History

Khudkasht:          Those residential peasants living in their own village, owning their own land and implements, paying the land-revenue at a concessional rate, formed the governing body of the village community. Also called mirasdars in Maharashtra and gharu-hala in Rajasthan. Pahi-kasht:          These peasants were basically outsiders but cultivated the rented land in a vil­lage either by … Read more

Persian Invasion (550 BC)-   Contemporary to reign of Bimbisara, Persian attacked N-W front of India & Magadha continued to rise in N-E & Central-north in India In N-W front of India, several small provinces like Kamboja, Gandhara & Madra did not have a political unity & continuously fought with each other Archaemadian ruler of … Read more

Indigeneous tradition as well as modern research trace the origin of Indian drama to the Vedas. In the Ramayana we hear of drama troupes of women while Kautilyas Arthshastra mentions musicians, dancers and dramatic shows. Drama is a performing art, which has also been practised since times immemorial. Drama could spring from a child’s play. … Read more

Bengal Nawabs underestimated the hidden power and potential of EIC. They failed to grasp the true intention of EIC.  Nawabs were having the power to deal with the Company’s threats, but they continued tounderestimate the EIC power.They failed to see that the English Company was no mere company of traders but was therepresentative of the … Read more

On the eve of French Revolution, France was under the ancient regime. It was the centre of autocratic rule. The French Bourbon monarchs enjoyed absolution. They declared themselves as the “Representative of God”. The French monarchs engaged themselves in Luxurious and extravagance at the royal court of Versailles. They had unlimited power. By the Letters … Read more

It was not just the fact that they built magnificent temples or made exquisite idols, the Cholas also came up with an excellent system of governance and administration.  While it was a monarchy, like most other kingdoms of that era, there was a serious attempt to decentralize, and provide self government right at the local … Read more

Hiuen Tsang from China (629-645) One of the earliest and the most celebrated travelers to India, Hiuen Tsang came from China to India in search of Buddhist belief and practice. He has been described as the “prince of pilgrims” and his accounts carry a lot of information on the political, social and religious set up … Read more

The Indian National Congress was not the first political organisation in India. However, most of the political associations in the early half of the nineteenth century were dominated by wealthy and aristocratic elements. They were local or regional in character. Through long petitions to the British Parliament most of them demanded: Administrative reforms, Association of … Read more

. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries paintings comprised semi westernised local styles which were patronised by British residents and visitors. Themes were generally drawn from Indian social life, popular festivals, and Mughal monuments. These reflected the improvised Mughal traditions. Shaikh Zia-ud-Din’s bird studies for Lady Impey and the portrait paintings of Ghulam … Read more

This was the incident where the military the major pillar of strength for british empire showed dissatisfaction and internal strife among the naval establishment.  On feb,1846 , a section of non commissioned officers and sailors known as ratings, serving in the royal Indian navy, mutinied against the British officers. The major issue was the hardship … Read more