R. Radhakrishnan's Blog, page 13

Protected: Shantanu and Satyavati

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Mahabharata a historical background?

History is a perspective and is often biased. The saying that history is written by the victor is often true. A simple example would be WW 2. The Nazis are blamed for a lot of things they did. They are painted, black villains along with the Japanese. The Allies are the heroes who did no wrong.

But the Nazis were the cause of the collapse of the British Empire, the reason why many people and countries are free today. A fact that is never highlighted.

When we come to Indian history it is e...

Protected: Devavrata becomes Bhishma.

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Protected: The Kurus

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Protected: Ganga and Shantanu

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The origins of the term Hindu.

I am a Hindu, as the term is understood currently.

There is a debate raging now on the term Hindu and its origins.

A politician’s comments are disowned by his own party.

A leading actor made a comment that the Cholas are not Hindus and all hell broke loose on social media.

I must be stupid to get into this. but here is my take on this.

One must first understand and accept that even faith is never a constant, beliefs change and traditionally traditions change.

During the Ch...

Hindu, a history

I am a Hindu, as the term is understood currently.

There is a debate in social media on the term Hindu and its origins. A leading actor made a comment that the Cholas are not Hindus and all hell broke loose on social media.

This is my take on the issue.

One must first understand and accept that even faith is never a constant, beliefs change and traditionally traditions change.

During the Chola period, the word “Hindu” did not exist; note I said a word! Don’t jump on me.

Then som...

Snapshots from History; The Nizam, Hyderabad, integration into the Indian union.

The Nizam of Hyderabad was the richest man in the world it was said. There are many stories about the last Nizam Mir Usman Ali Khan but many of them are just stories cooked up by sycophants.

The Nizam was of the Asaf Jah Dynasty whose founder was a general and governor of the Mughals.

The Nizams were always outsiders ruling over a vast kingdom in the Deccan heartland. They ruled and maintained power by aligning with stronger powers like the Mughals, the Marathas, Tipu Sultan of Mysore, the...

Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi is the evil stepmother in the Ramayana versions written from a western perspective. She is the standard stepmother like the one in Cinderella.

Most of us know her as the queen who was responsible for Sriram’s exile to the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman.

But her story in Indian versions and writing is more nuanced.

The story begins with a Yakshini having a doe as a child. The doe grows up and takes a mate. They live happily in the forest away from the lands of...

Mumbai Memories: Independence day.

I have an early memory of an Independence day celebration where we went in open trucks to see the illumination of buildings in south Mumbai.

I remember collecting money from all the residents of our apartment. The open truck, the jolting slow trip as all of Mumbai seemed to have converged together.

The crowds were joyful and there was a spirit of togetherness. Most of us were in open trucks, hanging on to the sides. We sang our national songs, shouted jai hind and exchanged food with nearb...