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Vande Mataram at 150 (1875–2025): The stirring anthem that forged India’s unity
On 7 November 2025, India commemorates 150 years of Vande Mataram, the National Song that inspired the Indian independence movement and affirmed a shared civilizational identity. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later sung by Rabindranath Tagore, the hymn’s ethical vocabulary aligns with the values of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Sri Aurobindo’s translation deepened…
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The Myth that Mohandas Gandhi Alone Delivered Freedom to India
A hundred and fifty-four years after his birth, the legacy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi remains contested in India. Much of this uncertainty stems from extensive propaganda that has obscured vital truths about Gandhi as an activist, leader, politician, demagogue, and unlikely saint. One of the most enduring myths is encapsulated in the single word: Mahatma.…
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A Fanatical Wahhabi Movement of 1857 that Nobody Told you about
The blog post uncovers the obscured history of the 1857 Wahabi movement in India, a chapter often misconstrued as the First War of Indian Independence by Left Liberals. It reveals the movement’s roots in Islamic fundamentalism, following the leadership of Syed Ahmad Barelvi, and highlights its stark objectives aimed at restoring Islamic rule. The narrative…
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How the Fanatic Syed Ahmad Barelvi Met his Maker at Balakot
The blog post discusses the historical narrative of post-Mughal India, highlighting the glorification of figures like Tipu Sultan as freedom fighters against British rule while sidelining others like Siraj-ud-Daulah. It delves into the controversial figures of Shah Waliullah, Abdul Aziz, and Syed Ahmad Barelvi, who are often depicted as “Muslim revivalists” but had a more…
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How Gandhi became a Congress Leader in Four Years
In January 1915, a 46-year-old Mohandas Gandhi returned to India after two decades in South Africa. Despite his unconventional social activism there, he faced skepticism from Indians who saw him as a foreigner. This blog explores how Gandhi, within four years, transformed from an outsider into a national leader of the Congress. It delves into…