How ‘Made in Germany’ became popular in colonial India Subscriber Only
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The idea of a global framework to protect cultural and natural heritage gathered momentum in the aftermath of the Second World War, when the widespread destruction of monuments, museums, and historic cities underscored the need
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In her latest book, author Paramita Sen reflects on her childhood in Batanagar while examining how a Czech multinational became a quintessential Indian favourite.
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Why The Odyssey has endured for nearly 3,000 years Subscriber Only
With Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in theatres, a look at the ancient Greek epic that continues to shape literature, cinema, and ideas of homecoming.
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Switzerland’s invisible empire in India: The story behind Voltas Subscriber Only
Switzerland had no colonies, yet its companies profited from empire. The hidden history behind Voltas reveals how colonial trade, race, and the air conditioner became unexpectedly intertwined.
Nikita MohtaJul 7, 2026
India is the world's oldest emerging market, with recorded securities trading dating to the early nineteenth century in pre-exchange Calcutta. The Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE), founded in 1908 and dormant since 2013, could be revived
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How a Swedish match company shaped colonial India Subscriber Only
A Swedish company sold matchboxes bearing Gandhi and Bharat Mata to Swadeshi India. The forgotten story of WIMCO reveals how other foreign actors operated in colonial markets without directly ruling them.
Nikita MohtaJun 23, 2026
Why did Siraj ud-Daulah lose the Battle of Plassey? Subscriber Only
When Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, picked grandson Siraj ud-Daulah as his successor, he set in motion a chain of events that would alter India’s history.
Nikita MohtaJun 18, 2026
From a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII to the seat of the French monarchy under Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles has witnessed wars, revolutions, diplomatic triumphs, and national humiliations.
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Why Nehru waited 14 years to end Portuguese rule in Goa Subscriber Only
On June 18, 1946, Ram Manohar Lohia’s satyagraha at Margao became a landmark in the Goa liberation movement. Yet, Portuguese rule would only end in 1961.
Nikita MohtaJun 15, 2026
Historian Upinder Singh notes in her work that archaeologist John Marshall named her the “Dancing Girl” because he thought she had the air of a semi-impudent “nautch girl.”
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How World War horrors advanced blood donation science Subscriber Only
The first successful animal-to-animal transfusion in 1665 proved blood could be transferred between living organisms, laying the foundation for centuries of research.
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Dress codes, exclusion, and belonging: How the Indian gymkhana took shape under colonial rule Subscriber Only
Clubs were not a familiar feature of South Asian life before British rule. Yet the largely imported institution became deeply woven into the social life of the subcontinent.
Jun 2, 2026
How Bengal helped create the modern world of biometric identity Subscriber Only
From a palm print in colonial Bengal to Aadhaar-era biometrics, discover how fingerprinting evolved into a global system for identity verification.
Nikita MohtaMay 29, 2026
The history of the Delhi Gymkhana Club spans over a century, with events such as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Jinnah’s farewell party, and Begum Liaquat Ali Khan’s bridge games taking place on its premises.
Nikita MohtaMay 22, 2026
In Dalit Women and the Fullness of Life, author Christina Dhanuja explores the interior lives and everyday experiences of Dalit women, moving beyond dominant narratives centred on violence, labour, and survival.
Adrija RoychowdhuryMay 14, 2026
Historian Jean Arzoumanov’s discovery of an 18th-century Jain text in Persian reveals a forgotten era where Hindu scholars used the ‘Islamic’ lingua franca to help British officers survey India’s faiths.
Nikita MohtaMay 12, 2026
PM Modi’s recent appeal for austerity amid rising geopolitical tensions has revived memories of Lal Bahadur Shastri’s calls for sacrifice during India’s food crisis in the 1960s.
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How politician, educationist, and social reformer Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP’s precursor, and reshaped India’s political discourse
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The Rekhta Foundation began as a digital archive. It has now evolved into a larger ecosystem, using technology and programming to expand access to Urdu and other Indic languages
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Had the French monarchy’s diplomatic and military strategy prevailed in the Pennsylvania backcountry, the map and even the linguistic landscape of the modern US might have looked very different.
Nikita MohtaApr 28, 2026
The India Pavilion will mark its comeback at the Venice Biennale, anchored by five contemporary artists addressing questions of home through traditional Indian materials and techniques.
Nikita MohtaApr 25, 2026
‘Maachey, bhaatey Bangali’: A timeless rendezvous between the Bengali and their beloved fish Subscriber Only
Folklore, folk songs, and historical sources highlight the enduring reverence for fish in Bengal. It also features in rituals associated with birth, marriage, and death. Today, it has acquired political significance, emerging as a symbol
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More than a meal: In ‘First Bite’, Priyadarshini Chatterjee uses breakfast as a lens on society and livelihoods Subscriber Only
Drawing on ancient texts, regional literature, fieldwork, and interviews, Priyadarshini Chatterjee’s 'First Bite' maps the distinct breakfast traditions of ten Indian cities.
Nikita MohtaApr 16, 2026
Persian once functioned as the dominant language of public administration, revenue accounting, and courtly communication in Bengal
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