Jodha Bai in Popular Imagination Among the many puzzles associated with the history of the Mughals of India is the persona of Queen Jodha Bai, daughter of Raja Bharmal/Biharimal of Amber (modern Jaipur). In popular imagination, she is generally identified with Emperor Akbar’s chief wife and the mother of the crown prince Salim, who succeeded…
The Enduring Legend of Anarkali The literal meaning of legend, according to the Webster dictionary is any story coming down from the past, especially one popularly taken as historical though not verifiable. This definition can be aptly applied to a popular legend associated with the history of Mughal India namely the alleged romance of Prince…
It’s a well-worn adage: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” But perhaps an even more insidious truth lurks beneath: those who manipulate history often wield it as a tool to divide, conquer, and secure political advantage. This practice, far from being a modern phenomenon, has deep roots, particularly in…
Introduction: Allahabad’s Diminished Stature Once the educational and political heart of India, Allahabad now stands as a shadow of its former self. The era of Anand Bhawan’s political centrality has passed, and the University of Allahabad no longer produces the same constellation of scholars. The city’s famed Civil Lines market has also lost its original…
