scorecardresearch
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
TopicMAP Academy

Topic: MAP Academy

Punkahs, punkahwallahs, and White sahibs in Colonial India

Punkah' is a colonial-era anglicisation of the Hindustani term pankha, which referred to handheld fans. Punkah-pullers were made to work in deliberately uncomfortable conditions.

How feminism shaped Indian art

Mid-1900s' women artists were often exceptional presences in artist collectives with mostly male members - providing counterpoints to prevalent narratives.

The business of dreams — photographs from the studio of Suresh Punjabi

The story of Suresh Punjabi — his upbringing, influences and the portraits he produced at Suhag Studio in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, in the 1970s and 80s.

The protector Goddess of Buddhism—Marichi and her many symbols of strength, knowledge

Marichi is a symbol of rapid enlightenment, and continues to be deified in Tibet, China and Japan. But her importance has declined in India and Nepal.

Langda, Kesar to Alphonso—how mangoes shaped art, politics & culture in India

Babur, who pined for the melons, peaches, apricots and walnuts of Central Asia, came to admire the flavours of mango quite immediately. Akbar, Shah Jahan and Jahangir, too, remained steadfast in their commitment to maintaining orchards.

Carved stone dishes from Gandhara – make-up trays or ritual objects?

Their distinctive style, antiquity and presence in museum collections make them valuable objects of art in the contemporary world, but there has been speculation and debate regarding the original function of these stone dishes.

Yali—mythical sculptures guarding Hindu, Buddhist temples in India

Yalis were considered divine vehicles for deities, and were used to signify heroism and the elemental forces of nature, tamed in stone.

What traditional ‘Theyyam’ ritual means to Dalit community in Kerala

There are over 600 theyyam rituals today, performed primarily by Dalit communities by incorporating transgression from the established caste and social order.

Mughal and Rajput art, Western-style—Company paintings, the lovechild of India & British Raj

Company painting emerged out of a sustained interaction between Indian and European culture after the East India Company gained control over Bengal in 1757.

For Tulu community in India, ‘Bhuta’ masks are charged with magic, meaning and myth

Scholars have identified a complex interplay between indigenous traditions and castes— elements of which can be seen in bhuta masks.

On Camera

Afzalgunj to Begum Bazar—Hyderabad’s markets don’t look ‘nawabi’. Marwaris, Gujjus built them

Some of Hyderabad’s oldest jewellery and perfume stores—many dating back to the Nizam era—are run by Marwari, Gujrati, and Jain families.

New insolvency frameworks to shorter timelines, how 2025 amendment bill proposes to transform IBC

New bill aims to fix key issues with IBC 2016, including delays & patchy implementation, and protect creditors, with window for genuine promoters to retain control of their companies.

China pushes for separation of border issue from larger bilateral ties at 24th round of talks with India

New Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Tuesday pushed for a “dual-track” progress for ties with India, separating economic ties from the boundary question,...

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?