Stories written by

John O’Brien

Why a letter from an orphan to Queen Victoria upset the British India Office

Aine wrote to the queen with no demands, but a wish for the welfare of the royal family.

John O’Brien
· Mar 12, 2023 · 07:30 pm
Cries for help: Letters to the British India Office in the 19th century

The department would frequently field pleas for help from members of the public.

John O’Brien
· Dec 05, 2022 · 09:30 pm
Getting an Indian passport has always involved red tape, as files from the archives show

Leafing through the British Library’s Kashmir Residency Records.

John O’Brien
· Oct 02, 2022 · 07:30 pm

When the British asked the French to jail Madame Cama, the ‘mother of Indian revolution’

For decades, the British government surveilled the Parsi freedom fighter.

John O’Brien
· Apr 09, 2022 · 09:30 pm
In images: The anger in India against the Raj-appointed Simon Commission

The exclusion of Indian members from the panel prompted outrage in the country, with both Congress and the Muslim League boycotting it.

John O’Brien
· Jan 15, 2022 · 07:30 pm
Bhicoo Batlivala: The forgotten freedom fighter whose US tour made the British government anxious

She was an active member of the India League and at one point Jawaharlal Nehru’s secretary.

John O’Brien
· Sep 25, 2021 · 09:30 pm

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Interview: Why Bangladesh army is angry with Yunus and his interim government

Yesterday · 07:30 pm
Eco India: Could happy and healthy hens make eggs taste better?

May 25, 2025 · 08:55 am
Eco India, Episode 289: Why animal welfare is the missing key to environmental health

May 24, 2025 · 03:25 pm
Video: Is Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s peace appeal seditious?

May 21, 2025 · 02:00 pm
Watch: Why workers at an Adani power plant in Jharkhand went on a strike

May 20, 2025 · 06:05 pm

The British were met with fire and fury when they tried to conduct a census in 1870s Bengal

The resistance by Santals spread fear and panic among the British and other local groups.

John O’Brien
· Nov 26, 2019 · 01:30 pm
When a desperate British government called on Indian Army officers to take up civilian jobs

In 1926, when thousands of bus drivers, dock workers and workers in electricity and building industries went on strike, the government came up with an idea.

John O’Brien
· Nov 03, 2019 · 01:30 pm

John O’Brien

Why a letter from an orphan to Queen Victoria upset the British India Office

Aine wrote to the queen with no demands, but a wish for the welfare of the royal family.

John O’Brien · Mar 12, 2023 · 07:30 pm

Cries for help: Letters to the British India Office in the 19th century

The department would frequently field pleas for help from members of the public.

John O’Brien · Dec 05, 2022 · 09:30 pm

Getting an Indian passport has always involved red tape, as files from the archives show

Leafing through the British Library’s Kashmir Residency Records.

John O’Brien · Oct 02, 2022 · 07:30 pm

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Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1938–2025): Five things to know about one of Africa’s greatest ever writers

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YouTuber Mohak Mangal agrees to remove ‘objectionable’ parts of video about ANI

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Mumbai Commuter Rail division: Some ideas on fixing the commercial capital’s lifeline

Yesterday · 09:00 am

When the British asked the French to jail Madame Cama, the ‘mother of Indian revolution’

For decades, the British government surveilled the Parsi freedom fighter.

John O’Brien · Apr 09, 2022 · 09:30 pm

In images: The anger in India against the Raj-appointed Simon Commission

The exclusion of Indian members from the panel prompted outrage in the country, with both Congress and the Muslim League boycotting it.

John O’Brien · Jan 15, 2022 · 07:30 pm

Bhicoo Batlivala: The forgotten freedom fighter whose US tour made the British government anxious

She was an active member of the India League and at one point Jawaharlal Nehru’s secretary.

John O’Brien · Sep 25, 2021 · 09:30 pm

Video

Interview: Why Bangladesh army is angry with Yunus and his interim government

Yesterday · 07:30 pm

Eco India: Could happy and healthy hens make eggs taste better?

May 25, 2025 · 08:55 am

Eco India, Episode 289: Why animal welfare is the missing key to environmental health

May 24, 2025 · 03:25 pm

Video: Is Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s peace appeal seditious?

May 21, 2025 · 02:00 pm

Watch: Why workers at an Adani power plant in Jharkhand went on a strike

May 20, 2025 · 06:05 pm

The British were met with fire and fury when they tried to conduct a census in 1870s Bengal

The resistance by Santals spread fear and panic among the British and other local groups.

John O’Brien · Nov 26, 2019 · 01:30 pm

When a desperate British government called on Indian Army officers to take up civilian jobs

In 1926, when thousands of bus drivers, dock workers and workers in electricity and building industries went on strike, the government came up with an idea.

John O’Brien · Nov 03, 2019 · 01:30 pm

Take Scroll With You

John O’Brien
· Mar 12, 2023 · 07:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Dec 05, 2022 · 09:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Oct 02, 2022 · 07:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Apr 09, 2022 · 09:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Jan 15, 2022 · 07:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Sep 25, 2021 · 09:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Nov 26, 2019 · 01:30 pm

John O’Brien
· Nov 03, 2019 · 01:30 pm