Forgotten in history and lost to people, today, we narrate the tale of Mah Laqa Bai, one of the first and the finest female Urdu poets to have a diwan of ghazals (anthology of poems) under her name, and also one of the few women of her time who acquired the ranks of a noble in a royal court. Who was this exceptional personality? Let’s find out.

Popularly known as the Maut ka Kuan (The Well of Death), a terrifying tradition had been thriving in India that is now on the brink of extinction. In this story, let us revive this dying street culture and experience the thrilling adventures of The Well of Death.

The Progressive Writers’ Movement (PWM), launched by a group of anti-imperialist and left-oriented intellectuals, emerged as a highly radical movement in the 1930s. It sought to influence the masses with their writings, advocating equality and fighting against social injustice and backwardness. Among the many influential writers of the time was Sajjad Zaheer, one of the pioneers of the PWM. He is most commonly associated with the Urdu literary work Angaaray, which became instantly controversial when it was published. However, it also paved the way for Urdu realism as well as for the All-India Progressive Writers’ Association as a platform for radical political thinkers in India.

The idea that potato is not native to India would sound incredible to many of us. This simple commodity has managed to conquer the hearts of millions of Indians, despite their differences in lifestyles, and geographic or ethnic backgrounds. But the truth remains; potato, like many of our other favourite things, was introduced to us by the Europeans who arrived in the 15th century.

In the 1850s, when the British visited Silchar in Assam, they saw a group of exiled Manipuris playing a peculiar sport which combined horse-riding with hockey. This was the game of Sagol Kangjei, an indigenous sport of the Meities of Manipur, which the British re-introduced to the world as modern-day polo.

Dak Bungalows used to be an important part of the British administrative system in India. Although these architectural marvels have lost their significance, their legacy has managed to survive in some other way. A traditional Bengali recipe, supposedly originating in Calcutta during colonial times, also goes by the name dak bungalow or dak bangla. Could there be a connection between the two?

Old Delhi’s Bazaar-e-Husn once attracted many men from far and near, to the kothas of the beautiful and multi-talented courtesans who graced the place. In the early 19th century, the British administrator of Delhi, David Ochterlony, fell in love with one such beauty, Mubarak Begum, whose only legacy is now enshrined in a mosque, Masjid Mubarak Begum, commonly referred to as ‘Randi ki Masjid’.

For every Buddhist follower across the world, India remains the most important centre of pilgrimage. The birth of Buddhism took place in the subcontinent, and the Buddha attained both Nirvana (enlightenment) and Mahaparinirvana (death) here, as well. It should not be surprising, therefore, that Vesak, or Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Purnima is one of the most important annual festivals of India.

In India, Easter is not as popular as Christmas, which observes people from all faiths engaging in celebrations. But in Goa, this auspicious day is celebrated with full gusto, much like in the West. Let us see how the Catholic Goans combine their local traditions with the European (Portuguese) style of Easter celebration.

If we follow the aroma of saffron rice sprinkled with sour-sweet Persian barberries, it would lead us right to the Ballard Estate of Old Bombay, where the iconic Berry Pulao took its birth. The founders of this dish promise that even the most powerful security forces cannot decode the secret of the recipe. How did they ever come up with such an idea?