Stories written by
Ursula Sims-Williams
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Why Alexander the Great was treated with hostility in Zoroastrian literature
Even in Firdawsi’s ‘Shahnamah’, he is described by Ardshir, founder of the Sasanian dynasty, as ‘the evil-minded tyrant’.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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In illustrations: Tales of conquests and adventures from the life of Alexander the Great
The Persian Shahnamah, or Book of Kings, is one of the most richly illustrated sources, completed by the poet Firdawsi in 1010 CE.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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How did Alexander become ‘the Great’? A new exhibition explores the making of a myth
A glimpse of artefacts that will soon be on display at London’s British Library.
Ursula Sims-Williams
Trending
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The unsolved mystery of the fake PMO officer in Kashmir
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Does India really benefit from NRIs heading the world’s new-age empires?
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Rahul Gandhi sentenced to 2 years’ jail for remarks about ‘Modi’ surname, gets bail to file appeal
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How West Bengal’s changing political dynamics could hurt the Trinamool Congress
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Calls for an environment-friendly Ramzan revive Islam’s long tradition of caring for the planet
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In illustrations: The stories that are common to the Qurʼan and the Bible
Since accounts of the prophets’ lives were often sketchy in the Qurʼan itself, stories about them drew heavily on Jewish, Christian and oral literature.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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The oldest surviving Zoroastrian scriptures were found not in Iran or India, but in China
In its Epic Iran exhibition, the British Library will be displaying its unrivalled collection of manuscripts.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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Muhammad Najib Khan, a Sufi soldier and manuscript collector in 18th-century southern India
Caught up in the conflict between the rivals of Hyderabad, the French and the East India Company, he was killed in the Battle of Ambur in 1749.
Ursula Sims-Williams
Video
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Watch: Massive fire breaks out in a factory in Gujarat’s Valsad, huge plume of smoke covers the sky
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Caught on camera: The moment when a train collided with a bus at a railway crossing in Bangladesh
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‘A reporter is arrested under a law meant for terrorists...’: A newspaper editor on press freedom
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TV channel: ‘Will the TMC accept the Congress’s leadership?’ TMC MP: ‘You never ask Modi questions’
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Watch: Crocodile interrupts tourists during picnic, ‘steals’ their cooler box
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Old manuscripts, letters show how Christian influences were depicted in Mughal art and life
A document talks about Christmas celebrations in Lahore in 1597.
Ursula Sims-Williams & Malini Roy
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Glimpses of ‘Divan-i-Hijri’, a book of poems in the collection of Humayun’s wife Hamidah Banu
The Mughal empress was known to have a rich library.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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Photos: The medieval-era Qurans with 30 leaves, one for each day of the month
These copies are based on the 30 equal sections.
Ursula Sims-Williams
The Reel
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Watch: Oppression and rebellion in Independence-era drama ‘August 16 1947’
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‘Gumraah’ trailer: Crime thriller stars Aditya Roy Kapur in a double role, Mrunal Thakur as a cop
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How OP Nayyar was one of the original disruptors of Hindi film music
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Watch: The blunder years in ‘School College Ani Life’ starring Tejasswi Prakash, Karan Parab
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‘Ghar Banduk Biryani’ trailer: A chef is caught between security forces and rebels
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Royal seals on old books tell a fascinating story of Tipu Sultan’s penchant for calendar systems
They also show the ruler of Mysore’s fondness for the tiger motif.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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Rare manuscripts: A look at an illustrated Mughal copy of Nizami’s tragic romance ‘Layla Majnun’
The manuscript tells of the fateful romance between Layla and Qays who, driven to madness, took refuge in the desert with wild creatures.
Ursula Sims-Williams
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Photos: An 18th-century Persian medical manual commissioned by Tipu Sultan that featured unicorns
The text seems to be a translation of a European manual by Pierre Pomet, chief druggist of Louis XIV.
Ursula Sims-Williams
The Field
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Watch: When Mesut Ozil produced 19 assists for Arsenal in the 2015-’16 Premier League season
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Football: India earns narrow win over Myanmar in tri-nation opener; Women’s team draw against Jordan
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Sports world daily: Raducanu, Murray lose early at Miami Masters; Man United ownership race heats up
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Swiss Open Super 300: Prannoy beats Shi; Satwik-Chirag, Sindhu progress too but Sen bows out
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Watch, India vs Australia: Kuldeep Yadav dimisses Alex Carey with a superb delivery in Chennai ODI