Madras

The quick-thinking bus driver helped avert a potential disaster, and there were no injuries reported.

From famous personalities and historical landmarks to everyday life, here are 30 rare photographs that show a different perspective of Indian history.

Renown Bharatnatyam exponent and founder of Kalakshetra, Rukmini Devi Arundale catalysed a renaissance in Indian classical dance forms. However, few know that she could have been India’s first female president had she accepted the offer.

In an age when most Indian women didn't even try getting into civil service, Anna Rajam Malhotra fought gender bias, stood her ground and went on to become India's first female IAS officer in 1951.

In an age when most Indian women didn't make it past high school, Janaki Ammal didn't just obtain a PhD at one of America's finest public universities, she went on to make seminal scientific contributions in the field of botany.

Marked by simplicity and a subtle humour, R.K. Narayan told stories of ordinary people trying to live their simple lives in a changing world.

M S Subbulakshmi's was a life of many towering achievements and among them was her concert at the United Nations in New York, the first for an Indian performing artist!

Though these little-known revolts were unsuccessful in uprooting the British, they laid the foundation for the struggle that ultimately led to independence.

Two underwater robots created by students from IIT- Indore and IIT-Madras have been equipped with unique features that can aid scientific discovery and can be used for surveillance purposes. Interestingly, both mimic the looks of aquatic animals.

From being the first woman medical graduate of India to becoming the first woman member of a Legislative Council, Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.