History In News

Banks Doing History

2011-03-04T08:38:00.001+05:30

Check this report of Times of India.
Heritage Display by State Bank of India

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IAS online Source

2010-06-14T08:32:00.002+05:30

http://www.iasgeneralstudies.com/
इस साईट पर काफी कुछ है |

Bhopal Gas Lekage

2010-06-14T07:59:00.000+05:30

http://expressbuzz.com/nation/arjun-mum-pranab-fingers-him/181328.html

itna kuch khad gaya aur abhi tak antekaran nahi jaga.

Legacy of Raja Rammouhan Roy

2010-03-20T03:22:00.000+05:30

Bill upgrading Presidency College to university passed- Education

The link above is about raising Presidency College to University Status. Presidency College has a long prestigious legacy in which it has remained associated with every stage of history of Modern India since 1817. It was started as Hindu College by Raja Rammouhan Roy, the father of Indian Renaissance and Nationalism. There are some references in the news report also.

Elite talking history Phulkian Versus Sindhawalia

2010-03-16T06:49:00.000+05:30

Refer to the following report.

Amarinder Talks about his family

S Amarinder Singh is an ex-CM of Punjab and descendant of rulers of Patiala. The following report is a journalistic report talking nothing much except the usual stuff. However, the person who is the author he is definitely a part of history and directly related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh also.

The blogger had learnt that the family library of Amarinder Singh contains such documents which had hidden many secret not only from pre-colonial period but also from post independence period. Hence, this report is a befitting selection for reviving posting which had remained suspended for long only because of long and erratic electric supply in Punjab where only British ruled. (The Indian Punjab remained outside the control of Lahore Darbar after the Amritsar Treaty of 1809 between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Metcalfe).

As the topic taken in report is highly controversial as why the Punjab was annexed by Dalhousie after the Anglo-Sikh war, the issue is of Conspiracy History which sadly not undertaken seriously in India. But in the report, those events had been mentioned which had been behind the final annexation of Punjab.

History Coming Alive in News Through Theft Cases

2009-09-09T20:34:00.001+05:30

This is another way that History is coming into news. A watch gifted to Ex Prime Minister, Late Lal Bhadur Shastri by Alexei Kosygin of Russia when he was in Tashkent Conference in 1966 is stolen.

Sometime back, the Nobel Prize medal awarded to Guru Rabindranath Tagore was stolen. The case was given to CBI but it was closed without any result.

However, what may be the conspiracies behind it, such thefts bring History into news.

Is it not surprising that there is no Conspiracy theories in India? History is an opinion but different from myths. India has always tried to live the myths. India has lived the myths of their heroes who are infallible and therefore their history is sacred without blemish of conspiracies. But, why is it that thieves know better than the nation and disappear with the items which were symbols of the greatness of the Indian heroes. The stolen items are not recovered. But no conspiracy is pursued with the aim of reaching the actual truth. The ambiguity is preserved but thieves escape with the symbols.

Will these stolen items will again bring into news the history again?!!!

Shastri's watch stolen from his memorial in Delhi - Delhi - City - NEWS - The Times of India

Conspiracy History Demands Space in Indian Histriography

2009-08-22T08:47:00.002+05:30

There is absence of Conspiracy History in Indian Historiography. The Indians have the tendency to worship heroes and make God out of them. Vaishnavism can be interpreted as one of the best case in support of this argument.

Jaswant Singh Book may have troubled BJP on ideology level. However, on the sideline, it has again brought History in News and the aim with which this blog is created stands vindicated.

There are many such patches in Indian History which demands new interpertation and further inquiry. Another important topics are the Subash Chander Bose death, Lal Bahadur Shashtri Death, Shimla Summit, and so on.

The hitched report can be read in light of above mentioned points also.

I am rather satisfied with the aim of this blog as there is a place for "HISTORY IN NEWS"

Our Heroes, Nehur and Patel but Questioning them without Records! How Fair?

Conspiracy History demands Space in Indian Historiography

2009-08-17T08:10:00.000+05:30

With the release of book of Jaswant Singh, BJP, the controversy of genesis of partition of India in 1947 has again acquired an attention.

The general press and the rival political parties are again indulging in superficial debates with different motives at hand. However, India as a nation must understand that after 1947, there was a need to look at our history from a fresh angle. As Carr said, history requires a continuous dialogue between present and past. We must understand that when we live present, we are not having the perception of the future. We have it in dreams and opinions only. It is only when the future is registered into past, that we can define that in which direction at least we are going. This the beauty and contribution of historic evaluation. It is an ongoing process. History is about and always alive. The need is to imbibe the actual reality as it has existed in present. For that we have to shed our biases and confusions and face the reality as it is even if it hurts. Nehru was great. Jinnah was great. But we have to understand our present problems in right perspective. Remember, in Pakistan Jinnah is great and Nehru was not great. Will you say that truth has two versions. It is not unpatriotic if someone calls a leader of enemy country as a person with stuff. You must take facts as facts. This elucidation may go on and on. In NUTSHELL, there is need to write our history for present times. NOT as REVISIONIST but as the demand of the craft of history. That is the need.

Check the following report.
Jinnah was a great man: Jaswant Singh - India - NEWS - The Times of India

Read but defys Cognition

2009-08-06T08:39:00.000+05:30

Yet another claim of reading the Indus Script. It seems to be an annual affair. It means, the History in News must have a separate section on Claims on Reading the Indus Valley Script.

Read the following Report which had appeared sometime back but now it is being carried by Indian Press also.

The Report
Indus script may soon give up its secrets- Hindustan Times: "* icon"

High Court Punjab and Haryana uses Sikh history for defining Sikh Swarup

2009-05-31T18:47:00.000+05:30

In a recent judgement on the Sikh Swarup, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has used the Sikh history as approved by the Shrimoni Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee.

However, in the academic circle there is a debate that how far approval of an organisation vis-i-vis the actual actual craft of a historian shall given importance. In the era of digital history, this issue has been taken up by the people who have started the new field of knowledge popularly known as Digitial History. On the same lines of argument, the history content of Wikipedia has come under scanner and lot of criticism.

The world of historians do not react to such developments and they prefer to watch the things that happens and the way happens. However, there is need to give freedom to the historians to use their craft while evaluating the past. There should not be any binding or hindrance to the interpertations which they bring out.

The whole report can be read in the following link of Times of India.
Girl who plucked eyebrow not true Sikh, says HC - India - The Times of India

Indus Valley Language in News

2009-04-26T12:40:00.000+05:30

Khabrein.info

The language of Indus Valley is still an unsolved mystery. The scholars are at it for long time. Therefore it remains in news.

The Times of India Report has some more details which can be accessed at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Health--Science/Indus-civilization-was-literate/articleshow/4441822.cms

Similar report from Guardian can be accessed at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/apr/23/indus-civilisation-language-symbols

However, I will like to make a observation that the attempt to decipher should take help from all the possible scientific means but the history should not be made a news by joining it with some computer programme etc. History has its own logic and knowledge pattern. It may give an algorithm on which computer programmes can be improved. But mere an identification that some pattern is similar to some coding should not make the world excited about history.

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Netaji prison letters on display

2009-01-23T07:56:00.000+05:30

Netaji Subash Chandra Bose wrote letters to his father between December 1921 and April 1927 from different jails namely, Presidency Jail, Mandalay Central Jail, Rangoon and Insein Jails. They are going to be displayed at Cuttack. The following report has some extracts from those letters.

Report containing the extracts of the letters of Netaji:
The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Netaji prison letters on display

On the Swami's birth anniv, his abode in Varanasi remains in oblivion-Varanasi-Cities-The Times of India

2009-01-13T17:55:00.000+05:30

I have not posted for long on this blog. I believe that this post is right way to do the penance and atone the mistake. However, it does not confirm to the idea on which this blog is being envisaged. Anyhow, there is streak of the guiding motive.

Here is quote from the TOI report, the link to which is being given below.
"Just five months before his death (July 4, 1902) the swami was in the city on February 4, 1902, and he stayed here (That was Varnasi: added by the blogger) for a month at Gopal Lal Vila in Cantonment area, the address mentioned in his letters he wrote to his people during his stay. "

This story is about the commemoration which is never going to be the topic of this blog. However, here is the reference is to the place and its association with the great son of India, Swami Vivekananda, which has become a part of the news.

The link acknowledged and used here:

On the Swami's birth anniv, his abode in Varanasi remains in oblivion-Varanasi-Cities-The Times of India

Ku Klux Klan

2008-11-13T01:41:00.001+05:30

AFP: Woman killed during KKK initiation rite

This news report has reference to the history of America. It has reference to the reconstruction period of America after the end of Civil War. Ku Klux Klan was a secretive society with racial agenda against the blacks.

Obama is the first Afro-American President of America. It is surprising to observe that since the day, his election to the post of the President has been announced there has been a repeated appearence of reports in America which have reference to the racial activities in past of America.
Further, it is fascinating that such organizations are still alive in America. Ku Klux Klan had left such an impact on the mind of the people not only in America, but in Europe also. It has found mentioned as a press clipping in one of the novel of Arthur O'Connole, the creator of character Shelock Holmes.

An Associated Press shares similar views in the following report at http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gTN4X0wjHOqwUq80wkQpbe8qVXlgD94DKU880

Mahatama Gautam Returns to India

2008-11-10T23:17:00.000+05:30

Buddha statue returns to India after 14 centuries-India-The Times of India

A statue of Mahatama Gautam, one of ten Avataras (Incarnation) of Lord Vishnu returns to India.
Any objection if it is written like that?

Preserving Indian Heritage with Foreign Help

2008-11-10T23:01:00.000+05:30

Kalka-Shimla railway line declared World Heritage Site-India-The Times of India

I have been showing my concern towards the insensitivity of the Indians to their heritage. However, here, it is a news because UNESCO has accorded the status. That is quite fine. But why is it so that only a foreign identity comes and tell us what was so good in our heritage? I just believe in saying Mera Bharat Mahan. Or the recent crop of the so called Bollywood music director, whose only expertise is in using Pancham notes where they were not desired and shreik Maa Dujhe Salaam and the whole generation says Waha what a music? they make a good Music. They remind us of our heritage.

Forget it.

Probably A Postivist Thesis Vindicated

2008-11-08T07:31:00.000+05:30

Rise and Fall of Chinese Dynasties Tied to Changes in Rainfall: Scientific American
It is a proverbial teaching leasson in history that geography and time are the two eyes of the history. Geological knowledge advancement is helping history in redifining its thesis which is an ongoing process in history. However, I, as student of history, believe that our stress should be on the activity of man. We should ask that what actually man did in response to the climate change. That will provide us better answers. I believe Taoism may be the result of such experiences in Chinese history. In short, the question should remain confined to the activities of man. It should ask that when the given premises changed, what did the man do.

Will Anything Similar to it ever happen in India

2008-11-07T18:20:00.000+05:30

WWII code-breaker home Bletchley Park gets vital repairs - Telegraph

Economic Crisis Makes you Nostalgic

2008-11-04T22:36:00.001+05:30

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | History: Royal Bank of Scotland

It is a policy of this blog that the news items which are based on remembering history at the time of anniversaries, commemoration, obituaries etc, will not be included on this blog. However, this news item is of a different nature. It is making news out of history by recollecting the times when a bank came into existence, at a time of crisis. It is bit different from commemoration of different types mentioned.

On the whole, there is nothing much of history about the bank in question. But, it is amusing to a student of history that crisis makes to remember history whereas the good times always make you to talk about future. On the other hand, this blog works on the theory that a news in past is a present history. A news in present will be history of future. Hence, if the history is made a news, then it is to be brought on this blog. This news report, which tries to recollect the history of Royal Bank of Scotland, though in a very clumsy manner, from the perspective of a student of history, qualifies to become an entry on this blog.

Bulls(Bulldozer) in a China Shop

2008-11-03T19:38:00.000+05:30

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

I believe such a news items appear only because of lack of Historic Thinking.

Recently, when Sultanpur Lodhi was bestowed upon heritage town status, it was commented that the history should be taken more seriously in preserving heritage. Recently, while editing an article on Ludhiana, a wikipedia editor removed the Tourist places of Ludhiana. I thought of introducing the places of historic places on that page. However, to my dismay, I was not able to locate the Bungalow of Shah Shuja of Afghanistan who was kept in Ludhiana, and latter became a cause of opposition by the army of Lahore Subha when Captain Broadfoot misbihaved with the Lahore army while taking back Shah Shuja back to Afghanistan.

Now, in case of some better preserved meomries of Sikh history, such a bulldozing is being carried out. I find it omnious.

It is sometimes difficult to reconcile with past but it is not revisionism

2008-11-02T19:22:00.000+05:30

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Japan struggles with WWII legacy

Down 20 Years, Brokpas cease to be Aryans

2008-11-02T09:16:00.000+05:30

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jammu & Kashmir

Who Was Indra of Subash Chandra Bose?

2008-09-29T04:52:00.002+05:30

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation

Laxmi Panda a was member of Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj. She was named Indra by Netaji.

It is better to remember the name of one's own father because that is required to claim the right of ancestral property. What is the need of remembering History? History is the mistress of politics. Do we remember Netaji?

Kumrahar Palibothra, Patliputra, Patna

2008-09-23T18:56:00.004+05:30

Urbanization is an important subject in itself. In making of history of any region, country and social group, urbanization and its process determine the contours of the development effecting every aspect of the life of inhabitants.

Similarly, to know the history in right order is as important as making of nation and its existence. This statement may not be comprehensible to many people and nor it is going to be further dilated upon here. However, there is need to emphasis that there are some cities which are more important for remembering the history and heritage of ones own country than remembering and establishing the title of the property papers of your plots in which you have indulgently invested your hard earned or luck earned money. One of such city is Kumrahar and Rajgriha.

It is Kumrahar, from where the very political identity of India as a nation has started emerging. That is other thing, many scholars will object to this statement because there is a group of scholars who believe that the very concept nation is nineteenth century concept and in India, the India as a nation started emerging only after 1870. There is need of debating on Euro-Centric and Euro-Defined and Euro-Oriented paradigm and I am ready to debate on what I have said here. This very Kumrahar then became the Patliputra of Ajatsatru, then of Sungas, Dhana Nanda, Vishnu Gupta and finally of Chandragupta Maurya. It was the same Patliputra, which was Palibothra of Sandrocotus in the Indica of Magasthense as referred to in the writing of Strabo. It is the same Pataliputra which later became the Patna.

In a news item of Times of India, it is being announced that the Bihar Government is about to bring out a book titled ‘Patna: A Monumental History’. It is coming out at a time when Bihar is suffering from the curse of Kosi. Any how, some of the extracts of the news item is reproduced below.

“Patna is pioneer among selected towns of India having run horse-drawn trams as urban mode of transport.”

“Now trams run only in Kolkata.”

“The founder of Kolkata Job Charnock spent more than a decade as the chief of Patna factory before founding the city of Kolkata in 1699 AD by integrating three adjoining villages — Sutanati, Kolikata and Govindpur.”

“The present day Patna Saheb is the oldest station of Patna. Its name changed several times, starting from Begampur, to Patna, to Patna City and now Patna Saheb.”

“The Danapur railway station, just outside Khagaul, later became the headquarters of the then `Company of East Indian Railway Volunteers.”

Stonehenge a Prehistoric monuments was a Healing Centre

2008-09-23T01:28:00.002+05:30

The Associated Press: UK experts say Stonehenge was place of healing

The same news with minor extra details can be accessed at Guardian.

From the evidences gathered from the site by the archaeologists for the last forty years, they have come to the conclusion that it could be possible that the place was a healing centre. They have inferred it from the rocks samples and bones recovered from the place. In a revised dating, the place is now attributed 2300 BC as the time of existence making it contemporary of Indus Valley period.

Source of Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Reality lapses into History

2008-09-23T00:49:00.002+05:30

Moneycontrol >> News >> Business >> State Bank of Saurashtra merges with SBI

It was difficult to choose this post for this blog. However, I am convinced about my policy of selecting a news item for this blog. I will definitely write a separate post on policy of this blog but here this news is also a history in the news.

State Bank of Saurashtra merges with SBI. There are news since long that all the subsidiaries will merge with SBI. However, it is the first merger of that sort and now there remains six subsidiaries of the SBI.

However, State Bank of Saurashtra had a history. An extract from the moneycontrol.com has been reproduced below which has affinity with the nature of this blog.

"State Bank of Saurashtra traces its history to the princely Bhavnagar Darbar Bank, which was established in 1902. When the princely states were integrated to form Saurashtra in 1948, the four Darbar Banks - Rajkot State Bank, Porbandar State Bank, Palitana Darbar Bank and Vadia State Bank - were merged, and on July 1, 1950, when State Bank of Saurashtra was born.

In 1960, SBS became a subsidiary of SBI at the suggestion of the All-India Rural Credit Survey Committee."

Jantar Mantar renovation disturbs past, present and future

2008-09-22T18:57:00.003+05:30

Jaipur astrologers irked over Jantar Mantar renovation

"Jantar Mantar is an open-air observatory complex of astronomical gadgets and was built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the second. He constructed a total of five such labs at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest of these."

"The observatory consists of 14 major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides."

"The Samrat Jantar, the largest instrument, is 90 feet (27 m) high, its shadow carefully plotted to tell the time of day. Its face is angled at 27 degrees, the latitude of Jaipur. The Hindu chhatri (small domed cupola) on top is used as a platform for announcing eclipses and the arrival of monsoons."

The Archaeological Monument, which is a pride of Indian heritage, was earlier renovated in 1901. It was declared national monument in 1948. Now another renovation has started in January 2007. However, it has raised a controversy. The controversy can be read in the above mentioned link sify news.

Churchill was AOL: Arrogant, Offensive and Loud

2008-09-21T19:57:00.002+05:30

Churchill wanted 'bad man' Gandhi to be 'eliminated'

Churchill had once complaint to Smuts for the problems which Britain was facing due to the political activities of Mahatama Gandhi.

The World War II archives are being explored further and some skeletons are falling out. It may create some more heat. Some governments will begin a course of justifications and clarifications which makes a good news when History makes a news.

The above link has been taken from Sify News which seems to be referring to the ANI news items.

It has projected Churchill in bit racist colour also.

Ike Revived the Memory of Galveston Destruction in 1900

2008-09-13T06:36:00.001+05:30

Hurricane destroyed Galveston in 1900 - CNN.com

The Ike Hurricane has revived the memory of Galveston Town destruction by an unnamed Hurricane. Galveston destruction is considered as worst weather disaster in American History. The destruction took place on September 8, 1900. It was a category 4 storm.

The records of the destruction on black and white photographs are the documentary proofs available whereas presently the live Ike is being filmed.

Auction induced Historic Thinking and Investigation

2008-09-12T02:27:00.001+05:30

The Hindu : Front Page : Islamic vase sensation on auction

A rare Islamic Crystal Jug, which was earlier considered as a cheap French work of art is now pitched as a rare piece of art which is probably 1000 years old.

"The slim-necked vessel, carved from a single piece of rock crystal and decorated with elaborate engravings of cheetahs, was made for the court of the Fatimid dynasty, which ruled a swath of West Asia and North Africa between 908 and 1187 A.D."

Google to Digitize Newspaper Archives - NYTimes.com

2008-09-10T06:21:00.000+05:30

Google to Digitize Newspaper Archives - NYTimes.com

It is a peculiar news item which has history connotation. On the other hand, it has in it some additional links which can be used as sources.

The comments will be added later.

Gobindgarh Fort (Bhangian Da Kila) face lifted to become a Tourist Place in Punjab

2008-09-08T10:41:00.000+05:30

In a news report of The Tribune, Chandigarh, dated September 8, 2008, Punjab Section, it is told the restoration work of Bhangian Da Kila has started. Tracing the history, it is stated that bungalow of Gen O’Dyre, who had headed the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh is situated in the Gobindgarh Fort, the name by which the Bhangian Da Kila is known. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had rebuilt it and added Nalwa Gate, Keelar gate and a tunnel to Lahore which is yet not located.

British Administration had added Darbar Hall, Hawa Mehal and O’Dyre had added Phansi Ghar to it.

The report also shows an image of the bungalow of Gen O’Dyre.

Dakshini Sikhs: Glorious Past; Deplorable Social Status

2008-09-07T19:41:00.001+05:30

On September 2, 2008, The Hindustan Times published a report on deplorable social status of the Dakshini Sikhs. The report has been borrowed from Indo-Asian News Service.

Explaining the term Dakshini Sikh, the report tells that it means Southern Sikhs which include Sikligar, Vanjara and Lubana castes who live as gypsies in various states across India.

Recently, the National Commission for Minorities has deputed several teams to collect the data on the socio-economic status of the Dakshini Sikhs.

While giving the details of the news, the news items has given a snippet on the history of Dakshini Sikhs which is as follows.

The Dakshini Sikhs were associated with Sikh Guru Hargobind ji in 1595. They made swords, spears and shields for the Sikh army.

They fought against Mughals during the life time of Guru Gobind Singh ji.

In 1832, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a force of 2000 Sikhs soldiers which mostly consisted of the above mentioned tribes to Hyderabad. The force was requested by Nizam of Hyderabad to save his territories from the attacks of his neighbours.

The Nizam of Hyderabad had given jobs to Maharaja Ranjit Sigh soldiers in his kingdom and latter it was such Sikhs who became known as Dakshini Sikhs.

British had left but left behind the babus

2008-09-07T13:35:00.003+05:30

It has reference to an earlier report here and here.

As reported, the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, in response to an RTI application, located the files of the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 at Amritsar. He, under the hangover of colonial mindset which somehow continues to percolate down on the mind of Indians, decreed in highly indiscreet manner that they people who had lost their life while participating in the peaceful meeting against the Rowlatt Act had been already compensated by the existing government.

It is reported in the Hindustan Times, September 5, 2008, Front page, that the same Deputy Commissioner has sought the freedom fighter status for those who were killed on that fateful date. It is highly ironical and disgraceful that the administration had played all those acts which it usually perform in a matte which is of sanctity of history of the country before coming to the most logical decision.

British had left but left behind the babus.

Older Wall of Jerusalem Old City Excavated

2008-09-07T07:44:00.002+05:30

Yehiel Zelinger, an archaeologist from Israel, has reported to have dug out 2100 year old wall around Jerusalem on Mount Zion at the southern edge of Jerusalem's Old City, dating back to the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.

It is a period corresponding to 72 AD, the beginning of Saka Calendar, the official calendar of Republic of India.

The excavated wall was longer than the present wall surrounding the Jerusalem Old City.

The above report is published by Reuter and reproduced in the Tribune, Chandigarh.

Pakistan political crisis: Chronology

2008-09-06T23:49:00.002+05:30

Pakistan political crisis: Chronology

The fluid political situation which is moving towards the establishment of democratic mechanism in place in Pakistan has become the occasion historic re-evaluation of chronology of the political events on the Rediff News. General Musharaf has been removed. Now the country is going to select its next President.

Stupid, Your Ancestors Could Have Been Killed by Neanderthal Man

2008-09-06T23:42:00.002+05:30

If I am able to recollect it right, then first came the Neanderthal man, then Homo Erectus and finally the Homo Sapiens. Neanderthal man died before Second ICE AGE. This is how the geologists, archaeologists and anthropologist tell us.

However, a new report published in The Independent London, and reproduced by The Tribune Chandigarh, it is told that Neanderthal man had the potential to eliminate the Homo Sapiens and survive the evolution. The report states, “It is time for archaeologists to start searching for other reasons why Neanderthals became extinct,… .”

Further it has given a startling conclusion that “it is likely that the two species of humans competed against each other for limited resources in the same habitat, with Homo sapiens being the victor.” It suggests that the competition was not one sided and there could have been a possibility that the result could have been different.

Nuclear Deal: A chronology

2008-09-06T19:14:00.002+05:30

Nuclear Deal: A chronology

The Contemporary happenings in India having international relations dimension has been passing through varied hurdles.

It has become an occasion for showing some historic thinking in present times.

Nuclear Supplier Group has given a waiver to India for not being a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty. This has become an occasion for reviewing the history of the whole story and Rediff News has covered it.

Living Legend Talks about Exploits of Folland Gnat

2008-09-06T19:02:00.003+05:30

Field Marshal, Arjan Singh, the only living legend with five stars, talks about the exploits of Gnat (Folland Gnat) in 1965. It is story of military history of India. In India, military history is not all that popular among the common people. Secondly, it does not make the part of the curriculum at any stage of education policy in India.

As a policy decision for this blog, anniversaries, commemorations, centenaries and obituaries will not form the part of this blog. Therefore, there was no mention of the deaths of leading industrialists of India who had even history background to qualify them for this blog.

Bombay Club Proposes: British era land laws must be changed: Rahul Bajaj-India-The Times of India

2008-09-05T06:34:00.002+05:30

British era land laws must be changed: Rahul Bajaj-India-The Times of India

The news item has an oblque reference to history.

In a way, this is our general notion and habbit to treat our history and deal with history.

It has contemporary background but very superficial reference to history with scant regard to the spirit of historical thinking.

Operation Pearl Harbour Recovery in Arunachal of India: A conspiracy theory in Offing!!!

2008-09-04T19:39:00.004+05:30

The American Air Force will undertake the search mission in the month of October 2008 to locate the wreckage and the remains of the American Air Force Pilots who might have gone down during World War II in China Burma India War theatre.

This report can be accessed at US officers look for WWII planes in Arunachal appearing at rediff news.

America had learned after 100 years that the Maine Ship which exploded to start the Spanish War in 1899 had suffered internal damage. It was earlier reported in 1899 that it was destroyed by Spanish Military off the Cuban coast which started the SpanishWar.

The survey which will be undertaken in October 2008 may bring out some conspiracy theories. The Americans love to discuss the conspiracy theories in their pursuit of history.

Sukherchakia Emperor Bust may raise another Controversy

2008-09-04T16:58:00.003+05:30

'Auction of Maharaja Ranjit's bust' -Chandigarh-Cities-The Times of India

A 19th century marble bust of the Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is reportedly coming up for bidding on October 9 at Bonhams in London.

The Punjab Heritage Site in its report by Amandeep Madra, is believed to come out with facts on it when the bust is shown in the public.

The Times of India report also traces some of the facts of the Punjab History. Amandeep Madra writes a more elaborate posts on Sher-i-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Unfimiliarity and Ideological Bias lead to News on History.

2008-09-03T19:11:00.005+05:30

The following two posts as published in Hindustan Times in the month of September 2008 and August 2008 may explain the meaning of the title.

REMEMBER THIS MARTYR TO REMEMBER OUR HISTORY

WHO's TO BLAME FOR BHAGAT STATUE

The Hindustan Times
August 27, 2008
and
September 1, 2008

wikipedia for Photographs.

Jarnail, Zail, Darbara and 80s of Punjab

2008-09-03T14:17:00.006+05:30

There is a news report in The Tribune date September 2, 2008, titled "Zail Singh had no hand in building Bhindrawale."

The report is attribute to an interview with Trilochan Singh, an ex MP and former Secretary of Late President Zail Singh.

According to this report President Zail Singh had met Jathedar Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale on the Bhog ceremony of Jathedar Santokh Singh, who was near to Jatherdar Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and also Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

Whenever, the history of post independence Punjab in India will be written after fifty years from now, there will definitely the chapters on the Partition of Punjab, the creation of Punjab in 1956 after merging with PEPSU, then Language Formula, Bhim Sen Sachar, and Tara Singh, then Naxalite Movement and finally unrest of 1980s which the intellectual world was never able to understand that why did it actually take place at all.

It was believed that it was clash between the interest of Darbara Singh and Zail Singh which created Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and this equation then went out from their hands.

In any case, it was news coming out history of recent past or contemporary history.

Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji, the Freedom Fighter of pre-1857 Uprising

2008-08-31T09:57:00.002+05:30

London British Library has a policy of displaying some of the rarest collections in the library on their website. I believe such items are also made public for few days. Or it may be, that one organization, namely, United Kingdom Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA), is involved in cataloguing Punjabi manuscripts, happens to locate it in the British library.

It seems that somewhere in the month of June 2008, British Library had displayed the belongings and manuscripts of Bhai Maharaj Singh (Sant Nihal Singh Ji), a saint and freedom fighter in pre 1857 period. He had joined with Diwan Mul Raj, Subedar of Multan, as appointed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to fight the Anglo Sikh War. Some of the belongings which were displayed were gifted to the library by the decedents of Henry Vanistrat, who, in the capacity of Deputy Commissioner of Jaladhar at that time(Jullundur - as the office record of the British period spell the name of the Demon King, who was son of Samudra and had been killed by Lord Shiva because he had the audacity of going beyond the limits.), had arrested Bhai Maharaj Singh.
The above mentioned activities had been reported by Amandeep Madra (Madra refers to cis Ravi Region in Vedic Period and considered as the real Punjab which had helped Chandragupta Maurya to defeat Dhana Nand of Nanda Dynasty of Pataliputra.) The same story has again became the part of Punjab Newsline on August 20, 2008 and reported by Amandeep Madra Paramjit Singh.

Disclaimer: I have not verified the facts. I am reporting only what has been access on the mentioned links as accessed and retrieved on August 31, 2008.

Sources:
Punjab Heritage News: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/11815/40/" Newly catalogued : The Bhai Maharaj Singh Collection>Newly catalogued : The Bhai Maharaj Singh Collection
Punjab News: Bhai Maharaj Singh Collection is preserved in British Library
Sant Nihal Singh, alias Bhai Maharaj Singh a saint-revolutionary of the 19th century Punjabby M. L. AhluwaliaPublished in 1972, Punjabi University (Patiala) as accessed on Google Books.

A Follow up Report on Insult to Freedom Fighters of 1919

2008-08-30T20:04:00.004+05:30

This post has reference to an earlier post "It Requires 87 Years to Become Freedom Fighter".

At the link of Punjab Newsline, there is a report by Jagmohan Singh. The report is more informative and authoritative. It has appeared before I posted the above mentioned report.

It can be said that the Indian Babudom is still suffering from Colonial Mind Set. The Deputy Commissioner of Amristar Shri K. S. Pannu I.A.S. does not understand that they had not lost their lives to obtain compensation for their families. The officer has showed lack of historical thinking while declaring that they had already been compensated.

It is really a sad story that in Mains Paper of 2007, UPSC had asked about the terrorist activities of Bhagat Singh whereas the very concept of "Terrorism" is invention of 1960s International Relations.

The Civil Servant should be sensatized on the Indian History. They should be made to attend the Referesher Courses in History as an inseparable part for earning their next scale. Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar regularly conducting such referesher courses. The services of the university should be availed by the local administration as well as the Punjab Government.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Heritage Hill in Rupnagar (Ropar)

2008-08-30T19:59:00.001+05:30

The Punjab Department of Cultural Affairs, Archives, Archaeology and Museum had declared Maharaja Ranjit Singh National Memorial Heritage Hill Park as a heritage hill under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1964.

It is reported by Bahadurjeet Singh in Hindustan Times Chandigarh dated August 30, 2008 wherein he substantiated by pointing out Maharaja Ranjit Singh had set up a surveillance post on heritage hill during his historic meeting with British Governor General of India, Lord William Bentinck in 1831 for settlement of boundary issues.

Later, the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh had hoisted the Sarkar - e - Khalsa banner on the hill.

Source: Hindustan Times, Chandigarh, page 2, HT Punjab, Date: August 30, 2008.

It requires 87 years to become Freedom Fighter

2008-08-29T07:25:00.004+05:30

In the Tribune, there is a report about a controversy which has risen when the Deputy Commissioner Amritsar at present, had located files related to 489 persons killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

He had reported to the present government that a committee convened by the then provincial government had awarded compensation in 1921 ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 20,000 which if compared with the price of gold on the current prices comes to Rs 20 lakh to one crore.

Marcus Aurelius in News

2008-08-28T21:32:00.002+05:30

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

It is a news report from ANI about an archaeological excavation.

Marcus Aurelius was a famous philosopher. He also ruled on Rome from 161 AD until his death in 180 AD.

A giant marble sculpture of Marcus Aurelius has been unearthed at the ancient city of Sagalassos in Turkey.

Indian history on UK school syllabus-UK-World-The Times of India

2008-08-28T21:03:00.001+05:30

Indian history on UK school syllabus-UK-World-The Times of India

It is reported that from September 2008, the student of secondary education in Britain learn that there was not something good about British Empire.

Kevin Brennan, the children's minister, said: "Although we may be ashamed to admit it, the slave trade is an integral part of British history. It is inextricably linked to trade, colonisation, industrialisation and the British Empire".

Apart from that, it learns that how did British occupy India.

It will deal with questions like, "How was it that, by 1900, Britain controlled nearly a quarter of the world?"

No doubt, one of the definition of history is that it is a collective consciouness and consciousness sometimes leads to some realizations also.

Gender Studies Deserve a Fair Deal

2008-08-28T16:24:00.003+05:30

Manveen Sandhu is the author of Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Personalitas Extraordinaire. While doing research on the book, she learnt about the significance of the Moran in the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. She had gathered so much information on her, that according to Aruti Nayar, if someone refers to her, then Manveen narrates numerous episodes on Moran and can talk on and on.

Manveen Sandhu herself remarked, “The character of Moran played hide and seek with me while I was researching my book on the maharaja.”

Moran, The Mystery Woman, which had appeared in The Spectrum, dated August 24, 2008, is based on a narrative by Manveen Sandhu and as listened by Aruti Nayar, is mainly a report on the incidences related to Moran.

It is not a news as such, but forms a part of the newspaper Magazine Section. Secondly, the gender studies is now an important subject in history. However, one of the major hurdle related to gender studies is the scarcity of the sources. Geraldin Forbes, who had written Women in Modern India had referred to this problem in emphatic words. She had also pointed out in one of her interview that when she was about to start her research, she was discouraged by others by directing her attention to the scarcity of sources. Then, she had demonstrated in the book itself that how she had overcome that shortcoming. She was able to collect material on Tarabai, mother of Raja Rammohan Rai, from the writings of Raja Rammohan Rai and episode related to mother son relations. In the above mentioned report also, something similar has been reported. The female characters play hide and seek in the available sources. It is for the scholar to hold their hand and pull them out in open. Hence, this report is made a part of noting on this blog.

Evoke History to Seek Heritage Status

2008-08-27T18:37:00.001+05:30

In a report appearing in The Hindustan Times, dated August 27, 2008, Chandigarh Edition, page 4, it is conveyed that Punjab Government will claim heritage status for Sultanpur Lodhi because it has historic association with Guru Nanak. The Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal stated “that the original architecture and grandeur of the town of great religious and cultural importance would be preserved while implementing various development projects.

It is added here that Sultanpur Lodhi and Ludhiana came into existence during the period of Sikandar Lodhi in order to counter the attack of Khokhars. Such historic facts should also be given due place while getting motivation for preserving heritage which is the only surety of preserving ones existence.

If Hindustan Times people happens to this post, then it is requested that they should not insist the users of their internet users to register first in order to access the links. There is no such bar in case of The Tribune and The Hindu. As a result, one may find numerous references to those newsprints on this blogs as well its associated blog like sumir-history.blogspot.com

Hindustan Times, Urban

Sleeping With Indian Women to Beat the Heat

2008-08-23T20:45:00.003+05:30

Pran Neville has brought off beat articles. I remember that it was he who had talked about Master Madan, a singing sensation child a year or two back.

Similarly, Spectrum, an Sunday magazine of The Tribune, Chandigarh, comes every Sunday with off beat articles which are prefect examples of History in News.

Last Sunday, that was August 17, 2008, in the Spectrum Magazine of The Tribune, Pran Neville had surveyed the cooling devices which were used by the Colonial Rulers in India during eighteenth and nineteenth century. The article is titled as BEATING THE HEAT, COOLING TALES FROM THE RAJ.

It is worth reading from Historic Thinking process with some nasty ideas and not that so good conclusions about the demographic mixture of the effected region that one of the suggestion of beating the heat was to sleep with Bengali Women.

History Connection of Abhinav Bindra

2008-08-22T20:31:00.005+05:30

Abhinav Bindra won Gold Medal in the 10 m rifle shooting in Beijing Olympics. For Republic of India, it is one of most memorable incidence in her history as it is a first individual Gold Medal won by a nation which has 1.1 billion population.

It is reported in Hindustan Times, Chandigarh edition dated August 18, 2008 that Abhinav Bindra is the fifth decedent of Hari Singh Nalwa from his mother side.

Hari Singh Nalwa was the commander in Chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799-1839) who conquered Kabul for Lahore Kingdom. Later he became the governor of Kashmir and brought it under control which only he could have done by his iron fist policy.

Apropos, Kumkum Chadha, the reporter of Power Pitch, un which she had reproduced the interview with Babli Bindra, the mother of Abhinav Bindra, and the fifth descendent of Hari Singh Nalwa. She has also recorded a folklore that in Afghanistan, it was a tradition for a long time that Afghan mothers snubs their wailing children by warning them “Khamosh Bash, Haria raghle (Stop crying, Haria will come)

Source: Hindustan Times, Chandigarh Edition, Dated August 18, 2008, Article Power Pitch, Section: Simply Women, author and interviewer Kumkum Chadha
Photograph source: Wikipedia
Family photograph:China Daily
Personal Blog of Abhinav Bindra as reported on Wikipedia: Abhinav Bindra's Road to Beijing

Musharraf Gone

2008-08-21T06:08:00.005+05:30

The title of this post is influenced by the report heading adopted by Hindustan Times, a leading daily newspaper of India. It is a naughty heading.

Whenever there is a shift from a non-democratic setup of government to democratic government, there is always a historic evaluation of the events. In recent months, some major changes similar to one mentioned above had taken place in South Asia. In Nepal, then monarchical form of political setup had been dismantled.

Now after the end of a rule by a military head, similar reports had appeared in the news media. In The Tribune of August 19, 2008, the history of the events were reported at the following links.

Nine-year itch ends

Zia and Mush had much in common

Photograph source:
The Tribune, India, August 19, 2008.

History of SIMI

2008-08-20T18:13:00.005+05:30

SIMI stands for Student’s Islamic Movement of India.

A yet to be concluded report on SIMI in The Tribune dated August 20, 2008 traces the history of SIMI which founded in Aligarh Muslim University by a Physics student, Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqui. Siddiqui later acquired a degree in journalism and presently working as professor of mass communication at Western Illinois University.

A bold introduction to the report which has found place on the front page emphasis that “What began as an organisation to educate people about the true spirit of Islam is now busy developing itself into a high class brand in the world of Islamic terror. This is not what SIMI’s founder president (Siddiqui) wanted it to be. It forms the Part I of yet to be concluded report.

Post Script:

A above reported article is concluded here. However, the history aspect is only mentioned in above mentioned post. (Recorded on August 21, 2008)

Motive of This Blog

2008-08-19T18:09:00.000+05:30

I will like to call it an offspin of my already popular blog www.sumir-history.blogspot.com. I will call it as an adjunct and substantiating blog to Sumir-History blog. I believe that it explain it in right manner.

Every day I find that there is a reference to history and some aspect of history in newsprint. People may be interested or may not be interested in such reports. However, those who understand history and interested in history as a subject, they are interested in such a news item. I intend to bring such news items on this blog. Such posts could have been placed on Sumir-History blog also. However, that is gradually acquiring an academic amedience and stuff. Here I will like to take some liberties also. I assure my readers it will be related to history.

I hope that my readers would enjoy this blog also.