09 DECEMBER RANI TARABAI (1675 to 1761)
Born in 1675, Rani Tarabai was the wife of Chhatrapati Rajaram Bhosale and the daughter-in-law of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire. Fiercely independent as a young girl, she was well-versed in sword fighting, archery, cavalry operations, military strategy, and diplomacy. Realizing the need for stable and strategic leadership, the Rani ascended the throne a month after the death of her husband Rajaram (Shivaji’s second son) in 1700. In her seven-year reign, Rani Tarabai single-handedly commanded and led the Maratha resistance against the massive army of Aurangzeb, who was considered the mightiest ruler at the time. An indomitable warrior queen who was deeply devoted to her kingdom, she played a crucial role in the rise of the Maratha empire. One of the grittiest characters in Indian history, her resolute spirit has often been compared to that of Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. Rani Tarabai is said to have passed away on 09 December 1761.
This story recounts the history of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Royal Family of Travancore associated with it.
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the ‘Char Dhams’ in Hindu tradition. It is home to Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra.
The Delhi Durbars were grand events organised by the Viceroys of India to mark the coronation of Emperors or Empresses of Britain. Hence, these were also known as the Coronation Durbars.
Far from home, the British recreated a ‘little England’ tucked away in the Himalayan foothills. Simla was pulled from obscurity and made the summer Capital of one of England’s largest colonies, India.
This story narrates the history of the Sanchi monuments from the time of its discovery by British colonial officials at the beginning of the 19th century.
This story revolves around the oppressive tinkathia system of Indigo cultivation in Champaran and Gandhiji’s Satyagraha to help the peasants.
This story deals with the system of indigo cultivation in Bengal, the exploitation of the Indian peasants and their bidroha against the oppressive European planters.
Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the few women who challenged the British during the Revolt of 1857.
This story talks about the factors around which Delhi was chosen as the Capital of erstwhile India in the year 1911, and the role of architects Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April, 1919. It led to the killing of hundreds of unarmed Indians by General Dyer, a senior British military officer in the heart of Amritsar.
The Koh-i-Noor is amongst the most celebrated gems in the world. It was taken from India under the terms of the Last Treaty of Lahore, signed in 1839. After being shaped and cut by the British, it now weighs 105.6 Carat.
The last emperor of the Mughal Empire and the prominent face of India's first war of independence.
Karva Chauth is a festival celebrated annually by married Hindu women in which they observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for the well-being of their husbands.
The Rath Yatra(Chariot festival) is one of the grandest festivals celebrated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.This commemorates the annual visit of Lord Jagannath along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra to their aunt’s house. Gundicha.
This story traces the life and spiritual leanings of Dara Shikoh, the heir apparent to the Mughal throne (after Emperor Shah Jahan) who met a tragic end at the hands of his brother Aurangzeb after a bloody war of succession.
Bali Yatra, a festival that commemorates the rich maritime history of Odisha is celebrated throughout the state. In the historic city of Cuttack, a week-long event is organised starting from the day of Kartika Purnima.
Sivasagar, in Eastern Assam, is a city of historical and cultural significance, which also showcases nature's beauty. It served as the seat of power for the Ahoms, and contains important monuments from the era.
A small town on the banks of River Ganga, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Bithoor is a place of great religious and historical importance.
Step into the captivating history of the four queens who ruled in succession. Begums of Bhopal were known to be competent rulers as they redefined the city of Bhopal and maintained respectable relations with the British
The story of a 15th century poet-saint whose social and spiritual ideas were communicated through his poetry and continue to inspire even now.
During the 19th century, till the time the Northern Bengal State Railway extended its operation to Siliguri in 1879, the journey from Calcutta to Darjeeling was a daunting one.
This story is based on the World’s first all granite temple, the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur. The pride of Rajaraja Chola I, built almost 1000 years ago, this temple is the best example of precision and symmetry in architecture.
This story focuses on the Devadasi system of Tamil Nadu and how the dance form, Bharatanatyam evolved from what was earlier known as Sadir Attam.
This story is about how a group of 7 islands were joined together in the 17th century to form the island city of Mumbai. The narrative goes into the discussions between the Bombay government and the Company’s directors in London that shaped this city.
This story makes an in-depth exploration of the architecture of the temples of Khajuraho. It provides a detailed understanding of the layout and art of the various individual structures comprising the three major groups of temples at Khajuraho- the Western, Eastern and the Southern groups.
This story on Durga puja explores life that revolves around this grand celebration. From mythological stories to idol making as well as pandal creation, this story takes you through the days devoted to Maa Durga.
This story traces the history of Parsi theatre in Mumbai from the 19th century. It also talks about the people and the iconic structures that were associated with the staging of the plays.
This story explores the cave temples that presently stand in the busy suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It details the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism in this area and pushes the antiquity of this city well back to the 2nd century BC.
In the early 19th century, Panjab, the land of five rivers, was ruled by a man whose ideals were secular in nature. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, famously called ‘Sher-e-Panjab’ (Lion of Panjab) was known to be a fierce king who established a reign based on diversity and equality.
A large number of antiques and valuable artefacts have been stolen from and smuggled out of India in the past years.
I will tell the Viceroy and the Governor-General of India that Ashutosh Mukherjee refuses to be commanded by any other person except his mother, be he Viceroy or somebody higher still
Ellora is situated about 15 miles north-west of Aurangabad. It is known to the world for its wonderful cave temples in the hills which are about a mile to its east.
This is the story of the brave queen Rani Durgavati. The scion of the famous Chandela dynasty of Mahoba, and the queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga, the Rani took on the might of the Mughal Empire with great courage and leadership.
The name Jagdishwar Nigam brings to mind the fascinating story of the extraordinary courage of an officer of the British Indian Civil Service
Could it be that there is no fit man in Your Majesty’s realm? What are the enemies?
Situated in the mighty river Brahmaputra in Assam, Majuli is claimed to be one of the largest inhabited river islands in the world.
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