माफ़ करने वाला भारत दुनिया ने देखा था, बदला लेने वाले भारत को पहली बार दुनिया ने देखा। दुश्मन की ज़मीन पर दुश्मन को चकमा देकर आतंकवादियों के ठिकाने को तबाह करके यह साबित कर दिया की यह नया भारत है !

घर में घुसकर मारेंगे भी और दुनिया के सामने शान से दहाड़ेंगे भी

वो जब बोलते थे तो अच्छे-अच्छों की बोलती बंद हो जाती थी क्यूंकि सच को सबूत के साथ पेश करने का हुनर जो उनके पास था वह किसी के पास नहीं था। भारत के 'द ग्रैंड ओल्ड मैन' ने विदेशी देश में उन्हीं की भाषा में उनका ही सच दिखा दिया।

अंग्रेज़ शॉक, दादाजी रॉक्स

Three nations with a history of conflict mourned together for Neerja Bhanot, an ordinary woman with extraordinary courage who not only met eye to eye with terrorists but also did not bow to death.

An Angel Down Below

This is a story of 7 ordinary women, who had no background in business, no significant educational qualification, and with just Rs. 80 in the capital, they were able to build a business empire worth 1600 crores which is spread across 69 branches and more than 42,000 employees.

SMGU Lijjat Papad: The story of 7 women

On this day internationally, people celebrate ‘pi approximation day’ dedicated entirely to the constant of pi. Whether you’re a baker or a math buff, this day has something for everyone!

Celebrating Pi

A doctor (Dr.), a missus, a daughter, a rebel - all these honorofics take us to the birth of the first woman to achieve the label of a graduate in the course of medical science in India.

Dr. Nightingale of India.

A sandwich of our history with our former colonisers, the foundation of the hall was laid on this day as a memorial to Queen Victoria and is now a hub of historical knowledge and rare exhibitions.

History preserved in Marble: Foundation of the Victoria Memorial

A one day self-imposed 'Janata' Curfew is held by the citizens of India, today in 2020. This curfew is to prepare for the larger, longer struggles against the coronavirus pandemic. 

The people need to isolate themselves

Born on January 29, 1964, Irfan Hussain was a cartoonist for the Outlook magazine. He was murdered by politically motivated people, but the court acquitted all suspects because of insufficient evidence

Another Journalist Murdered in Cold Blood – Irfan Hussain

The game of snakes and ladders takes us into the heart of Ancient India. Historically known as *Moksha Patamu* or *Mokshapat,* its origin remains dicey. On the one hand, some scholars believe that the game's inception goes back to the 2nd century. On the other hand, some historians specifically mark its birth during the 13th century by a saint called, Gyandev.

> You will be surprised to unravel the reason behind the game's invention. Primarily invented as a morality game for children, snakes and ladders responded to the themes of *Karma* (one's actions) and *Kama* (desire) in Hindu philosophy. Similarly, according to the Jain variant of the game, the concepts of *Karma* and *Moksha* (liberation from the Karmic cycle) were the highlight.
> 

Ancient Jain version of Snakes and Ladders; Image Source- Wikipedia 

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Following the tangent of these thoughts, it is easier to guess what purpose the snakes and ladders served. The squares inhabiting ladders promised a virtuous ascend towards the ultimate goal of reaching the number 100 or *Moksha* in this case. While the spaces with snakeheads cautiously reminded the players of the result of the excessive *Kama* or misdeeds. The original game had more snakes as compared to the ladders, again prompting the message that the path to salvation is not a cakewalk and requires one to overcome numerous obstacles.

> Furthermore, certain specific squares were attributed as virtuous and evil. The 12th square stood for faith, 51 for reliability, 57 meant generosity, 76 for knowledge and 78 for asceticism. It is no surprise that the evil squares outnumbered the virtuous ones. 44 stood for vanity, 49 condemned vulgarity, 52 was about theft, 62 for alcoholism, 92 warned of greed, 95 for pride and most vitally, 99 cautioned not to fall prey to lust.
> 

With the entry of the British Raj, the fate of this game changed as well. Its inception into the English society stripped all the Indian values with the Victorian sensibilities in an attempt to reflect and prove their superior teachings. Naturally, this new version was more forgiving and equalised the number of snakes and ladders.

Bradley’s Ladders and Chute; Image Source- Wikipedia 

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> The game then travelled to the US territory by 1943. And it again went through a thorough makeover which closely resembles the modern-day version. The credit behind this transformation goes to the American pioneer of board games, Milton Bradley. Now styled into *Chutes and Ladders*, the aesthetics of the game become simpler with a twist of using a spinner instead of dice and chutes instead of snakes, making it a typical playground set-up.
> 

In the following years, the game evolved into its contemporary form with simple squares inhabiting snakes and ladders, unbeknownst to its rich, age-old past. That was the journey of our beloved Snakes and Ladders through the centuries. Today, this simple game of fate and numbers continues to entice everyone into uncountable turns of playing for all the fun and laughter it promises.

Game_of_Snakes_and_Ladder_f189d1b480.jpg

Culture

The worldwide classic game of snakes and ladders is a source of everlasting joy. The excited squeal of climbing a ladder replaces the mournful sigh of becoming a snake's meal. The roller coaster ride is all about luck and numbers. But was it always the case? Let us go back in time to discover the roots of this board game.

Leha

Of Morality Ladders and Villainous Snakes

Leha

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घर में घुसकर मारेंगे भी और दुनिया के सामने शान से दहाड़ेंगे भी

अंग्रेज़ शॉक, दादाजी रॉक्स

An Angel Down Below

SMGU Lijjat Papad: The story of 7 women