJP-led Centre calls for further archaeological verification

Trump's attacks on 'Black Smithsonian' effort to sanitise racism: Critics

President Donald Trump's order accusing the Smithsonian Institution of not reflecting American history notes correctly that the country's Founding Fathers declared that all men are created equal. But it doesn't mention that the founders enshrined slavery into the US Constitution and declared enslaved persons as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of the Census. Civil rights advocates, historians and Black political leaders sharply rebuked Trump on Friday for his order, entitled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. They argued that his executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution is his administration's latest move to downplay how race, racism and Black Americans themselves have shaped the nation's story. It seems like we're headed in the direction where there's even an attempt to deny that the institution of slavery even existed, or that Jim Crow laws and segregation and racial violence against Black communities, Black families, Black individuals even ...

India's history written by colonisers with distorted perspective: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said it was a travesty that the ignorant were trying to make us aware about inclusivity by their narrow -minded approach. He also said that the first draft of the country's history came through colonisers' distorted perspective. While thousands contributed to the freedom struggle, only a few were promoted. Even post-Independence, this was allowed to take roots. This disrupted organic evolution of our knowledge system, the vice president said. "We have to unshackle ourselves from colonial legacy and mindset," he said. He asserted that the philosophical schools of Vedanta, Jainism, Buddhism and others have always encouraged dialogue and co-existence -- the principles that hold immense value in today's polarised world. It was time now to ensure India's heritage blossoms and thrives and there could not be a more opportune time, he noted while urging the youth to take pride in India's mathematical contributions. Much of the problems we are fac

'Embers of the Hands': Barraclough uncovers untold stories of history

People love the blood-soaked sagas that chronicle the deeds of (actual) Vikings. They love what Barraclough calls the "soap opera lives" of Norse gods

Partition to Kandahar: India's history comes alive on OTT platforms

There is an abundance of historical shows on OTT platforms, and it is a joy to watch past and contemporary history come alive

Must understand history to make better decisions for future: J&K LG Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday highlighted the importance of understanding history to develop thinking and decision-making capabilities for building a better future and stressed the need to reconnect with the roots to gain clarity in vision and set meaningful goals for the future. The LG, who unveiled the silver jubilee issue of Raghvendra Panchang, congratulated Chander Mouli Raina, the editorial team of the Panchang, and all members of the Raghvendra Jyotish Sansthan Trust on the occasion. He commended the trust's efforts in raising awareness about traditions and preserving the legacy of the Panchang, which reflects the composite culture and rich heritage of the country. I believe our research on astrology and ancient scriptures should positively impact the lives of people from all walks of life. We must promote global good and focus on spreading the importance of a spiritually rich life and value-based living among our citizens, the lieutenant ...

Politics of day indulges in cherry-picking facts: Jaishankar on Tipu Sultan

History is "complicated" and the politics of the day often indulges in "cherry-picking facts" and to a considerable extent that has happened in Tipu Sultan's case, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. He claimed a "particular narrative" about the former ruler of Mysore has been advanced over the years. In his address at the launch of the book 'Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore Interregnum 1761-1799' here, Jaishankar said there are some basic questions that "confront us all" today as to how much of "our past has been airbrushed", how awkward issues have been "glossed over" and how "facts are tailored for regime convenience". The book has been written by historian Vikram Sampath. The external affairs minister said, "In the last decade, the changes in our political dispensation have encouraged the emergence of alternative perspectives and balanced accounts." "We are no longer prisoners of a vote bank, nor is it politically incorrect to bring out inconvenient truths.

Kolkata trams: From city lifeline to heritage relic and future symbol

151 years on, the ding-ding is fading; will nostalgia and activism keep the wheels turning?

Friday the 13th: Is this day really as spooky and unlucky as it seems?

Friday the 13th is a very unlucky date and this day holds a notorious reputation. It occurs at least once a year and can happen up to three times in a single year

Madras Day 2024: Know its history, significance and some interesting facts

On August 22, Madras Day is celebrated annually and it commemorates Madras' (now Chennai) rich history and its transformation from a small settlement to a bustling metropolitan hub

Anatomy of a massacre

The Damascus Events is a fascinating narrative of the interplay between geopolitical, social, economic, and technological transformations that culminated in two catastrophic wars of the 20th century

1300-year-old French magical sword goes missing leaving the locals stunned

The theft of the magical Durandal sword has become the talk of the town. The sharpest sword could cut boulders with a single strike. Authorities are trying to recover the lost historical artefact

How to teach history

Professor Krishna Kumar's book explores the practical challenges of teaching history within the constraints of timetables and textbooks

Making India a fraternity

Historian Rajmohan Gandhi's book compels us to contemplate one of the foundational principles enshrined in our Constitution, without which the integrity of the nation can be in jeopardy

Leap Day 2024: History, significance and some interesting facts of Feb 29

Leap Day 2024: An extra day added to the Gregorian calendar every four years is called Leap Day. Here's all you need to know about the history of this day, significance and more

Savitribai Phule Jayanti 2024: Celebrating India's first woman teacher

India celebrates the birth anniversary of the first women teacher, Savitribai Phule. She is known for her work as a social worker, teacher and poet

War and empires

Today's anti-"woke" warriors in Congress likely would be surprised by the Boston University anthropologist Thomas Barfield's insightful Shadow Empires: An Alternative Imperial History

A reality check of India

Annie Zaidi's collection of essays explores diverse issues from banditry to hunger, weaving together a narrative that demands reflection on the pressing challenges faced by the country's marginalised