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Enroute Indian History Enroute Indian History is an educative heritage venture that aims to make people aware about our his
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The Parsis strongly believe in the notion of purity and pollution, which is extremely relevant to their beliefs about de...
28/02/2024

The Parsis strongly believe in the notion of purity and pollution, which is extremely relevant to their beliefs about death. For them, cleanliness equates to Godliness, and thus, avoiding pollution after someone’s passed away caused by a force called Ahriman is of utmost priority. Their funerary practice known as geh sarnu, is an egalitarian practice that instructs the pall-bearers to lay down dead on the roof of the dokhma to be eventually consumed by the scavenging vultures while prayers and ceremonies for the departed soul continue for the next few days according to prescriptions of the religion. This practice, famously known as the ‘sky burial’ is rooted in the belief that any other form of decomposition of the dead bodies is polluting in nature, whether it is burials or burning of the pyre, and can lead to diseases and other forms of ecological imbalances.

Vultures as scavengers are important for the environment as they clean up the flesh of animals that have died, domesticated and/or wild, that can otherwise cause diseases in three major elements- soil, water, and air- leading to massive medical issues in both humans and animals.

One of the key roles that the vultures play is in the management of dead carcasses of cattle in India which helps avoid unmanageable crises of the agricultural sector. Their stomachs have strong acids that can digest complicated bacteria and entirely remove them from the ecosystem. The decline of the vultures in India, interestingly, is centrally located in their consumption of these dead cattle carcasses. The alarming decline of the vulture population in India has been associated with a human/veterinary Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), mainly Diclofenac that was fed to the cattle to build up their endurance to pain to make them work more. However, by 2003 the unfortunate side-effects of the drug in the cattle were discovered by many scientists via research on the declining vulture population.

Historically, the exploitation of elephants brought to light their immense value to humans. Their size and strength help...
26/02/2024

Historically, the exploitation of elephants brought to light their immense value to humans. Their size and strength helped people traverse dense forests and clear forested areas while lifting or dragging heavy loads of timber. Later, they provided value in times of war, and the Indian elephant cavalry became famous. The story of Bhima killing Ashwathama, the elephant, as a ploy to kill Dronacharya is well known. In the battle of Kurukshetra, King Bhagadatta of Kamrupa provided 10,000 elephants to the Kauravas (Easa 2019). Gradually, the use of elephants in war became popular, especially during the Mauryan times.

The Gajashastra likely provides the first recorded evidence of the human-elephant conflict (HEC), stating the destruction of the Kingdom of Anga (present-day Bihar and West Bengal) by elephants. The reason for higher human deaths by Asian elephants compared to African elephants is that Asian elephants currently inhabit areas with high human population density. Inadvertently, this results in the loss of crops and the destruction of property. According to the study by Naha et al. 2020, elephant raids frequently occurred in villages producing haaria-rice beer (in the northeast region of India). The other reason is “the seasonal harvesting pattern of major agricultural crops”.

Elephant corridors are significant for the maintenance of elephant populations. However, Easa (2019) states that HEC and various anthropogenic factors have interrupted usual migratory routes and walking patterns, resulting in the division of herds. He adds that although corridors are essential for habitat connectivity, numerous corridors have also resulted in fragmentation of habitats. Another factor compounding the dwindling population of elephants is that female elephants have a long gestation period of almost two years (20-21 months) and can produce a calf after a period of four to five years (see Sukumar 2006). Moreover, these megafaunas have a great appetite, which they satiate by eating approximately 150 kg of food consumed over 12-18 hours a day.

Between the late 1970s and 1980s, the export of ivory and its trade was banned in India.

Always wanted to be a published writer with a story under your name?This is your chance to be part of an anthology. EIH ...
26/02/2024

Always wanted to be a published writer with a story under your name?
This is your chance to be part of an anthology. EIH X Rupa Publications is publishing the book ‘Tales from Tribal Land’.
The book will be edited and compiled by the founder of EIH Ms. Anoushka Jain.
To get published here’s what you have to do: - Send your resume, writing sample, proposal of the tribe and the theme you wish to focus on.
- The story has to come from the tribal lands and not a fiction work you write.
- The outline of the story needs to be in the proposal in 100 words.
- Mail it at [email protected]
- Deadline : 26th Feb

It was unsurprising to learn that traditional note-taking or summarising is less effective than other study methods. The...
24/02/2024

It was unsurprising to learn that traditional note-taking or summarising is less effective than other study methods. The argument is that not everyone can make good-quality notes. According to Dunlosky et al. 2013, not only is this method low utility, one needs to learn how to take good notes. However, I am comfortable making notes and using Post-its. Research says that handwritten notes require higher thinking capacity when compared to those made on a laptop and have higher retention capabilities.

The other is Feynman Technique. Named after Nobel Laureate and Theoretical Physicist Richard Feynman, this method helps simplify the most complicated concepts into something easily conveyed to a layperson. The key denominator in the effectiveness of this method is how well you can explain it to anyone, which, in turn, will help you go over the concept and recognise the gaps in your understanding.

One of the most common study methods proposed by productivity and education experts is Active recall or Active retrieval. It is a method of practice testing which has proven to be the most effective revision strategy. There are different ways one can apply this method, a popular one being Flashcards, which are a big hit among Medical students. However, they should be for hard-to-memorise concepts and facts that can be tagged Easy, Medium or Hard, based on the difficulty in remembering. These then pop up accordingly whenever you go through the deck.

Another traditional but effective study method is that of using Mnemonics. The key is to make the Mnemonics fun or cheeky to be able to remember a list of attributes.

Alert ‼️ Freelance Accountant Wanted! Join our team immediately and help us navigate financial matters with precision an...
09/02/2024

Alert ‼️ Freelance Accountant Wanted! Join our team immediately and help us navigate financial matters with precision and expertise. If you’re a skilled accountant ready to hit the ground running, we want to hear from you. Apply now and be part of our dynamic team!

Immediate Hiring!✨️

Job type: Paid
Position: accountant

Send us your resume on :-⏬️
👉[email protected]
Deadline:- 11 February , 2024

How do we make the city safe for q***r-friendly LGBTQ+ folks?Making a city safe also means freedom to express. At EIH we...
09/02/2024

How do we make the city safe for q***r-friendly LGBTQ+ folks?
Making a city safe also means freedom to express.
At EIH we have collaborated with q***r friendly folks to design a heritage walk.
The walk talks about history of LGBTQ+ in Indian subcontinent.
The walk is open to ALL and we hope we can take this initiative forward. 🍃🍂

Join us for heritage walk :⏬️
Place : Mehrauli Archeological Park
Date : 11th February, 2024
Time : 4:00-6:00 pm
Link : www.enrouteindianhistory.com

Grab your Slot Now:✅️
inin

The majestic Mughal queens weren't just rulers; they were architects of commerce. They constructed bustling hubs for tra...
07/02/2024

The majestic Mughal queens weren't just rulers; they were architects of commerce. They constructed bustling hubs for trade, erected traveler-friendly caravanserais, and commanded a fleet of ships that navigated the seas between Surat and Red Sea ports. From pilgrim ships weighing 400 to 1500 tons to junks fashioned after Chinese designs, these vessels were a testament to the queens' economic prowess. They transformed trade into an art, leaving an indelible mark on the bustling markets and maritime routes that defined their era.

The economic scene saw a significant shift with Akbar's wife, known as Maryam-uz-Zamani. She broke the mold, becoming the first Mughal queen directly involved in trade and commerce. Jodha Bai owned ships that engaged in brisk trade between Surat and various Red Sea ports, notably the renowned Rahimi of Surat. This vessel transported around 1500 passengers and pilgrims to destinations like Mocha or Jedda port of Mecca. Foreign accounts from Jahangir's time speak of Queen Mother Maryam-uz-Zamani's ships and the thriving trade they conducted between India and Arabia. William Finch, an English envoy, noted that the Queen Mother, or those under her protection, conducted extensive trading operations, exemplified by a vessel being laden for a voyage to Mecca during his visit to Bayana in Rajasthan.

Their impact extended beyond internal affairs, reaching into the realm of foreign affairs, elevating them to figures of paramount importance. To encapsulate their essence in a single word, one could aptly dub them "baddies" – a term that captures their unapologetic assertiveness, strategic prowess, and trailblazing spirit in a historically restrained setting.

# mughals

Women in art, where their powers of progeny and fertility are not kept under shrouds and control but explicitly depicted...
06/02/2024

Women in art, where their powers of progeny and fertility are not kept under shrouds and control but explicitly depicted as ornamentation of the sanctum, in sculptures that beautifully and meticulously commemorate the process of becoming a mother- from the act of reproduction to pregnant women or women with fecund virtues (highlighted by their plump or protruding waist or womb), to women in birthing pose and then female figures with children (Matrika) bring out the journey of a woman becoming mother in the public arena, taking mother and motherhood outside the four walls of her birthing chambers and demarcated boundaries of traditions.

The spectrum of motherhood in ancient religious and historical sources never had a single definition. There were mothers like Devaki and Yashoda who are the epitome of maternal love or vaatsalya, but there is also the queen of Ayodhya, Keykayi, whose love for her son is expressed in an astute plan which is considered evil or wrong by many. We have unmarried mothers like Kunti whose relationship with Karna, though not a theme of popular culture is an interesting case that moves away from the assumed definitions of a good mother and a virtuous woman, who begets children only for the good of her husband and society.

The definition of the mother is relative and her value depends upon how well she can fulfill all the tasks given to her by culture, society, and family. In such a situation, mothers have no definition of self, outside their relationship with their children. Caught in the system of rewards and possible punishments, the mother is forever running the race to prove her perfection, fighting a battle rigged from the very outset.

With disciplines like “motherhood studies” growing in recent times, with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the diversity in experiences of mothers and valorizing each unique yet universally shared story of mothers, the duty now falls on us as a society, to give our mothers what they need the most- an empathetic space to be humans.

Journeying through the echoes of time with a dynamic group! From Qutub Minar's majestic heights to the vibrant narrative...
06/02/2024

Journeying through the echoes of time with a dynamic group! From Qutub Minar's majestic heights to the vibrant narratives of Chawri Bazar's tawaifs and kothas, and the serenity of Safdarjung Tomb – our weekend was a tapestry of history, culture, and shared smiles. 🌟📷

This article explores the genre of women-centric thrillers and dark satires in Bollywood through four recent movies - Da...
05/02/2024

This article explores the genre of women-centric thrillers and dark satires in Bollywood through four recent movies - Darlings (2022), Jaane Jaan (2023), Merry Christmas (2024), and Mom (2017). These movies explore the complexities of female characters in suspenseful and satirical contexts. The women in these movies avenge themselves and their loved ones by going to the length of committing murder which gives a whole new meaning to the ‘immense sacrificial love’ of Indian women. These women choose to take matters into their own hands rather than suffer through violence and injustice.

While Maria (Katrina Kaif) in Merry Christmas and Devki (Sridevi) in Mom commit skillfully planned murders, Maya (Kareena) in Jaane Jaan acts in self-defense. Badru (Alia Bhatt) in Darlings decides at the last moment to set her abusive husband free. But fate intervenes, as he collides with a train.

Dark humor, especially in Darlings makes the characters more real, layered, and complex who continue to go about their daily lives despite their crumbling inner world. The humor-infused scenes succeed in portraying the complexity of abuse in intimate relationships where violence, relentless hope, reconciliation, assurances, societal expectations, and gaslighting trap the woman in a vicious cycle.

A rising number of cases where perpetrators of violence run free on bail causing further harm, and the nexus between police, lawyers, and criminals has eroded public faith in the state machinery. The system has failed so many women that many fear approaching the police, that has a proven track record of victim blaming. For women who get caught in the cycle of abuse, there seems to be no ‘correct’ or ‘easy’ way out.

Jahangir's most enduring legacy lies in his introduction of the Zanjeer-e-Adl, the Chain of Justice. Renowned for his co...
04/02/2024

Jahangir's most enduring legacy lies in his introduction of the Zanjeer-e-Adl, the Chain of Justice. Renowned for his commitment to delivering fair and impartial judgments, he established a system that became synonymous with his reign. This initiative aimed to create a just and tolerant society, solidifying Jahangir's reputation as a ruler who prioritised the principles of equity and justice in shaping the Mughal Empire.

The portrayal of the Chain of Justice is depicted as emanating from the heavens. The Muthamman Burj, an octagonal structure crafted from white marble commissioned by Jahangir, located within the Agra Fort, is renowned for Jahangir's Chain of Justice. Functioning as a connection between the populace and Jehangir, the chain allowed anyone standing outside the Agra fortress to tug on it, activating sixty bells and securing a personal audience with Jahangir. Thomas Roe, the British ambassador at the Mughal court, recounts how individuals seeking redress could employ the Chain of Justice to capture the emperor's notice in the event of dissatisfaction with his ruling during Darshana.

-e-adi

From Grover Tailors to Geetanjali, Khan Market is a go-to place for people looking for high-end clothing, grooming, self...
03/02/2024

From Grover Tailors to Geetanjali, Khan Market is a go-to place for people looking for high-end clothing, grooming, self-care and food. Each shop generates average lease easily of around 5-6 lakhs per month. In a city where annual per capita income is RS2.72 lakhs (*Economic Survey of Delhi), this crowd of top brands seems off track, that is until one realises that the target consumers of these shops are diplomats and ex-pats. Khan Market is synonymous to luxury in Delhi today. A few signature shops like ‘Fakir Chand’ attract visitors from all economic status. Amongst these visitors are sometimes also those who once occupied these shops, and called them home.
Initially, Khan Market was a peaceful, sub-urban locality in Southern- Delhi. Soon after partition, the Nehru government started efforts at relocating refugees from the horrendous partition of colonised landmass of India. Under this initiative, shops were set up for tenancy at the rate of RS50 and one of the first bidders of property here got it at the rate of RS9500/75sq yards. It is a common joke among locals that the prices around area were high even when economy was underdeveloped. (Varughese,2016) .The area originally had 154 shops and 74 flats. Buildings were set up such that families occupied the first floor and ran business/ shops in the ground floor. If one observes the map of Khan Market, a U-shaped figure will be noticed, owning to this peculiar planning, shops run parallel to each other and open at two ends, if one wishes to take a stroll in the area today.( Riggs,2020)

This mastermind sales technique, convenient location near posh localities (3kms away from Ministers’ Bungalows, India, International Centre, Embassies, Luxury hotels), iconic Lodhi Garden, and luck of purchase is a much popular and commercialised shade of the Market. The sentimental side of the story is concentrated with families and their legacies who once resided in now café- hub lanes and called these ‘commercialised cultural’ and luxurious stores their homes.

The iconic market place is named after Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan or Khan Sahib, the then Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province, now in Pakistan.

Wrapping up the month with heritage at heart: 430 adventurers joined us on 16 group walks, while 10 bespoke tours and 5 ...
01/02/2024

Wrapping up the month with heritage at heart: 430 adventurers joined us on 16 group walks, while 10 bespoke tours and 5 corporate ventures added layers to our journey. Here’s to the love for history and the bonds we’ve forged along the way! 🌍👣

As per Manu Smriti, the state fixed the rates for the purchase and sale of essential goods. It also states that a commod...
31/01/2024

As per Manu Smriti, the state fixed the rates for the purchase and sale of essential goods. It also states that a commodity that is mixed with another commodity should not be sold. A commodity that is a bad one should not be sold as a good one. It states fine for people who practice food adulteration. The state had the power to confiscate the entire property of traders and the king could control the prices. The selling of seed corn was seen as a punishable offence. In Yajnavalkya smriti, Yajnavalkya states the presence of food adulteration. He states that altering the food materials like ghee, salt, paddy, milk and so on can be counted as an offence. The violator needs to be punished with 16 panas.

Kautilya refers to this adulterator as Kantaka. Arthashashtra states that a person who sells adulterated salt should pay the highest fine for violence. A fine of twelve panas was levied on people who sold objects that were adulterated. The sale of inferior commodities with false descriptions was prohibited. Kautilya also talks about deceitful mixtures. These are products of mixing one or two ingredients that should not be present in the original product.

Unfair practices about food are not a recent issue. The horror of food adulteration and unfair practices has been present since ancient India.

Listen to the riveting tale of resilience and power in Episode 4: 'The Lioness of Punjab: Maharani Jind Kaur' from our '...
31/01/2024

Listen to the riveting tale of resilience and power in Episode 4: 'The Lioness of Punjab: Maharani Jind Kaur' from our 'Badass Begums' series! 🎙️💪

➡️Join .eih as we unravel the extraordinary life of a trailblazing woman who etched her legacy in history.✨️🪷

Listen to our podcasts on Spotify, Gaana, Jio Saavn, Apple Music, and immerse yourself in the untold stories of courage and defiance. 🎙️✨

What do bureaucratic corruption, rebirth, and an IG Nobel prize have in common? It is Lal Bihari Mritak whose story is u...
30/01/2024

What do bureaucratic corruption, rebirth, and an IG Nobel prize have in common? It is Lal Bihari Mritak whose story is unlike any other. An ordinary man who fought for almost two decades to prove that he was alive! It is perhaps one of the most baffling cases in Indian history, which highlights the inner workings of the Indian bureaucracy, aspects of Indian Law, family disputes, corruption, bribery, and poverty.

Add a few songs and some dramatic flair, and you get Kaagaz (Paper), the 2021 Bollywood movie starring Pankaj Tripathi as the protagonist. It is based on Bihari’s 18-year-long legal battle while being declared dead on official records. The title Kaagaz is representative of such official records.

In 1999, Michael Fathers and Meenakshi Ganguly of Time magazine covered his story ‘Plight of the Living Dead’. Following this, Barry Bearak of the New York Times published ‘Azamgarh Journal; Back to Life in India, Without Reincarnation’. The International coverage helped his case get heard at the Allahabad Court and directed the District Magistrate of Azamgarh to spread the word about it for the victims to come forward. Only 30 out of the registered 90 cases were verified to be true, which were then referred to the National Human Rights Commission under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

Beginning to administer justice in a unique cultural context of the Indian subcontinent, especially its religious struct...
29/01/2024

Beginning to administer justice in a unique cultural context of the Indian subcontinent, especially its religious structures, the British government often faced issues with the vagueness of the definition of God as the owner of the temple property (Shrivastava and Tiwari 2021). Compiling the incomprehensible rich legal traditions of Hinduism as Hindu Law, as a “solution” to the British officials and lawmakers perceived as the inability of the caretakers of the property, God was defined as a legal person, as opposed to a natural person (e.g. humans). The deity (worshipped image) of temple as a juristic person could now become a plaintiff in cases, exercising their powers from the physical icon of the sanctum (M. n.d.), only after the Pran-pratishtha ceremony (Lubin 2010).

When one begins the discussion on a deity in the courtroom, the latest and the most popular case that comes to mind is that of Ayodhya, where Ram Lalla Virajman was one of the interested persons, who recently won the case and “returned” home. There however are many more cases of God gracing the court, each one of which is as interesting as a fiction novella. Let us take a closer peek into a few of these cases, and understand the presence of God in the field of law in relation to – a) cases of Act of God, b) God as a Legal Person, c) God as a Plaintiff. But first, let us turn towards the example of the 2012 Bollywood drama-comedy, “OMG”, starring Paresh Rawal as a small businessman and Akshay Kumar as “Krishna Vasudeva”.

So, when and how does God, an omnipresent being becomes a person, as per Indian law? To understand this, we will now go on a pilgrimage to the home of Ayyappa (a South Indian Hindu deity, born from Vishnu and Shiva), in Sabarimala, but with caution, because if you happen to be a menstruating woman, thou shall not enter! Welcoming all irrespective of their religion and caste (Acevedo 2023), the sanctum of Sabarimala is closed to young women, who are seen as a deterrence in the vow of celibacy taken by Lord Ayyappa. People approaching the court on the behalf of Ayyappa, remarked that under the Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, Ayyappa, like any other “person” had the right t

The image that you see above was taken from the roof of a 500-year-old monument, The tomb of Bijri Khan. Even after havi...
28/01/2024

The image that you see above was taken from the roof of a 500-year-old monument, The tomb of Bijri Khan. Even after having such a Large structure as his final resting place, Bijri Khan is unknown to the world. This is so because we have found no written inscriptions on the monument. Looking at the walls you witness the many layers of reparation that the building has gone through. The tomb is of a square shape with a dome placed over it, it has 2 entrances both of them having the ‘False-arch'. Sadly, the details and intricacies of the structure are now lost. The only we are sure of, when it comes to Bijri Khan is that this is his tomb and this was made during the Lodi period. Impressed by the size of the structure, some historians believe that he might be some prominent noble, but the claim has not been proven yet. In the south there's another smaller tomb said to be of Tughlaq times.

According to the report*1 published by ‘The Hindu’ in March 2021, the Culture Minister, Mr Prahlad Singh Patel told the upper house of the parliament that encroachments have been reported at 321 monumental and archaeological sites, including the Sun temple of Konark, Purana Quila of Delhi, Rakhgarhi in Haryana. The Times of India in one of their reports by Arundhati Basu on this issue, noted that “Bijri khan’s tomb lies in shambles". Further adding to their concern, she reports that “sector 3 of RK Puram is in a serious state of despair”. Ratish Nanda, A conservation architect, remarks that legal action cannot be taken against the settlers as the site has not been declared ‘protected’ yet. Conservation architects believe that the structure has more architectural significance than a historical one.

The Minister of Culture under which ASI is housed told the parliament that 3693 monuments have gone missing so far, the ministry was committed to “ finding” these monuments.

To truly appreciate the depth of Ghulam Ali's Red Fort series, one must delve into the historical tapestry of the monume...
27/01/2024

To truly appreciate the depth of Ghulam Ali's Red Fort series, one must delve into the historical tapestry of the monument itself. The Red Fort, constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, served as a seat of power for centuries. However, it also witnessed significant historical events, none more impactful than the Uprising of 1857.

During this tumultuous period, Bahadur Shah II, also known as Zafar, found himself at the center of a rebellion against British colonial rule. Zafar, the last of the Mughal emperors, was a poet and an aesthete, and the Red Fort became a symbol of resistance during the uprising. The echoes of this pivotal moment in history reverberate through the fort's walls, and Ghulam Ali's paintings encapsulate these echoes in a visual form.

As Ghulam Ali navigates the Red Fort with his brush, he not only captures its physical beauty but also immerses himself in the historical currents that shaped its narrative.

Dear Readers,We want to celebrate THIS BIG NEWS with you. We have been commissioned to write book on oral stories of tri...
26/01/2024

Dear Readers,
We want to celebrate THIS BIG NEWS with you. We have been commissioned to write book on oral stories of tribes with Rupa Publications. The title of the book is 'Tales from Tribal Lands' (TTL). However, this time time in OUR happiness we want you to be involved.

Q. What are we looking for?
A. Writers and researchers who are in touch with Anthropology and tribes. We want you to write their stories through your words.

Q. What is the scope of this work?
A. Your name will be published in the book with the story. You will be paid for your research. So this is your chance to get paid and published.

Q. How do you apply?
A. You will have to submit your resume, cover letter detailing the tribe you would like to work upon and theme of your story and the sources you will use.

The rest of the details with themes and tribes will be shared 5:00 pm tomorrow. If you ALWAYS wanted your work published here's your chance. We are waiting for you. This is our shared happiness. Welcome to EIH family. ❤️

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