History

From favouring poor farmers as a Chief Magistrate in Asansol to funding 'illegal' pamphlets by the Communist Party of India’s Bombay branch and sheltering 'fugitives' dedicated to the cause of freedom, Michael John Carritt's love and empathy for the Indian people made him a strong ally in India's independence struggle.

Ruchi Ram Sahni was a prominent scientist from undivided Punjab, as well as a teacher, meteorologist, physicist, and member of the Brahmo Samaj. Known for being one of the earliest promotors of Punjab as a science hub, lesser known are his contributions in saving thousands of lives in Orissa, and how he was never given credit for it due to his race.

In the early 1900s, a young Parsi man named George Edalji was accused of a series of animal killings in a village in England. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes books, stepped in to help.

Samovar Tea Shop, run by 66-year-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Kolkata, is one of the view cafes in Bengal that still brews tea in the ancient giant copper kettle. We unravel its history and significance in the cultural landscape of the city.

In 1965, the US government approached India to help keep tabs on China's nuclear activities. What transpired was a secret expedition to the summit of Nanda Devi, which was abandoned halfway, resulting the a nuclear device being missing. Now, around 56 years later, the incident has been thrust into the spotlight once again.

Goa's crown jewel, the Bebinca, takes 4 to 12 hours to bake. The primary ingredient to prepare this multilayered delicacy is patience and it was born out of the need for zero-waste cooking in the 17th century.

Established by Khawaja Abdul Hamied, and taken to great heights by his son, Yusuf K Hamied, Cipla has been manufacturing generic drugs and supplying them at affordable prices for years.

Jayantrao Salgaonkar’s ‘Kalnirnay’ calendars, developed in the '70s, are available in nine languages — Marathi, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. Here is their story.

P C Sorcar, often regarded as the 'Maharajah of Magic', enthralled western audiences with his sensational tricks in the 50s and 60s. We take a look at how he broke through rigid stereotypes to showcase the true talent and legacy of his homeland.

Nanak Singh, the 'Father of Punjabi Novel', survived the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and wrote a searing poem titled 'Khooni Vaisakhi' which paints a vivid picture of the horrors of 13 April 1919.