विदेशी सामानों का बहिष्कार, जो बाद में स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन की आत्मा बना, बंगाल में 1905 में शुरू हो गया था। उपाधि, नौकरी, स्कूल, कॉलेज, कपड़े, सभी चीजों का बहिष्कार किया गया था। यह ऐसा पहला आंदोलन था जिसकी गूँज पूरे ब्रिटिश भारत में सुनाई दी।

लाल बाल पाल ने उतारी अंग्रेज़ों की खाल

खिलजी वंश के सबसे महत्वाकांक्षी, सफल और चर्चित सुल्तान अलाउद्दीन ख़िलजी ने गद्दी हासिल करने के लिए उन्हीं से दग़ा कर दी जिन्होंने उस पर सबसे ज़्यादा विश्वास किया था।

सुल्तान एक कातिल है

वो जिस ज़माने में पैदा हुए उस ज़माने की सोच से कहीं आगे थे। समाज को महिलाओं के लिए रहने लायक स्थान बनाने में उनका बहुत बड़ा योगदान है। ईश्वरचंद्र विद्यासागर ने महिलाओं के हक़ की लड़ाई तब लड़ी जब अधिकतर महिलाएँ उनके विरोध में खड़ी थी।

चंद लोगों के लिए ईश्वर और अन्यों के लिए दुश्मन

Sonagachi which also means the ‘Tree of Gold’ is one of the most famous red-light districts in Asia. With a distinctive history of its own, the story of Sonagachi has travelled a long way.

The Dark Lanes of Sonagachi

Normally, you’d back the bowling team to win when you need 82 runs from 6 overs. But not when it’s the Deccan Chargers.

The Art of Losing

Taj Mahal is a symbol of love. But its misfortune lies in the fact that the person for whom this marvellous structure was built, could never see it. Today in 1631, Mumtaz passed away giving birth to her 14th child.

Royal Love Stories Never End

Ones who we call 'humare ghar ki lakshmi', without whom we wouldn't have survived living, let us spread the word to ensure a safe and healthy sphere for them, stand up against any injustice we witness happening against the women, the little girls, our daughters and our mothers, to devise the echo of empowerment inhibiting at every corner of our minds, and our world.

Mimi knows, but do you? 

As the crown of the Vijayanagar circled the temples of Krishnadeva Raya, today in 1509, the kingdom's fate was flipped forever and a great new addition to Indian history was done.

The Great Victor of the City of Victory

VK Krishna Menon gives a 7 hour, 48-minute long speech at the United Nations, detailing India's position on Kashmir, today in 1957, collapsing in the middle of the speech, but returning to finish it

Talking today till tomorrow

A woman, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, in Bengal was a great devotee of Shiva. One day, she saw a dream that Lord Shiva himself had come down to the earth and was born from her womb. She prayed to the Lord day and night for a handsome and intelligent son to be born to her, just like the Lord of serpents. Her prayers and endless rituals to appease Shiva were finally answered when a son was born to her during the Makar Sankranti of 1863.

The happy couple believing the newly born to be an avatar of Shiva, named him Narendranath. As the kid started growing up, he became naughtier and restless, upsetting his parents and creating a nuisance for them. Bhuvaneshwari Devi would often beat her head and cry that Shiva had not offered her a son but has sent down a demon.
Little did they know that their son would one day become an idol and role model for people like APJ Abdul Kalam, Subhas Chandra Bose, Nikola Tesla and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

> External nature is only internal nature writ large. - Swami Vivekananda

As he grew up, he became more serious about life and its issues. Brought up through formal education and a well-supporting family, Narendranath developed traditional as well as progressive thoughts in the shadow of his mother and father respectively. The rational attitude of Vishwanath Datta and the religious zeal of Bhuvaneshwari Devi helped in shaping his personality and thinking.

Narendra developed a sense of responsibility and he became a teacher, teaching people about the truth behind casteism and the evils of rich and poor. Once, the boy found two tobacco pipes in his father's office. On promptly asking about them, he found out that one of them was the Muslims while the other was for Hindus. He put them both in his mouth which angered his father. In response, Narendra said that both the pipes had the same taste and there was no difference in them.

> All differences in this world are of degree and not of Kind because oneness is the secret of everything. - Swami Vivekananda.

Soon, his interests started turning towards religion and he became keen on meeting God in order to experience the feeling. This slowly became his ultimate goal in life and eventually, his faith in spiritualism grew. He wanted a guru who could guide him on the right path and he found one in Ramakrishna and joined him.

When the guru died, all his followers became homeless. This is when Narendranath, who was only 23 then took the responsibility for all of them and built a home for them, a dilapidated house in Baranagar was converted into a monastery. This is when Narendra became Swami Vivekananda.

> If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of Evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better. - Swami Vivekananda.

Without any resources or money, clad in saffron, Swami travelled from Bengal to Varanasi to Ayodhya to find the Lord. He went as far as America to talk about the God he believed in. His famous monologue in the Parliament of Religions began with "Brothers and Sisters of America", the words that were applauded and those that became the headline.

For Vivekananda, the world was like a family and all religions are a way to reach God. They are many doors to reach the same destination. His religion was based on mercy and universality. Yet his search for God was never satiated.

> You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself- Swami Vivekananda

In 1902, when Vivekananda was 39, he finally found a way to meet God. He woke up early on the 4th of July, went to the *math* and performed mediation. Throughout the day, he went about doing his work like any other day. In the evening, he excused himself, pleading others not to disturb him, while he walked into his room. In complete silence and remembering the Lord, Vivekananda left the world that day.

Patriot Saint of Modern India; Image Source: Hindu Jagruti 

images_9634d18d21.jpg

When the guru died, all his followers became homeless. This is when Narendranath, who was only 23 then took the responsibility for all of them and built a home for them, a dilapidated house in Baranagar was converted into a monastery. This is when Narendra became Swami Vivekananda.

> If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of Evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better. - Swami Vivekananda.

Without any resources or money, clad in saffron, Swami travelled from Bengal to Varanasi to Ayodhya to find the Lord. He went as far as America to talk about the God he believed in. His famous monologue in the Parliament of Religions began with "Brothers and Sisters of America", the words that were applauded and those that became the headline.

For Vivekananda, the world was like a family and all religions are a way to reach God. They are many doors to reach the same destination. His religion was based on mercy and universality. Yet his search for God was never satiated.

> You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself- Swami Vivekananda

In 1902, when Vivekananda was 39, he finally found a way to meet God. He woke up early on the 4th of July, went to the *math* and performed mediation. Throughout the day, he went about doing his work like any other day. In the evening, he excused himself, pleading others not to disturb him, while he walked into his room. In complete silence and remembering the Lord, Vivekananda left the world that day.

Vivekananda_39f218a208.jpg

Social work

Religion

Culture

A common boy, he was just like us but made a name in the world with his calm mind and humane thinking for which India hailed him as Swamiji. 119 years ago today he left the world with an atmosphere of mourning.

Vaishnavi Sharma

Be and Make: Vivekananda

Vaishnavi Sharma

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लाल बाल पाल ने उतारी अंग्रेज़ों की खाल

सुल्तान एक कातिल है

चंद लोगों के लिए ईश्वर और अन्यों के लिए दुश्मन

The Dark Lanes of Sonagachi