Loyalty that ends when polls are done and dusted
Congress leaders are aware that leaving Amethi may send the wrong message, which is why they claim that the Gandhi familys relationship with Rae Bareli is decades older than the one with Amethi.
Feds cautious but dovish tone is good news for India
The Fed slowing its pace of quantitative tightening will cheer the markets
Digital public infrastructure a remarkable journey
The countrys success with multi-language support and collaborative platforms holds valuable lessons for others
Next government must go back to basics
Savers have been penalised in India for far too long. The next government must change that
Fighting rare diseases through innovation
The launch of the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 is a welcome step
Seeking wisdom at the Woodstock of Capitalism
In life, as in investing, it's not always about the immediate returns. Sometimes, the most valuable journeys are those taken for the joy they offer and the growth they foster
Industrial policy is back with a vengeance everywhere
Governments globally are intervening to prop up manufacturing but its efficacy is unclear. Indias government must address the real reasons behind the private sectors unwillingness to invest at home.
1. Education and religions must be a process of cultivating Karma Yogis who nurture, not exploit societies!Large scale focus on charity and political parties offering subsidies and freebies to win votes are certainly needed when...
A winner-takes-all economy is bad for innovation and art
An intellectually homogenous establishment that determines how artists are rewarded can cramp diversity of thought. Conventional thinking doesnt create art.
A Focus on Indo-US relations in recent times
Introduction India has in recent years made it unambiguously clear that despite close cooperation with the US, it will not play second fiddle to the US in its geopolitical designs. It must be noted, India...
Interview | Unravelling Bihar's Political Dynamics With Tej Pratap Yadav
He asserts that CM Nitish Kumar's frequent changes of stance erode his credibility as a leader.
India Inc has exciting opportunities to tap in its Viksit Bharat journey
The country has laid a firm foundation for growth through infrastructure development, a manufacturing push and the easing of business. Now, boosting research, judicial capacity and workforce diversity could pave our path to prosperity.
Girish Kuber writes: Why Maharashtra worries the BJP
Video Of Allu Arjun At New York Event Shared With False Congress Spin
BOOM found that the video shows the actor attending the India Day Parade in New York as the Grand Marshal in 2022.
AC Gas Blast At Ballari Jewellery Store Falsely Viral As Terrorist Attack
The explosion was caused due to a refuelling malfunction of the central air conditioning unit at the jewellery store, but social media posts falsely called it a bomb blast and terrorist attack.
America is not yet declining but appears willing to let itself down
Concerns of US declinism have been around for long but its time to worry now. Its political resilience, university excellence and openness to immigration are all under threat.
MDH, Nestle, Bournvita: To address consumer concerns, food regulation standards need an overhaul
If Rahul Gandhi 'Leaves' Wayanad, Congress in Kerala Will Have a Lot to Handle
Unlike in Amethi, Rahul was actively involved in Wayanad, establishing a strong bond with the voters.
Slum pockets get water 2 hours a week; No water problem, says BWSSB
BENAGALURU : The slum pockets of DJ Halli and Chikka Banaswadi, which previously had continuous water supply for 24 hours every day, are now getting water for merely two hours a week, and are forced to buy water. A significant part of their income is being spent on buying water every day. TNIE visited the slum pocket and interacted with the residents. The migrant population told TNIE that they were hopeful that before the Lok Sabha elections, someone would address their water shortage concerns. We have always been and will continue to be neglected. Since our voting rights belong elsewhere, we are not considered priority citizens here, said a migrant labourer from West Bengal. Initially, some kids went to schools here, but now we have asked them to help us with daily chores and bring water instead. We buy water from whoever is willing to sell, irrespective of quality, a labour said. I am unable to cover the education cost of my kids, as my auto wash business is not generating any income these days, he added. The locality in DJ Halli which houses approximately 40-50 people, receives two hours of water per week. One hour is allocated for drinking water, while the other hour is dedicated for treated water, both on separate days, said Reshma, a resident of the locality. The lanes are so narrow that we cannot call the water tankers inside. Neither we can afford to pay for the services, she added. The area has multiple meat shops, furniture stores, and paint labourers, along with a migrant population relying on daily earnings for their livelihoods. Residents lament that frequent delays in the water supply is disrupting their daily routine, in turn directly affecting their income. Ramesh, a resident of Chikka Banasawadi, stated that his house needs around 20 pots of water daily, costing Rs 40. The expense is a big concern. Even the nearby public borewell has dried up, he said, and added that despite the water quality, they continue to use it due to a lack of alternatives. When TNIE brought the issue of water shortage to the notice of BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar, he dismissed the issue and went on to say that there have not been any complaints from the above slum pockets. Inspections and weekly meetings being held to assess areas experiencing water shortage and identify any associated issues, Manohar said.
Tihar-style bhindi fry, and the wait for slow-motion justice
In May 1983, I was one of 350-odd JNU students who ended up in Tihar jail. I dont recall what it was about, but it led to the president of the student union being expelled...
Pillar-1 Food: Gluten, soy & salt
Gluten: Is it unhealthy? The belief that gluten is unhealthy has been debunked by numerous plant-based whole food (PBWF) doctors. This myth, along with the misconception that carbohydrates are detrimental to health and contribute to...
Behenjis fightback: Mayawati tries to retrieve lost relevance in national politics
While travelling around Dalit bastis and hamlets in villages and in urban slums, one hears two popular narratives first, jo free ration dewe, vote wohi ke jaye (the party which distributes free ration will...
Deport anti-Semites to protect America
Youthful idealism represents the conscience of the future. The famous photograph of a high school student offering a chrysanthemum to American soldiers while protesting the US occupation of Vietnam defined hopes stand against injustice. In just half a century, the protestors profile has changed from gentle symbolic defiance to rabid anti-Semitism. Worse, the heads of college unions, mostly of Muslim lineage or liberal hatemongers, are supporting pro-Palestinian mobs that have taken over campuses. There were arrests and some of them are suing Harvard for violating their rights to free speech; like for example: Death to the Jews! Ironically, reverse racism has infected the rallies. Black Lives Matter calls for the destruction of Israel; many of the Hamas kidnappers were African. The campuses of Harvard, Columbia and Yale are occupied by hateful anti-Semites, mostly Asian, Black or from the Middle East. Racist and sectarian elements populate the protests, going by the countless hijabs, keffiyehs, skin colour and rhetoric of the agitators. In America, international students on F-1 visas must obey federal law and policies, the state law where the university is located and the varsitys own policies in order to keep their student visas and scholarships. However, the picketers have support from medieval fanatics who have infiltrated the highest echelons of American academia; a statement signed by Harvard professors reads, We pledge to urge the university to end material and political support for Israeli apartheid and colonial occupation. We recognise the national movements that support the plight of the Palestinian people and endorse the 2005 call issued by Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. The protests are so well coordinated and sophisticated in scale and organisation that US law enforcement believes Islamic subversive outfits are coordinating the hikois. Unless Joe Biden, FBI and Homeland Security identify and deport the protestors to their home countries, American society and its values are doomed. Europe is learning from its past self-destructive immigration policies while the UK is bound for civil war, perhaps a decade away. This is election year in America and Biden must keep in mind that polls show 80 per cent of Americans support Israel against Palestine. Jan Rose Kasmir, the chrysanthemum girl, recalled years later that there were communists, White Panthers, Black Panthers and many other factions among the anti-Vietnam War protestors. But nobody was violent or called for death. The backlash against the anti-Israel protests will scald America. White supremacist violence is on the rise, provoked by the racist and religious nature of the current revolts. They arent Jew lovers either: from 1942 to 1945, Irish Catholic youths attacked Jews in Boston and New York, as cops stood by. The Palestinian mobs are dividing America and the impact could fling the US back to the Jim Crow days as angry right-wing nationalism jostles for the political driving seat. When Narendra Modi said its not Harvard but hard work that pays dividends, he was mocked for his prejudice against elitism. A Harvard four-year degree course costs about Rs 1.9 crore and an MIT degree is about Rs 71 lakh. Many of the Palestinian subversives are hiding their faces with scarves to avoid identification and lose prospective jobs in blue chip firms. The American dream is turning into a Sharia nightmare and the US is on track to follow the UK to social suicide. Liberals are being hoisted on their own petard, exposed as anti-Semitic radicals. So much for the Statue of Liberty.
Putin vs the West: Lessons from 800+ days of war
Sunday marks 801 days since Vladimir Putin ordered Russias invasion of Ukraine. The war has unleashed catastrophic destruction , displaced millions, resulted in forced conscription and ukhyliant or draft dodgers, claimed lives and cost billions. Prospects of a peace deal in the fall of 2022 were dashed and Hail Mary offensives have flailed. It is a war where defeat and victory defy definition. It is true the war refurbished unity among the West and NATO. It is equally true that the effort of the West to weaponise economicssanctions that are at best a slow puncture and freezing of reserveshave spluttered and flattered to deceive. This week, days before May 9 Victory Day in Russia, the West presented Putin cause for celebration. For nearly a year, the US-led G7 confabulated on using the frozen assets of Russia to fund Ukraine. The G7 last week reached a private consensus to take the idea of using Russian money against Russia off the table. It is a real-time illustration of the power of realpolitik realities. Interestingly, news of the private consensus within the G7 first appeared in a news portal specialising in oil and energy, and was followed by Russian news agency TASS and RBC-Ukraine . The details of the ideawhich troubled many developing nations and raised questionsand its collapse merit attention. In February 27, 2022, over a weekend, the G7 led by the US imposed sanctions on Russian entities and froze access to over $300 billion of reserves . The use of Russian assets was always a seductive idea. In February 2024, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen observed at a G20 meeting in So Paulo that there was a strong international law, economic and moral case for using Russian assets and added it would also incentivise Moscow to negotiate peace. The idea was propelled to the table by the struggle to fund the Ukraine war effort in the wake of the polarisation and dysfunction in Washington and disagreements in a divided Europe. In July 2023, US Congressman Michael McCaul introduced the REPO for Ukrainians Act . The bill, passed on April 23, 2024 and signed by Joe Biden the next day, authorised the president to confiscate, transfer or vest any Russian assets within the US jurisdiction. The urgency, in part, seems to have stemmed from fears of a possible Trump presidency and the former presidents differentiated view on the war and on aid to Ukraine. The decision to enact a law to confiscate was less complicated for the US than for Europe. Across the Atlantic, the enthusiasm for the idea was unsurprisingly muted and faced pushback. The devil of distress and distrust is embedded in the location of the monies. The bulk of the Russian assetsover $207 billion of the $300 billionare in Euro assets. The assets are parked in the Belgian clearing house Euroclear . The ideators toyed with three optionsoutright confiscation, leverage of the assets as collateral to borrow against and fund, and use of accrued returns for Ukraine. All three options trigger and bring into focus questions of ownership and legitimacy. Lieve Mostrey , CEO of Euroclear, slammed the idea and said, Using assets that dont belong to you as collateral is pretty close to an indirect seizing or a commitment to future seizing, which could have exactly the same effects on the markets as a direct seizing. Euroclear, already facing cases in Russia, would be vulnerable to more suits. There is also the issue of retaliationthe Leave Russia campaign lists over 1,600 transnational companies still operational in Russia. Beyond the legal challenges to Euroclear, there is also the potential of macroeconomic consequences for the Eurozone. The Euro is the preferred currency for over $2.2 trillion of sovereign reserves. A confiscation would trigger distrust. ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that the move to confiscate and dispose of assets needs careful thought as it would start breaking the international order that you want to protect, that you would want Russia and all countries to respect. For now, the grand idea to use Russian money against Russia seems to be off the table. But the consequence of the vagaries of geopolitics is visible in the commodities markets. The rising trend of central banks buying goldover1,000 tonsin 2022 and 2023 as per the World Gold Councilrepresents rising distrust and the unravelling of the rule-based world order. The calling off of the geopolitical adventure attempted by G7, of using Russian money against Russia, reveals the limitations of deploying economic measures as instruments of war in an interdependent world. The inefficacy of systems and inadequacies of politics in halting aggressors is haunting the West. The USas the anointed guardian of the rule-based world order and leader of the G7is confronted by new realities. It has battled in a hot war in Korea, seen spectacular retreats from Vietnam and Afghanistan, experience of the Pygmalion effect in its dealings with China and the cold war with the Soviet Union. Its ability to navigate is challenged by politics at home and strongmen abroad. The frontiers of war are open and expanding. Can the current tool-kit serve the purpose if and when China moves to annexe Taiwan? The 20 th century playbook is worn out and can at best contain conflict. The Putin vs West saga represents a template in lessons for the future. Shankkar aiyAr Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: A Biometric History of Indias 12 Digit Revolution, and Accidental India (shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com)
Midnight burdens: Solitude and struggles of night dwellers
Rarely do I find myself navigating the citys roads in the dead of night. Perhaps on a few occasions, but never have I distinctly recalled noticing the nearly deserted streets or the tranquil bridges. However,...
Ensuring pensions in Indias booming economy
The disparity between Indias fastest growing economy status and its neglect of robust social security measures demands transformative solutions to dignify its ageing population and align policies with economic growth. As the Union Government continues...
Why Goldman Sachs investment bankers are so impressive
Goldman Sachs has a well-earned reputation as one of the worlds most elite investment banks. It is also widely regarded for hiring some of the most talented professionals in the finance industry. As a former...
I was watching TV this Saturday morning and suddenly I heard someone screaming in the balcony summer vacation started Hurry! I opened the door, rushed to the balcony and saw my 7th standard son...
Europe hopes barbed wire will keep migrants out. It wont
Politicians feel compelled to respond to voters concerns
Efficiency unplugged: Strategies for staying efficient away from the office
In our professional lives, there are moments when we step away from our familiar work environments, whether due to business trips, unexpected health issues, or managing urgent responsibilities in diverse locations. These situations present unique...
History Headline: How Indias first voters got their ballot box
From Harvey Weinstein and Brij Bhushan Singh to our workplaces women will fight the backlash
Evolution of leadership: Embracing unvanguard principles in the modern world
The timeless concept of leadership has been adapting to contemporary demands, fostering collaboration, innovation, and purpose-driven cultures
India needs to beware of the Chinese agents in white-collars
The International Liaison Department (ILD) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates as a secretive arm of Chinas foreign policy apparatus, tasked with advancing the partys interests and influence on the global stage. While shrouded in secrecy, the ILD plays a pivotal role in shaping international perceptions, fostering strategic partnerships, and promoting Beijings agenda abroad. []
Misconstrued polyamory and lying men: Why I am off dating apps
PM Modis remarks are a massive fall from Vajpayees era
Denied funding, Congs Puri candidate returns ticket
Bhubaneswar: Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, Sucharita Mohanty, has returned her party ticket after being denied party funding to support her campaign in the election. In an email to AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Mohanty stated that her campaign in Puri parliamentary constituency has been severely affected as the party in-charge for []
EC ready for May 7 LS polls in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Voting for the 11 constituencies in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra is scheduled for May 7 and State Chief Electoral Officer cum Principal Secretary S. Chokkalingam says the poll body is fully prepared. In his press statement issued Friday, he said in view of the heat, instructions have been given []
397 nominations filed for 5th phase in Maha: EC
Mumbai: A total of 397 candidates have submitted their nominations for 512 seats in 13 Maharashtra state Lok Sabha constituencies on the last day for the fifth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the state, the poll panel said. On last day, Friday, 42 applications were received for Dhule Lok Sabha []
Reflecting on one year after Manipur violence: People seeking healing and justice
It has been one year since the tragic events that unfolded in Manipur, leaving scars of violence, loss, and anguish in their wake.The violence, which erupted amid tensions over land disputes and ethnic rivalries, triggered by the intent to dominate the reported Rs 70,000 crore narcotics trade and perpetrated by the proscribed terror groups in []
Truth be retold: On archaeology, Indian history and more
The Earth is the library of mankind. For centuries, an obsessive, inquisitive and courageous tribe has been trying to excavate the extensive hoard of knowledge hidden beneath its layers of soil and sand, oceans, forests, rivers and ruinsa tribe called archaeologists. Their purpose is to exhume the debris of millennia, to understand the evolution of man, the rise and fall of civilisations and empires and, in the process, find a common thread between the past and present, and explain why we are as we are now. Their discoveries keep changing previous beliefs about religion, architecture, governance, ecology, tools, science, wars, gender and politics. Finding a piece of stone, a jawbone or molar that existed thousands of millennia ago can be a marker of mankinds peregrinations, answering the fundamental questions of creation. Who are we really? Where are we from? How did we come to become what we are? What next? They are, at the core, disruptors whose new findings are causing seismic shocks in established circles. The Great Migration didnt start from Africa, it was the reverse: proto-hominins, who lived in parts of Greece and Europe, moved to Africa first. Ancient Egyptian tombs may have been used to store radioactive nuclear waste. Arabia was a verdant expanse that supported all kinds of life 4,00,000 years ago. The poor Indian politician, who didnt see his ancestors change from apes to humans, was probably right; he couldnt have, even if he had lived 3,00,000 years ago in Africa. Humans did not evolve in a linear way. The famous monkey-to-man illustration published by Time-Life in 1965, known as the March of Progress, did much to embed this perception for generations. Archaeologists have contradicted this theory by analysing bone fragments found recently in digging sites. These conjure up a Frankensteins monster: different body parts evolving in different timelines and dimensional scales. the fossils of an ape, found to have lived in Greece between Eight-nine million years ago, possibly belonged to a male from a new species that foretold the arrival of man. Its DNA analysis suggests that humans evolved first in Europe, before moving to Africa, and then divided into two migratory streams Remains of Australopithecus sedibait walked like a humanwhich lived around 98 million years ago in South Africa, had a human hand attached to an ape-like arm and an advanced ankle bone connected to a primitive heel. Pre-human hominids (hominids are modern humans, extinct human species and all our immediate ancestors), however, were not as primitive as we think: researchers reconstructed a 4,76,000-year-old log building in Zambia, built more than 2,00,000 years before the Homo sapiens appeared on earth. FOLLOW THE TRAIL A new mind-boggling discovery in Greece is challenging the African migration theory. A team led by Canadian archaeologist David Begun recently concluded that the fossils of an ape, which lived in Greece eight-nine million years ago, possibly belonged to a male from a new species. Its DNA analysis suggested that human ancestors may have evolved first in Europe before moving to Africa, and then divided into two migratory streams. The result shatters the classical Darwinian theory; in 1871, he had suggested that all hominins are descended from a gene pool in Africa; or even Europe. To trace the Homo sapiens journey, scientists study two categories: Hominins and Hominids (modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, plus all their immediate ancestors). This is a debate that has been ongoing for a long time. There are potentially a lot of places where the modern human could have developed from. There are believed to be at least 21 hominid species before Homo sapiens walked the earth. Whether they originated all out of Africa or in other corners of the world is a larger debate, says Shriya Gautam, Founder and Director of Research at Speaking Archaeologically, an archaeological education group. PREHISTORIC WARS ETCHED IN BONE Home sapiens is probably the only species that settles debates often with violence. Mans most primitive instinct to wage war was evident even then; archaeologists have plenty of evidence of brutality between humans and Neanderthals, who hunted big animals with clubs and spears. The longest war on earth lasted for 10,000 years between Neanderthals, who were physically powerful with larger brains and stronger arms, and the less stronger humans. Fossils of both species show signs of battle: traumas to the skull caused by clubs, parry fracture of the lower arm caused by warding off blows and spears plunged into chests. The warfare was prolonged, and through skirmishes, guerrilla-style raids and ambushes. Ashes to ashes The vulcanised city of Pompeii is proof that social inequality was ever present. Archaeologists identified ruins of a prison bakery where prisoners were locked up with donkeys, and forced to grind grain for bread. This suggested an organised justice system in a society that supported prison labour Our species kept losing for thousands of years because the enemy, which had superior strength and numbers, knew the terrain intimately. We dont know how or why they were beaten in the end. Humans had built weapons with longer range like bows, spear-throwers and throwing clubs, which allowed them to massacre Neanderthals from far away. Their new hunting and gathering techniques with such weapons encouraged population growth, which created larger tribes whose bigger numbers overpowered Neanderthals. Mysteries are the lifeblood of archaeology. Scientists are still trying to figure who the Giants of Lovelockthe massive 10-ft-tall skeletons discovered in and around Nevada caves in the last centurywere. By analysing their bone fragments using radiocarbon dating, it was found they lived between 2030 BC and 1218 BC. Native American legends speak about gigantic humans who inhabited the Lovelock area thousands of years ago: savage, redheaded, pale-skinned seafaring giants who attacked the local tribes. After years of war, they were cornered in a cave and massacred, according to indigenous lore. The human instinct to inflict pain, and kill predates Cain. The madness hasnt changed, only the methods have. Recently, archaeologists working in France found Stone Age remains of two women who were tortured and sacrificed in an Italian Mafia-style killing: the ligature binding their ankles to their necks would have resulted in self-strangulationa practice known as incaprettamento; the kind of revenge the Italian Mafia reserves for traitors. The first woman would have died gasping for breath with the weight of the second woman pushing down on her neck, and preventing her from breathing, leading to cardiac arrest. The study says homicidal ligature strangulation was an important part of ceremonies at ritual sites in the late Stone Age. There is speculation that these women were sacrificial victims. The second woman had two pieces of grindstone placed horizontally on her back. Grindstones are associated with agriculture. Researchers found more such instances of similar ritualistic murders of men and children too. Human sacrifices were common in the ancient world; prehistoric skeletons of men, women and children bearing signs of ritual killing have been dug up all across the earth. There was honour in burial too: women warriors in Mongolia and Scandinavia were interred in formal burial mounds with their horses and armour. Archaeology repeatedly proves that inequality and injustice has survived along with civilisation for millennia. In Pompeii, a city destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, earth detectives identified the ruins of a prison bakery where prisoners were locked up with donkeys and forced to grind grain to bake bread, which suggested an organised justice system that supported prison labour. Foreign slaves were imprisoned for even small crimes. Excavators recently discovered a completely preserved fifth-century Mayan city built exclusively for the elite, demonstrating a strict distinction between the ruling classes and commoners. As wealth became hierarchical, powerful lords and rulers, Mayans and Egyptian kings and nobles were interred with their wives, servants and favourite animals like dogs and horses to accompany their masters into the afterlife. INDIAS AGE There is strong racial bias in archaeology. Conscious or not, most funding goes to digs examining Caucasian DNA of people of European descent. A new study showed that modern Japanese people descend from three ancestral groups, with the second being an unknown species. India too gets little funding for genomic research, despite its population of more than 1.4 billion, with more than 4,500 anthropologically well-defined populations, including castes, tribes and religious groups. The story of India starts 2.6 million years ago. The history of India starts 2,700 years ago. For over 99 per cent of the human past in the Indian subcontinent all you have is archaeology, says archaeologist and historian Kurush F Dalal. For over a century, British colonialists pushed the fraudulent Aryan migration theory as a superior racial trope. Now, fresh evidence released in early March suggests that Indians, like other races, travelled out from Africa around 50,000 years ago and possess Iranian ancestry. The examination of DNA of people in 18 Indian states concluded that most of us are descended from ancient Iranian farmers, Eurasian steppe herders and South Asian hunter-gatherers; not Aryan invaders, who thundered across the Indus to decimate and conquer. Gautam is circumspect. More research into it will be able to prove things in better light. Using present-day DNA to determine what has happened in the past can be useful but we cant rely on it 100 per cent, she says. Dalal has another take. Aryan is a linguistic term. There was never an Aryan invasion. There is zero evidence for this on the ground, she says. Last December, archaeologists established that human remains discovered in Rakhigarhi village, Haryana, are 8,000 years old. This debunks the Aryan invasion theory, which is supposed to have happened between 1,800 and 1,500 years ago. American archaeologist and Egyptologist Sarah Parcak is collaborating with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to use remote sensing to map archaeological sites; a new science called satellite archaeology and satellite remote sensing. Parcak says that over 90 per cent of Indian heritage is buried in the earth. The Indian Culture Ministry will spend Rs 27,000 crore on reconstruction of historic sites; funding for archaeology has gone up by seven times. In January, archaeologists discovered remains of an 800-year-old human settlement in Prime Minister Narendra Modis native village Vadnagar in Gujarat: The oldest living city within a fortification ever to be unearthed in India. In July 2023, in Benisagar, Jharkhand, archaeologists found a village with a strong Hindu ethos; continuously inhabited by humans from the 5th century AD to 16-17th century AD. Benisagar was a thriving Hindu centre as its sculptural remains of temple complexes, images of Surya, Bhairava, Lakulisha, Agni and Kuber attest. A stone seal inscribed with Priyangu Dheyam Chatuvidya (Chaturvidya), indicated that a Vedic scholar named Priyangu lived in Benisagar. Dispelling current concepts of social morality, the frescoes of copulation in Benisagar also point at liberal sexual mores and sex education extant during that period. pyramid puzzle Egypt has been the focus of all things pyramidal, but thats not the half of it. There could be up to 138 of these structures in Egypt, but Sudan has far more: about 255, making it the country with the most of these mysteries The North-South political divide in India often rears its ugly head in archaeology. Excavations by the Tamil Nadu government has led Chief Minister MK Stalin to suggest that Indian history should be rewritten from the Dravidian point of view after finding 2,600-3,200-year-old objects in Keeladi. More money is needed to explore Indias vast subterranean heritage. The ASIs Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme is meant to safeguard the countrys diverse cultural heritage with corporate stakeholders opening their wallets for the upkeep of more than 3,600 monuments. PEELING THE LAYERS Archaeology is the search to confirm that a common worldwide human imagination has existed on earth for millennia. For example, that pyramids are not confined to Egypt but also exist in Latin America and Cambodia. A study that spanned 20 years found that Amazonites had a strong urban culture, as proved by a vast network of interconnected cities in the heart of the rainforest. Social customs and class distinctions have become less crude, but have remained the same. Viking teeth showed that apart from tattoos, filed teeth and elongated skulls were signs of prestige. Researchers Matthias Toplak and Lukas Kerk think they might be members of a merchant guild. They told Newsweek magazine, This theory also implies that larger, organised communities of merchants existed already in the Viking Age, before the existence of formalised guilds. A 5,000-year-old mummy of an obese Anatolian farmer, nicknamed the Iceman, bore 61 ritualistic tattoos made with either a piece of bone or a copper awl. The worlds oldest-known pearl-fishing city found in the UAE revealed a flourishing ocean trade in precious things. Roman artefacts being discovered in Coimbatore to England to China showed the power and reach of the 1,000-year-old Empire. Many rulers were enlightened; at one time, the Persian Empire was one of the worlds oldest open societies. Unlike Irans Ayatollahs, Persian rulers welcomed outside craftsmen from Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan and other distant lands to build their capital city, Persepolis. Archaeological evidence of imperial ambition is widely available; the Cholas took Sri Lanka and Indonesia, while Kashmiri rulers raided Afghanistan and Xinjiang in China. The Nanda Empire of 345 BC had conquered Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan while the Mauryan Empire ruled over Myanmar, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Tajikistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan in 322 BC. The study of power is the study of humanity, as archaeology amply proves. The recent excavation of a Mayan pyramid in Guatemala showed charred royal remains like a greenstone mask, usually placed in royal tombs with the dead king. Using historical coordinates and carbon dating, the team concluded that the citizenry had taken out the bones of the former ruler and burned it in public, signifying the arrival of a new monarch, likely Papmalil, who took over the Mayan kingdom of Kanwitznal then. LOST SCIENCES? Mythology is often derived from foggy historical images. In all ancient mythologies, fearsome weapons, in the form of thunderbolts and spears, can destroy mankind abound. A recent study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, suggests that nuclear waste has been found in Egyptian tombs that emit high radiation levels. The researchers think the ancient Egyptians were conversant with uranium-based technology. Studying ancient Egyptian literature in texts from 2,300-2,100 BC has revealed references to transformative processes and substances that resemble uranium-based materials, suggesting a high-level of technological sophistication in ancient Egypt that has gone unnoticed so far. Many superstitions arise from millennial prototypes, and it may be an error to dismiss ancient cultural symbols like the famous Chinese dragon as mythological nonsense. Excavators found a perfectly preserved fossil of an aquatic reptile resembling a Chinese dragon with snake-like features and elongated neck in the Year of the Dragon. It belonged to a Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, a 240-million-year-old reptile that lived or died in the Triassic period in southern China. Meanwhile, excavators digging inside a lignite mine in Kutch, Gujarat have discovered the bones of one of the most mammoth snakes ever known, dubbed Vasuki, which was 49-ft-long. FURY OF FAITH Where and when does God come into all this? A poignant discovery of religion, if not ritualism, came to light in 2016 when excavators found the 40,000-year-old body of a two-three-year-old child buried in a Spanish cave near Madrid. Named the Loyoza Child, its body was surrounded by hearths where bones, antlers and a rhino skull had been burned in a ceremonial cremation. Though evidence of organised religion doesnt appear till the Middle Paleolithic Age3,00,000 to 50,000 years ago when the Neanderthals were still around, and modern humans were yet to appearproof of religion was found in detailed cave paintings by Paleolithic artists 50,000 years ago. Where there is religion, superstition cannot be far behind. Fear of zombies and vampires rising from their graves are primal fears. Inside a late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age grave excavated in Germany, a large stone was found placed on a mans legs, pinning him down. Similarly, a 400-year-old grave of a child vampire, with a padlocked foot to prevent it from rising and drinking human blood was excavated in Poland last year. The Paleolithic Period, around 2.5 million years ago, has the first evidence of religion among Homo sapiens. In the Upper Paleolithic Period35,000 to 10,000 years agoappeared fertility goddesses (Venus statuettes). The loss of ancient languages mean the first religion must remain nameless, though the excavation of 92,000-year-old human remains found in the Qafzeh Cave, Israel, may be the earliest proof of faith. Archaeologists unearthed bones coloured with red ochre, accompanied by painted sea shells and flint artifacts; red ochre represents blood in religious rituals and reincarnation. The patterns of the earliest burial practices suggest a belief in life after death. Later findings show the existence of an ancestral skull cult 7,000 years ago in Palestine, where skulls with plaster moulds were kept in separate rooms. Science is truly the philosophy of opposites. One part goes into space to discover other civilisations while another searches inside the earth for lost ones. In the end, both are the same. Unravelling the mysteries of life and death, and the oldest enigma that ever existed: Time. A Brief History of Archaeology 6th century BC: The title of the worlds first archaeologist goes to the ancient Mesopotamian king, Nabonidus of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who discovered and analysed the foundation deposit of the Akkadian Empire ruler Naram-Sin (2200 BC) 14th-15th century: Grave robbers from France, Britain and Denmark dug up ancient art objects to be sold as drawing room art showpieces. They travelled to the colonised Near-East and Egypt, where they looted pyramids and stole immense riches of the kings of ancient Egypt, Babylon and Persia from their tombs. This serendipitously led to the development of classical archaeology Classical Archaeology: In the 1400s, Cyriacus of Ancona collected and copied books and documents about archaeological monuments in Greece and the Mediterranean for 25 years. In the 18th century, people started to become aware of ancient civilisations Antiquarian studies: In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, art collectors appear in England, France and Scandinavia, which promoted antiquarian studies among scientifically adventurous people. British and European colonialism in Asia, Africa, America and Australia made it possible for collectors to bring home antiquities of great historical value and study. European museums were suddenly stocked with objects, and knowledge about arcane ancient Eastern and Western cults spread The Beginning of Scientific Archaeology: In 1814, a French customs official, Boucher de Perthes, discovered stone tools in the valley of the Somme in France, along with the fossils of prehistoric animals. In 1863, Sir Charles Lyell published the geological antiquity of man. In 1857, the fossil of prehistoric Stone Age man was discovered in a stone cave at Neanderthal in Germany. He was named the Neanderthal man. Archaeology was accepted as a science by the mid-19th century The Birth of Modern Archaeology: Charles Darwins Origin of Species further encouraged the study of mans antiquity and his evolution from an animal species from a remote time. Heinrich Schliemann conducted the first archaeological excavation in Greece to discover the city of Troy. Radiocarbon dating was invented in mid-20th century to reconstruct the unrecorded prehistory of man The India story 18th Century: Systematic research into the sub-continents history was first undertaken by the Asiatic Society founded by the British Indologist Sir William Jones in 1784 Enter ASI: British Army engineer Alexander Cunningham realised the need for a permanent body, and founded the Archaeological Survey of India in 1861. Shortly after, the body was suspended due to lack of funds. It was revived in 1871, and Cunningham was appointed its first Director-General. In fact, almost two decades later, another fund crunch led to the suspension of the Director-General post until 1902 Age of Discovery: Fear of the ASI being shut down prevailed until the discovery of the Nigali Sagar, an archeological site in Nepal containing the remains of Asokas pillar. In 1896, another related discovery was madethe Lumbini pillar inscription The Curzon era: The organisation truly came into its own from 1901 under the Director-Generalship of John Marshall, who encouraged epigraphical studies. Under his leadership, the excavations of Taxila began in 1913 and lasted for 21 years. The Indus Valley Civilisation at Harappa and Mohenjodaro were duly discovered in 1921 Independent India: The National Museum was inaugurated in Delhi on August 15, 1949 to house excavated artefacts. Excavations of Indus Valley sites at Kalibangan, Lothal and Dholavira were made in 1968 Present Day: Today the ASI administers close to 4,000 monuments and sites. The latest discoveries have been at Rakhigarhi, an Indus Valley Civilisation site in Haryana OLD TRADE, NEW TOOLS GPS It helps archaeologists locate and accurately map locations of sites across landscapes Satellite imaging Use of high-resolution satellites with thermal and infrared capabilities to pinpoint potential sites of interest in the earth 3D modelling It helps archaeologists reconstruct site models for research and academic purposes. It comprises techniques such as Structure for Motion and Building Information Modelling, which ensure efficient and accurate representation LiDAR Light Detection and Ranging is the process of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, volume or other characteristics by analysing pulsed laser light reflected from their surfaces
Be open, get richer: Bidens clumsy statement contains some home truths
Joe Biden is gaffe prone. To dump India, Japan, Russia and China together as nations economically held back by xenophobia was bizarre. But theres a case to take a closer look at his messy observations....
Ladakh makes it large: This cold constituency promises a hot battle
Expect 100% turnout here? Five electors. One family. A poll booth all their own. Indias northernmost poll booth is at village Warshi in district Leh. At an altitude of 15,000 ft, Anley Pho-296 poll booth...
Where is the freedom in poverty or fear?
The Road To Freedom :Economics and the Good Society by Joseph Stiglitz, makes the case that economic and political freedom are inseparable. It seeks to take back the rhetoric of freedom from conservatives and libertarians....
Elections bring up memories. One of them is a quotable quote delivered by Dominique de Villepin in 2002, when he was visiting India as Frances foreign minister. When asked what it felt like to trounce...
The elegant Godrej split: A blueprint for India Inc?
The Godrej reorganization is marked by elegance and could serve as a model for others. Indian business groups should also examine models used in the West and East for ways to ensure that ambitions of gaining size and going global are not compromised in the process.
May 4, Forty Years Ago: Atal, Charan Held
Rahul Gandhi gets it right this time
For a man who has often been accused of getting his theme song, tactics and timing all wrong in politics, Rahul Gandhi has got it just right this time by seeking to fight the Lok...
-By Nayaswami Devi A farmer was standing completely still amidst the wind-blown wheat field, lost in thought. His wife rushed to him, crying that their only son had just been killed by a cobra. When...
Long, dry spell: Drought conditions could cause food inflation
#Eldersibling syndrome: Social media trend is just copying writers
Lok Sabha ticket to Brij Bhushans son is a moral failure
Ram Madhav writes: How social media is making us all clowns
2 pickpockets nabbed in Kulgam
Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, May 3: Police in Kulgam today arrested two pickpockets, recovering a stolen cash amount of Rs 50,000 from their possession. Authorities stated that following several complaints, a case vide FIR No. 54/2024 under relevant sections of the law was registered, and an investigation was set into motion. During the course of the investigation, intensified patrolling and surveillance activities were carried out. After strenuous efforts and swift action by a team of Kulgam Police led by SHO Police [] The post 2 pickpockets nabbed in Kulgam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Sexual crimes and videos: On the Prajwal Revanna case in Karnataka
The sexual assault cases in Karnataka must be investigated with sensitivity
Bullying and Hectoring: Why West cannot lecture India and East
When American and European countries lecture to us in the East with their -so called- Judeo-Christian values, it denies that Asia has a much longer tradition of secularism and human rights that existed much before...
Even this result will pass away
It is that time of the year when board examination results are likely to be announced soon. Millions of students wait to see their fate sketched before their roll numbers. As the results loom on...
India's young harbour big plans
India's youth population is set to reach 420 million in 2024, comprising 29% of the total population, with 20 million being first-time voters. These young individuals hold significant power to influence India's future. The People Research on India's Consumer Economy (PRICE) survey identifies six national priorities for the next five years, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
Salman Rushdie's latest book | The razors edge
Salman Rushdie's latest book | The razors edge
The News Mill
Celebrating K.G. Subramanyan | Centennial man
Celebrating K.G. Subramanyan | Centennial man
Paradise regained celebrates landscapes
Palette Art Gallery in Delhi, openedwith an exhibition Paradise Regained that runs through the month of May. In the stunning show arelandscapes thathave beenmined and re-envisioned asthe memoirs of experience as well as fantasy in...
Governments new PhD guidelines will make universities more elite
Side effects of AstraZeneca vaccine: Medicine is clear now to the courts
Two pickpockets arrested in Kulgam; Stolen property recovered: Police
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday have arrested 02 pickpockets and recovered stolen property from their possession in South Kashmirs Kulgam district. A Police spokesperson said that Police Station Kulgam received several complaints regarding pickpocketing in their jurisdiction. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No 54/2024 under relevant sections of law was registered & investigation was []
Rivers older than the flow of blood in our veins
These sustainers of life and cradles of civilization are suffering from both climate change and human neglect. They predate the evolution of our species by millions of years and we must awaken to the rights and protection they deserve.
Eye for an Eye: How BJPs Terrorism Pitch & Pakistan Policy Under Modi Evolved?
The 2019 air strikes were the most important step in the evolution of Indias approach to Pakistani terrorism.
Generative AI: Five ways companies in India can fully exploit its potential
CEOs are racing to leverage technology for gaining a competitive edge, but they need to broaden application of generative AI to more strategic goals in order to build resilience and open new pathways of growth.
Heavy security checks in Mumbai ahead of LS polls
Mumbai: Security has been increased in the Mumbai suburban district in the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, and large-scale spot checks are being carried out by stationary and mobile teams. According to a press release issued on Thursday night, the administration has appealed all to cooperate in the inspection process. During the election period, []
White House feels media heat over Bidens xenophobic remarks for India, Japan
Washington: The White House was hard-pressed to explain President Joe Bidens description of xenophobic for the US Quad partners India and Japan, and managed to ward off pointed queries from the media by saying the president has focused on those diplomatic relationships during his term. Cornered by a media person who wanted to know whether []
BSF recovers 20 Pakistani drones, arms, narcotics in last 15 days
Chandigarh: BSF troops have successfully recovered 20 Pakistani drones, 15.340kg of heroin, 3 pistols, and seized 42 rounds in the past 15 days. BSF has apprehended four Indian smugglers, one armed Pakistani intruder, and one Pakistani national, along with seizing Rs 1.10 lakh in drug money, a BSF spokesman said on Friday. BSF has achieved []
Dhananjay Munde campaigns for Pankaja, promises developed Beed in 5 yrs
Parli Vaijnath (Maharashtra): Maharashtra state agriculture and guardian minister of Beed district Dhananjay Munde has promised to develop Beed at a similar pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India is moving towards becoming a world Guru. While India is riding a development wave, Beed district will also be developed in the []
J&K: OGW arrested in non-local cab driver attack case in Shopian
Srinagar: J&K Police said on Friday that it arrested an overground worker during the investigation into a last months attack on a non-local cab driver in the Shopian district of south Kashmir. On April 9, the taxi driver, Paramjit Singh, a resident of Delhi, was fired upon in an apparent targeted attack by militants in []
Nearly 50 killed by heavy rains in Rwanda in past two months
Kigali: Disasters triggered by heavy rains, including landslides and lightning, have killed at least 49 people and injured 79 others across Rwanda in the past two months, an official said on Thursday. About 12 people were killed by lightning while others died after their dilapidated houses collapsed on them, Minister in charge of Emergency Management []
PM Modi to address 3 poll rallies in South Bengal
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in the city last night, is scheduled to address three election rallies in West Bengals southern districts later on Friday, BJP sources said. Modi arrived on Thursday night and halted at the Raj Bhawan. He will address his first BJP rally of the day at Durgapur-Bardhaman Lok Sabha []
Hindutvas southward journey: How BJP emerged as a major player in Karnataka
The Go First case: India's insolvency court needs an understanding of aviation
The prolonged delay in Go Firsts insolvency case hasnt helped Indias campaign of ease of doing business in the country
S Jaishankar writes: How India is making friends and influencing the world
Divorce can be the true test of marriage. This was one takeaway from a case SC judged this week. It was hearing a couple that on its path towards divorce, took a singular leap, and...
The US Federal Reserves monetary policy meeting concluded on Wednesday by retaining status quo on interest rates. A subsequent explanation contained the all-purpose reason given by central banks: uncertainty. Stress tested by the RussiaUkraine conflict,...
As the third phase takes polling from Karnatakas southern regions to the northern, it enters a very different political terrain. For BJP, the election moves from Vokkaliga-dominated constituencies where it needed an alliance with JDS,...
Equality of wealth is a bad idea
To imagine wealth can only be created through unfair means and therefore its fair to expropriate it, is unfair to anyone who adds value to their enterprise. Only a handful inherit their wealth in India....
The Godrej split: Brand sharing holds the key
The familys asset division plan has done well to minimize scope for a wrangle over a brand prized for elasticity across markets. Like a Mbius strip, the brand can be splitbut not apart.
The Earth is ablaze with red, and the sky swoops down to encircle the flames with blue. The fire is the vivid flowering of the gulmohur and the blue, the bloom of the jacaranda, both...
Desireless performance can produce the best results
By- Swami Nirviseshananda People often question whether anybody can work sincerely and efficiently without desire. Sincerity becomes natural, and efficiency peaks when actions are no longer motivated by desires. Desire makes the mind cling to...
May 3, 1984, Forty Years Ago: India battles epidemic deaths in multiple states
Good news for Indias healthcare system
