Stories written by
Lesley Shapland
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The birds of the short-lived Barrackpore menagerie, painted in stunning detail by Indian artists
Animals and birds collected were sent to Barrackpore for scientific study, the process of which included making descriptive notes and commissioning drawings.
Lesley Shapland
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Sea Duck: The peculiar bird spotted by a ship sailing towards India in 1700
Samuel Goodman described in awe a group of peculiar birds – black and white creatures with fins and no visible legs.
Lesley Shapland
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Why was a letter about the assassination bid on British viceroy Lytton removed from the archives?
The viceroy had mentioned the attempt on his life in a letter to Sir James Carid.
Lesley Shapland
Trending
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By mixing Carnatic and Hindustani, Mysore’s kings helped create a unique body of music
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Why is BJP wooing Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam?
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‘My son lost his job during demonetisation but at least it removed black money’
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The real reason why Modi says what he does – Hindu India accepts it
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The Assam voter who no longer supports the BJP because of the CAA
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Better urinals: How a sanitation panel aimed to improve life in Kolkata’s Fort William in 1860
Bad toilets and excessive drinking were the reasons for the rampant sickness in the station, administrators believed.
Lesley Shapland
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An unusual annotation in Bengal records from 1777 recalls the famous life of Catherine Grand
Born in Tranquebar, Grand had a short-lived marriage in India, before she moved to Europe.
Lesley Shapland
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When the East India Company sent an agent to spy on the French in Istanbul
Old papers throw light on the appointment of Peter Paul Zohrab to learn about French intentions towards India.
Lesley Shapland
Video
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Watch: K-Pop singer Aoora sings in Assamese as he collaborates with Nilotpal Bora in a new folk song
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Watch Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam’s impromptu performance of ‘Main Hoon Na’ at Farah Khan’s home
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Watch: Doordarshan newsreader faints on live TV in Kolkata owing to severe heat
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Watch: Spice Girls sing ‘Stop’ as bandmates reunite to celebrate Victoria Beckham’s 50th birthday
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Watch: Over 350 ballerinas come together to break the world record for standing on tip toes
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In 1857, a play in London dramatised the Indian Rebellion with action, comedy and romance
‘Storming and Capture of Delhi’ at Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre was not encumbered with a complex plot or a sentimental story.
Lesley Shapland
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How the translation of a Bengali play led to a British priest being convicted for libel in 1861
Political dramas, like this one about the Indigo Revolution, prompted the British Raj to impose censorship measures on theatre.
Lesley Shapland
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The story of how Mount Everest was measured and got its name
The Trigonometrical Survey was instituted in 1802 to survey the entire Indian subcontinent. From 1823, it was under the superintendence of George Everest.
Lesley Shapland
The Reel
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The story behind the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ title track: ‘Just write very simple poetry’
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‘Juna Furniture’ review: A simplistic crusade against the neglect of senior citizens
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‘Late Night with the Devil’ review: A deft satire on the price of success
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Watch: In ‘The Big Cigar’, the Black Panther founder flees America through a fake movie
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‘Dil Dosti Dilemma’ review: A feelgood entertainer about young love and old ties
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How crystal chandeliers gifted to the Shah of Persia travelled from England to Bombay to Tehran
In 1821, one man was tasked with transporting the breakable candelabra by sea and on foot.
Lesley Shapland
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‘Let no-one grudge...to pay tax’: Why did a Bengali boy sing praises of Income Tax in British India?
What happened in India in the 1860s, shortly after the first mutiny, to inspire such words?
Lesley Shapland