Pre partition India mainly consisted of British controlled areas and sovereign princely states which were not fully and formally part of British India. In a call for independence from British Rule, Cyril Radcliffe, who had never been to India was given less than 40 days to draw up the new borders based on outdated mapsContinue reading “How India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were formed”
Category Archives: India
Kerala: India’s unsung hero on the coronavirus outbreak
To the casual observer, Kerala’s clash with coronavirus started on the 27th of January when three Indian students returning from Wuhan tested positive for Covid-19. In actual fact, the story of Kerala’s much envied response to the pandemic starts a whole two years earlier. It was from the lessons learnt during the Nipah outbreak inContinue reading “Kerala: India’s unsung hero on the coronavirus outbreak”
Locusts: A Scourge on South Asia
Huh, a dark blot. Perhaps a cloud? That’s what golfers in Rajasthan thought. Finally, some cool rain to relieve the sweltering heat. But hope quickly turned to horror as swathes of locusts descended upon the heartland of India, devouring crops. People clamoured to grab steel pots and pans and honked their horns, in efforts toContinue reading “Locusts: A Scourge on South Asia”
Operation Blue Star: The Indian Army’s blood-stained operation which led to the death of thousands of Sikhs
In June 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army storm the Golden Temple – one of the holiest Sikh shrines, which led to her assassination and the killing of thousands of Sikhs. ‘Operation Blue Star’ which lasted from 1st to 8th June was an attempt to flush out Sikh separatists led by JarnailContinue reading “Operation Blue Star: The Indian Army’s blood-stained operation which led to the death of thousands of Sikhs”
Do you know the Siddi People?
The Africans of South Asia The despicable practice of African slave trading is common between Arabs and Ottomans, Europeans and Americans; extending from the 1st century to this very day in Libya. South Asians, however, suffer from a crippling incuriosity about their own ties to black oppression. African slaves were an adjunct to the colonialContinue reading “Do you know the Siddi People?”
Why are there so few coronavirus deaths in India?
South Asia is one of the world’s most densely populated regions and thought to be highly vulnerable to any large scale outbreak. India has a population of 1.3 billion and has seen around 3,000 deaths from 100,000 cases. In comparison, the USA has witnessed over 88,000 deaths from almost 1.5 million cases and that inContinue reading “Why are there so few coronavirus deaths in India?”
15-year old girl cycles 1200km home with disabled father
Fifteen-year-old, Jyoti Kumari, cycles 745 miles home with disabled father on bike as India’s national lockdown measures ban all “non essential” travel. As with millions of other newly unemployed migrant workers, Jyoti and her father found themselves with no income amongst the coronavirus lockdown. With rent still needing to be paid, the two were leftContinue reading “15-year old girl cycles 1200km home with disabled father”
Cyclone Amphan wreaks havoc in India and Bangladesh
Cyclone Amphan, one of the worst storms in Bengal in 283 years, has left much of Kolkata without electricity, drinking water, or phone lines. The cyclone is estimated to have caused $13.2 billion in damage. Although, the army has sent troops to help with the aftermath of the cyclone, this comes after several days ofContinue reading “Cyclone Amphan wreaks havoc in India and Bangladesh”
How this street art festival is transforming Chennai
Breathtaking street art has propped up on flat buildings in Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar district, as part of the Start Chennai festival. The paintings were curated by St+Art India Foundation who have done similar work in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Goa. Sixteen walls were painted to sport large scale murals by 10 artists, including five fromContinue reading “How this street art festival is transforming Chennai”
India’s Migrant Workers Begin Heading Home as Coronavirus Lockdown Eases
Indian migrant workers begin heading home as the government eases restrictions on travel form the nationwide lockdown. Migrant workers who’ve sought out work outside their home states have been stranded since March 24th as the closure of transport links, shops and businesses has left them without money or food and no way of returning home. Continue reading “India’s Migrant Workers Begin Heading Home as Coronavirus Lockdown Eases”