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Friday, March 29, 2024
TopicThinking Medieval

Topic: Thinking Medieval

For first 300 yrs of their history, Ahoms were more Thai than Indian. Here’s how they changed

Describing Turks as aliens but Ahoms as nationalists erases all their complexities.

There’s more to Assam than Ahoms. Ancient Kamarupa, Bengal challenge assumptions

The Mughal-Ahom wars were really the culmination of 1,000 years of geopolitical rivalry.

Raising taxes was Palas’ biggest mistake—it killed 2 kings, ended their 300-yr-rule in Bengal

The Kaivartas survive today as a faint reminder: the medieval world was not a utopia, nor was it one of complete and benevolent royal domination.

Shaivite rivals were not Vaishnavites, but tantric Buddhists in medieval era

The Pallava dynasty was turning toward Shaivism. Buddhists took immediate note and strung up a narrative where Shiva is immature and Trailokyavijaya emerges supreme.

How exactly did Ganesha arrive in Indonesia & Cambodia? Quite abruptly

In Tibet and China, he would take on altogether darker tantric forms, whereas in Japan, he evolved into a unique ‘twin’ form with a male and female aspect.

Kamakhya Temple is one way Assam shaped Sanskritic mainstream in medieval India

The history of the Kamakhya Temple encapsulates the history of Northeast India — and challenges the way we imagine the spread of Hinduism.

Mahabharata war to Dasaratha sacrifices—Tripura’s Manikya dynasty used religion as a force

In Tripura, the Sanskritic culture served as a veneer over a vibrant, cosmopolitan Northeastern world that we are often too quick to dismiss today as 'tribal' or 'violent'.

Medieval Indian engineers in the 7th century built robots. Powered by water and clockwork

Using hydraulics and clockwork, engineers could make wondrous devices that are now lost. These were more credible than claims about pre-modern Indian technology such as UFOs and genetic engineering.

This is how Shiva became Asia’s most popular god – innovation, assimilation, conquest

In a diverse religious environment, the Shaiva recipe for success was rather crafty.

The Great monastery of Ratnagiri – this is how Buddhism thrived in medieval Odisha

Female musicians played as the Buddha was offered ‘flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, and all other treasures’ at the Ratnagiri monastery.

On Camera

Congress attacks chief economic advisor over statement on unemployment, asks BJP govt to ‘vacate seat’

While releasing 'India Employment Report 2024', V Anantha Nageswaran said govt can't solve 'all social, economic challenges'. Congress leader Kharge says CEA protecting 'dear leader'.

Amid plans to lift AFSPA, Army starts joint training with Jammu & Kashmir Police

In an interview with Gulistan News this week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government would leave law and order to J&K Police and slowly withdraw troops.

For BJP, Kejriwal is an idea whose time has come to be destroyed

The ‘idea’ Kejriwal's politics grew around was a no-holds-barred fight against corruption. That is the reason Modi govt has now tarred him and his entire party with the same paint.