In Mughal period, one must discuss architectural splendours with brutal taxation, literature with warfare, syncretism with sectarian conflict. These are not mutually exclusive.
Agra is home to Balochi families, many of whose elders arrived after 1947. Though they consider themselves lucky to escape persecution, yearning of freedom from Pakistan remains.
Modi likes to paint his political rivals as meat-and-fish-gobbling quasi-Muslims who present 'Muslim' manifestos, appease Muslims, and can’t hope to represent India.
Historian Neha Vermani spoke about the role of food in Aurangzeb's court. Mughals were also selective vegetarians, she says. It was a Sufi method of 'soul purification'
New York-based PEN America criticises curriculum revision by NCERT for school textbooks that include changes to sections on Mahatma Gandhi’s death & trimming of Mughal history.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, noted for building the Jantar Mantars, was described as a ‘servant’ of the Mughal palace on a descriptive board outside the Samarkand Observatory.
In most standard textbooks, the story of the Delhi Sultanate is accorded primacy as the ‘main’ narrative while parallel empires in the south and east are categorised as ‘regional’ kingdoms.
Political satire is indispensable to democracy, racial caricature isn’t. If Europe’s liberal press still cannot tell difference, then decolonisation never happened in their imagination.
With Washington issuing a third 30-day waiver for Russian crude cargoes at sea, India signals continuity in import strategy while ramping up purchases from Venezuela and other suppliers.
While India yet to set in motion theaterisation of armed forces, China's military reforms combined China’s Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force aimed at regional dominance & tight political control.
Pakistan has ended up losing every war against India but that hasn’t prevented it from claiming victory. We will go over the evidence to anticipate what to expect next.
Its naïve (simple, if you want to read it charitably) to consoder greatness = good. Great is a neutral to the nature of deeds. Many so-called “Greats” lay claim to equal share of noble and terrible deeds.
Equally, we should not demonise the Mughals. To be judged by the standards of other rulers of those times. Great patrons of the arts, left behind many fine monuments.
Its naïve (simple, if you want to read it charitably) to consoder greatness = good. Great is a neutral to the nature of deeds. Many so-called “Greats” lay claim to equal share of noble and terrible deeds.
Well said, Vikram. We don’t have to choose one over the other but accept it all in totality. In my view, the usage of ‘and’ is better than ‘but’.
Equally, we should not demonise the Mughals. To be judged by the standards of other rulers of those times. Great patrons of the arts, left behind many fine monuments.