When India was a ‘land of diamonds’, Russian tsars eagerly tried to build ties with Aurangzeb

Two Russian missions were sent to India in the 17th century to initiate relations with the Mughal Empire. The second delegation found favour with Aurangzeb.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· 14 hours ago

Dhrupad has been evicted from Dilli

For decades, Dhrupad had one address in Delhi – 379, Asiad Village. Wasifuddin Dagar’s eviction from the house has severed a treasured link with the past.

S Anand

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Pramathesh Ambasta

· May 24, 2022 · 11:30 am

The long history of fragrant food in India, from massaging hens with musk to cooking in leaves

Perfuming food has been an obsession in the country for aeons. To get the right aroma on the plate, some Indians have been willing to go to great lengths.

Priyadarshini Chatterjee

· May 19, 2022 · 11:30 am

An Indian community’s journey to becoming a major financial player in Singapore and Malaysia

When the time was right, the enterprising Nattukottai Chettiars set up moneylending operations in Southeast Asia, becoming a financial mainstay in the region.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· May 14, 2022 · 11:30 am

Why world music owes an immense debt to Ravi Shankar’s Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra

As the world belatedly celebrates the sitarist’s 100th birth anniversary, a look back at the oustized influence of his first concerto.

Malini Nair

· May 11, 2022 · 11:30 am

Remembering the Swiss photographer who popularised Indian temple sculptures in the US

Raymond Burnier’s photos, which were displayed at New York’s MoMA in 1949, helped turn places like Khajuraho into major international destinations.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· May 07, 2022 · 11:30 am

How medieval Jain pilgrimage maps afforded the faithful a darshan without any travel

Though the tirtha patas’ utilitarian heyday seems to be past, they remain an enduring aspect of community formation.

Kamayani Sharma

· May 04, 2022 · 11:30 am

When a meeting with Ramana Maharshi inspired Somerset Maugham to explore Indian philosophy

A brief encounter with the Hindu sage in Tiruvanamalai in 1938 inspired the English playwright and novelist to fashion a character on him in a novel.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· Apr 27, 2022 · 11:30 am

‘We call it anda bhurji’: How the Indian subcontinent discovered Persian khagina and made it its own

Across India and Pakistan, there are many versions of the scrambled egg dish, from simple to complex, sweet to savoury.

Priyadarshini Chatterjee

· Apr 23, 2022 · 11:30 am

How a Punjabi-origin war hero became an important political figure in the Philippines

Ramon Bagatsing is remembered as an effective administrator and anti-corruption crusader, but his closeness to Ferdinand Marcos blotted his legacy.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· Apr 19, 2022 · 11:30 am

Temple theatres in Kerala have been an upper caste preserve for ages. Now there are calls for change

An intimate performance space, the koothambalam has been off-limits for everyone but upper castes. For it to thrive again, it needs to be opened up.

Malini Nair

· Apr 16, 2022 · 11:30 am

An Indian army medical unit’s ‘selfless sacrifice’ saved countless lives in the Korean War

Affectionately called ‘angels in maroon berets’, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance unit treated more than 200,000 people between 1950 and 1954.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· Apr 12, 2022 · 11:30 am