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Observing the rituals and local practices on the occasion of Pongal, Mr H.H.Wilson, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Oxford, highlig...

This video by Celtic Thunder (2014) was doing the Whatsapp rounds recently. It commemorates the famous event in World War I, when German tr...

Households Words Vol 5, edited by Charles Dickens, in its edition of 1851, carries this description of Christmas celebrations in India (lin...

When Sachin Tendulkar released his autobiography recently, I knew that at least one person would not be buying or reading it.   Me. ...

Some year-end reflection. How was 2014 for you? While answering the question you will - in all likelihood- apply the “peak-end rule”...

The book ” The rise, progress, and present condition of banking in India” by By Charles Northcote Cooke, published in 1863 was the first...

We know that Indians love hoarding gold. The relentless demand for this metal has meant that huge quantity has had to be continually impo...

Delhi airport.  Boarding will be announced,for my flight,  in ten minutes. I am at a showroom, a 10-minute walk away from my boarding gate...

Warning: This post may offend the sensibilities of mothers of children below 10 years of age. So, proceed cautiously. I am writing thi...

The Calcutta Review, in its edition of July, 1855, has this interesting story on the origin of ‘native female education in India”.  ( sour...

I’ve done more than 90 posts with the tag “BritIndia”, with links to passages from books that were published in the 19th century. The mat...

While at Manila airport yesterday, I noticed a sign near the Immigration Counter that said, “Airport is a no wang-wang zone. Please fall i...

I have a serious issue with table fans. If one of them is switched on within my earshot, I soon fall asleep. Some kind of hypnotic effect ...

A Chinese museum had to be closed down recently, as many of the 40000 exhibits were found to be fake. ( source) . According to the news...

Why do newspapers and TV channels focus so much on bad news? And why do we put up with it? Doesn't it get tiring to have to list...

I came across four different news stories related to Japan. The first reported that sales of adult diapers in Japan would soon exceed ...