Indian history is filled with oft-forgotten, brave women who have played an integral part in the freedom struggle. Uda Devi, a warrior who was martyred in the First War of Independence in 1857, is one such braveheart. Born in Ujiriao village in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Uda Devi became associated with Begum Hazrat Mahal due to her determination to participate in India’s freedom struggle. The Begum, who was the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was leading the movement in Awadh. With her help, Uda Devi formed a women’s battalion, largely consisting of members of the Dalit community, in order to fight the British regiment stationed at the Gomti River. The women of this battalion were called ‘Veeranginis’, meaning brave heroines.
Uda Devi’s husband, Makka Pasi, had been martyred at the battle of Chinhat. Motivated by her grief, Uda Devi bravely risked her life to ensure that the British regiment could not break through the women’s battalion and reach reinforcements.
While much has not been written about the specifics of the battle, the circumstances of her death have been recorded by British commander Campbell and W. Gordon-Alexander, in their accounts of the movement. According to them, Uda Devi climbed onto a pipal tree and began firing at British soldiers. She reportedly shot down 32 to 36 soldiers before she was spotted. Upon being seen, she was immediately shot and killed. However, it was only when she fell to the ground that the soldiers discovered her to be a woman. It is said that Campbell was impressed by her bravery and bowed to her in respect.
Uda Devi continues to inspire all those who know about her courage and her sacrifice. A statue of her stands in Sikandar Bagh in Lucknow. Her story is a reminder of the role that women, especially from the underprivileged class, played in achieving the freedom that we enjoy today.
Read the stories of freedom fighters of the independence movement in our latest release First War of Indian Independence, now available on the ACK Comics App.
India has one of the longest and richest histories of any nation in the world. From being home to one of the oldest civilisations: the Indus Valley civilization, to the Mughal empire, to British rule, to finally becoming an independent nation; preserving India’s story is pertinent to our national identity and culture. One of the best mediums to do so are libraries. Filled with influential books, important manuscripts, and inspiring art, libraries make knowledge accessible to the masses. India has hundreds of such libraries, all worth visiting, but this article will focus on a few that you must see.
Illustration: Sneha Balaji
The National Library of India
Located in Kolkata, the National Library of India is the nation’s largest library in terms of volume. Housing over 2.2 million books, manuscripts, and records, its purpose is to amass and maintain printed texts made in India. The history of the National Library of India is a fascinating one. Starting off as the Imperial Library (founded in 1891) by merging smaller libraries in the area, it also doubled up as the official residence of the Governor-General of India until Independence. It was only open to government officials, however, restricting the public from accessing texts. In 1948, the new Indian government signed the Imperial Library (Change of Name) Act, resulting in the library being called the National Library. Another change twenty eight years later added ‘of India’ to the library’s name. Furthermore, a decade ago, the building made headlines as the Ministry of Culture decided to restore it. Part of the restoration process resulted in a secret room being found, on the ground floor with no entrances and exits. Many have theorized the purpose of this thousand square foot room, but no proof has ever been found. Due to its historical importance, the library was opened to the public on February 1, 1953, and can now be visited by anyone on any day with the exception of Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti.
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
Another library that has colonial roots is the library of The Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Created with the goal of “promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as is now immediately connected with India,” the society preserves original documents and texts, conducts research, and acts as a forum to discuss relevant issues. Created as the Literary Society of Bombay in 1804 by Sir James Mackintosh, the organization became affiliated with the Royal Asiatic Society in 1830. A few years after gaining independence, the group separated from the Royal Asiatic Society and has been funded by the central government ever since. The library holds very interesting books, over 15000. Additionally, many thousand ancient manuscripts, including some written on palm leafs. 16th Century illustrated passages from the Mahabharata and the 13th century manuscript of the ‘Vasupujyacharita’ that talks about the twelfth Jain Tirthankara are just some of the historical documents stored. The society also has one of two known original copies of Dante’s Divine Comedy, one of its prized possessions. Although the library is only open to members, all files have been digitised, and can be found easily online.
The Maulana Azad Library
The Maulana Azad Library in Aligarh is the largest university library in Asia. With over 1.8 million books, the library’s impressive collection is matched with an impressive surrounding. Seven storeys high, the building is also bordering 4.75 acres of gardens and lawns. Though only 60 years old, the foundation of the building was laid in 1877 under the name Lytton Library after the then Viceroy of India. Nevertheless, the current building was inaugurated in 1960 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Saraswathi Mahal Library
The last library on this list is the Saraswathi Mahal Library. Located in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu on the beautiful grounds of the Thanjavur palace, this library is one of the oldest in all of Asia, founded in the 16th century. Apart from the various books, this library also contains many precious ancient manuscripts and texts in a multitude of languages. Started by the Nayak Kings of the region as a private library for their own enjoyment and learning, Saraswathi Mahal was not always open to the public. The Kings however only ruled until 1676. Luckily, their successors, the Maratha rulers who captured Thanjavur improved the library, adding to the collection and employing Pandits to go far and wide across India to find new works. The library was opened to the public in 1918 and anyone can visit.
India has a plethora of magnificent libraries holding vast amounts of knowledge and culture in many different languages. Take some time to visit one close to you, or if possible, one of these four!
The Olympics, the world’s premier sporting competition, hosts thousands of athletes and over two hundred nations. Originating in Olympia, Ancient Greece, the Olympics have become a staple, bringing in millions of viewers every four years. With the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics well underway, this is as good a time as ever to look back at India’s century-long history at the games.
Illustration: Sneha Balaji
India first participated during the Paris 1900 Olympics. Though India did not send a team, a Calcutta-born athlete of British nationality named Norman Pritchard won two silver medals in the two hundred metre sprint and two hundred metre hurdle competitions whilst representing India. Both wins were not only historic for India as Pritchard was the first to win an Olympic medal representing an Asian nation. Interestingly enough, historical records of the British team selection show that Pritchard was meant to compete for Great Britain. The International Olympics Committee however still deems those medals to be under India’s name.
The next time Indians took part in the Olympics was in 1920, where they sent six athletes. Though no medals were won that year, it led to India sending a team to every subsequent game, the size of which dramatically increased in recent history. This year a record number one hundred and twenty-seven don Indian jerseys in Tokyo, compared to only six a century ago.
Illustration: Vineet Nair and Harsho Mohan Chattoraj
The last hundred years have resulted in many ‘firsts’ for India and cemented many Indian athletes as at the top of their fields. Inarguably, India was most dominant in, fittingly, its national sport – Field hockey. From 1928 to 1980, India won eight gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals, led by various captains, including Major Dhyan Chand, known as the Wizard of hockey. Born to a Rajput family in Allahabad, Chand joined the British India Army. There he played hockey, developing his talent. Though at first hesitant to focus on sports, he soon exclusively started playing in army tournaments and games, resulting in recognition for his skill. Major Chand’s long list of accomplishments includes three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936 (a year where he captained). In addition to this, Chand was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third most prestigious civilian honour, and his birthday, August 29, is marked as India’s National Sports Day.
Another icon of Indian athletics who started in the army is Milkha Singh, The Flying Sikh. Growing up orphaned during the partition, Milkha Singh is arguably the nation’s best athlete, receiving the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour. He was the first athlete to win gold in the four hundred metre dash in both the Asian and Commonwealth games and participated in three Olympics, in 1956, 1960, and 1964. Though never winning a medal, his four hundred metre sprint in 1960 has become a worldwide favorite, with Singh being in the lead for most of the race. His superb athletics has also resulted in a biopic named “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” which shares his life story and the challenges he has had to overcome.
Milkha Singh is not the only Olympic athlete who has a riveting biopic made after them. Mary Kom, a flyweight boxer hailing from humble beginnings in Manipur has changed the landscape of Indian sports and inspired millions of girls across the globe. Shattering records nationally and internationally, Kom became the first female to win eight championships. Also participating in the London 2012 Olympics, she won a bronze medal, making her the first Indian woman to win a medal in the sport. Since her triumphs in boxing, Mary Kom has become a politician, working to better the lives of her constituents, and has won the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour.
Illustration: ACK Art Team
These three sporting legends, as well as everyone else who takes part in the Olympics under the Tiraṅgā flag, have made Indian athletics what it is today. Older competitors like Leander Paes (tennis doubles superstar) and Khashaba Jadhav (bronze medalist wrestler) set a strong foundation for athletes to come. Abhinav Bindra (India’s only individual gold medalist), Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (a silver medal weightlifter), P.V. Sindhu (a two-time badminton medal winner), and other more recent sportspeople show that Indian sports have a promising future and have been influential to so many.
These Olympics, let’s celebrate India’s long journey during the games and the athletes that make it possible. Go India!
Named after the town it takes place in, Ochira Kalli is a local festival celebrated at the Ochira Parabrahma Temple in Kerala in the month of June. It commemorates the battle of Kayamkulam, which was fought on the fields around the temple. The festival is celebrated through a ritualistic mock battle between two groups in the waterlogged paddy field near the temple. The bulls hold a special place here. Edduppu kaala, huge bull idols, made of hay and cloth are carried from their site of creation to the Ochira temple as a part of the celebration.
The halls were packed and the competing children formed serpentine queues for a chance to be asked a question by their favourite Uncle Pai!
The hall would be abuzz with excitement. The chatter of 2000 children would drown out the last-minute instructions on stage which Lalita Pai would be giving the ever-patient Jubel D’Cruz, who ensured that everything that was needed was in place. As for Uncle Pai, he would be as excited as the children, jumping from one side of the stage to the other while his team arranged the children in neat long queues on two sides of the hall. There was a highly electric atmosphere at the beginning of every ACK quiz show.
Waiting in eager anticipation for the visual clue to be flashed on the screen.
There would be so much energy and crackling anticipation as each child clutched the number the team would have handed over and stood in a constantly fidgety line waiting for her or his turn to answer Uncle Pai’s question. The questions came in a never-ending stream. On history, science, mythology, famous personalities and so many other subjects. Ten children were called up on stage at a time. Each one answered an individual question. The system worked like clockwork except for Jubel who could often be seen determinedly running after a child, who hadn’t answered correctly, waving a copy of Tinkle.
Anant Pai invited scores of schools over for the quiz contests. The spirit of healthy competition was amazing.
Quiz time with Uncle Pai was legendary. Despite having halls spilling over with children there was not one child who did not get a chance to answer or went away without a Tinkle or an Amar Chitra Katha. The maxim was, if you knew the questions you went into the next round and if you couldn’t answer, you went back to your seat with a comic!
The Comic Con is where we started quizzing again and revived the decades old tradition. The team would spend days prepping for the show.
Anant Pai held quiz contests all over the country. Schools and parents waited for him to announce a quiz in their town or city and primed their children to compete. It was a quiz contest that inspired Mr Pai to start Amar Chitra Katha and it was the quiz contest that popularised his comics all over India. Even today, there are adults who nostalgically remember quiz contests they took part in and got a chance to meet their beloved Uncle Pai.
The world has changed but it’s the same feeling of breathlessness during our ACK Family Online Quiz!
Watch all the episodes of ACK Family Quiz Season 1 here.
Avur Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was loved and respected as a scientist, a teacher, a visionary, and then as the 11th President of our country. No one would have thought that this little boy from Rameswaram would one day be honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s most prestigious award, and will always be remembered for his vision for India.
Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
His father was thought to be a healer
Born on 15th October 1931, Abdul was the youngest child of Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma. His father was the Imam at the local Mosque of Rameswaram and led worshippers during prayers. Many people considered him to be a healer. They brought water to him and he dipped his fingers into it while chanting prayers. This water was then used for healing people. His father often explained to young Abdul the power of faith and prayer. This advice probably stayed with him throughout his lifetime.
His sister gave her gold bangles to cover the cost of his education
Young Abdul Kalam got admission into the Madras Institute of Technology. His parents did not know how to meet the cost of his higher education. His elder sister, Zohra gave her gold bangles to make ends meet even though she had little money for her own household needs. Abdul was touched by this selfless gesture. He studied hard to get a scholarship to redeem the piece of jewellery that she had given up.
His work was commendable
After completing his education, Dr Kalam got a job at the Indian National Committee for Space Research as a Rocket Engineer. There he was introduced to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, one of the pioneers of India’s Space Programme. Kalam was assigned to work with Group Captain VS Narayanan to Develop a Rato, which is a Rocket-assisted Take-off system, in eighteen months. The team successfully completed the project in just sixteen months and conducted sixty-four Rato Static tests. This saved the country roughly INR four crores in foreign exchange.
He almost met with death twice
Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
While working at ISRO, Dr. Kalam was saved from the explosion of payloads, the dangerous mix of pure sodium and thermite, by his colleague Sudhakar. This selfless act of Sudhakar inspired Dr Kalam to work even harder and make his life more meaningful and useful to others. He again faced danger in 2001, when the helicopter in which he was travelling crashed in Bokaro. Though nobody was injured, this second clash with death made Dr Kalam turn to a career in teaching and unfold his vision for India.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was given two hours to accept his presidency
In June 2002, Dr Abdul Kalam got a call from the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The PM expressed his wish to nominate him for the post of President. Vajpayee gave Kalam two hours to make up his mind and give his answer. After consulting with his family and friends, he accepted the offer and was sworn in as the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002.
The swearing-in ceremony of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was attended by the head of Ramanathaswamy Temple, the priest of Rameshwaram Church and the imam of Rameshwaram Mosque, apart from his family and colleagues.
He initiated e-governance in the Rashtrapati Bhawan
When Dr Kalam started his tenure as the president of India, he initiated e-governance in Rashtrapati Bhawan and changed the way of work being done in his office.
He was the oldest Indian to fly a fighter aircraft
While visiting the Air force Base in Pune in June 2006, President Kalam expressed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot. Immediately, the pilots around him encouraged him to fly with them as the co-pilot. The President flew in the fighter aircraft for half an hour. With this feat, he not only achieved his childhood dream but also became the oldest Indian to fly a fighter aircraft at the age of seventy -four.
This visionary passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
Read the story of Abdul Kalam in our title APJ Abdul Kalam, now available on the ACK Comics App, Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers.
Toys are not just an article of amusement for children but it also helps them learn holistic skills that are essential for the overall growth of a human being. In India, children have a wide variety of traditional toys to choose from. There are dolls, puppets, animal figurines, kitchen sets and traditional games, made out of different materials like wood, cloth, metal, terracotta, etc. This rich heritage of traditional toys originated in the subcontinent several thousand years ago in the Indus Valley civilization.
In 2000 BCE when the majority of the human population was still dependent on skills like hunting and gathering for their sustenance, there were a handful of civilizations that emerged around the globe which were far more developed in many aspects. Indus Valley Civilization is one such developed civilization that evolved around in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent. As the name suggests, this society was established around the fertile plains of the river Indus which included parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwest India. The ancient city and its citizens pioneered agriculture, trade, measurements, urban layouting, architecture, irrigation and drainage systems. The people in the civilization had also mastered the art of making toys out of clay.
Illustration: Yusuf Bangalorewala and Ramanand Bhagat
Most of the toys found at this UNESCO World heritage site were found in and around the city of Mohenjo-Daro. The toys reflected the societal norms, the social values, the living conditions, and the fauna of the area in 2000 BCE. Animal figurines, utensil sets, puzzle games, and carts were common toys for children at that time. Most toys had simple mechanisms to provide motion to the toy.
The most common animal figurine, that is also rampantly used in Indus valley seals and many other visuals, was the bull. Bulls made out of clay often had movable necks. The bulls could also be attached to a cart, completing the entire bullock cart set. The cart came with a proportionate yoke that would fit accordingly over the humps of the bulls. All carts had solid, rotating wheels, and some of them even had a driver attached to the seating area. The continuous depiction of cattle in most of their art signifies the importance of the horned animals in civilization. Since Indus Valley Civilization was an agrarian society, cattle, both male and female played a crucial role. The male cattle, oxen, would help in ploughing the fields, transportation and carrying heavy loads. And the female cattle, cow, provided them with dairy.
Illustration: Yusuf Bangalorewala and Ramanand Bhagat | Script: Yagya Sharma
Apart from the bullock carts, another transportation toy that was excavated in the ancient city was terracotta boats. Boats were a common means of transportation to facilitate trade across the main river and its tributaries. A monkey toy figurine was also found in Mohenjo-Daro that, unlike other toy figurines, had actual details like proper eyes, nose and expressions. The monkey is depicted in a posture that resembles a monkey sliding down a vine, which is appropriate since the toy monkey is able to slide down a rope. While most of the animal figurines are distinguishable to a particular species, there exists a certain toy that is a combination of two completely different species. The unique toy has the body of a bird and the head of a ram. It also has a pair of rotating wheels instead of legs.
Music centric toys were also a part of children’s toy collection in the civilization. The most common being terracotta rattles and whistles. The whistles were often shaped in the form of birds or eggs. Small spinning tops were also found during the excavation of the city.
Another article of interest found by the archaeologists were the remains of a ball and maze game. Even though the ‘ball’ was nowhere to be found, there were different kinds of mazes made out of terracotta with different sizes and different levels of difficulty. The humble six-faced die is not a modern innovation. Several such dice were found around the civilization, suggesting that dicing or games that used dice were really common among the citizens.
The excavations of these artefacts have proven that even simple articles like toys have a lot of complex history attached to them. It teaches us a lesson that we are connected to our lost ancestors of the Indus Valley Civilization more than we are aware of.
Uttar Pradesh is home to one of the most mesmerizing human creations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal. That is a fact known to many but this wonderful state has a fascinating history. Let’s dive into the pages of the past. Uttar Pradesh comprises the districts of Allahabad, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Azamgarh, Lucknow, Kanpur and Bareilly in the northern plains of the country. This state, along with Uttarakhand, formed the United Provinces of India under British rule. This entire area was renamed Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 1950. The regions of Kumaon and Garhwal formed the new state of Uttarakhand in 2000 and were no longer a part of Uttar Pradesh.
Mythology
The Kosala Kingdom was located within the boundaries of present Uttar Pradesh. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Rama was born in and reigned over Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is said to have been born in Mathura, also a part of Uttar Pradesh.
Pre-Historic Era
It is said that there were sixteen Mahajanapadas or republics of the people in North India in ancient times (around 6th BCE). Seven of those were present within the boundaries of present-day Uttar Pradesh.
From the 5th century BCE, Uttar Pradesh was under the rule of great dynasties such as Maurya and Gupta. Some of the great kings who ruled this region were Chandragupta, Ashoka, Samudra Gupta, and Chandra Gupta II. Another popular ruler, Harsha also known as Harshavardhana, was also based within the present borders of the state. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty. Harsha was able to reign over Uttar Pradesh along with parts of Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, from his capital at present-day Kannauj.
Mughal and Maratha Empire
In 1540 Sher Shah Suri took over Uttar Pradesh after defeating Humayun, the Mughal king. Later, Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah Suri ruled Uttar Pradesh from Gwalior, which was their capital. After the demise of Islam Shah Suri, his prime minister Hemu became ruler of Uttar Pradesh. When Hemu died in the second battle of Panipat, Uttar Pradesh came under the rule of Emperor Akbar. Akbar ruled from Agra and also from Fatehpur Sikri, his newly established city. Jahangir’s son Shah Jahan built the famous Monument Taj Mahal for his queen Mumtaz Mahal in Agra.
After the fall of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, the Maratha rulers seized the region of Uttar Pradesh. Following the second Anglo-Maratha war in 1803, when the East India Company defeated the Maratha Empire, most of the region came under British rule.
Illustration: Samriddhi Shrivastava
The British Period
Indians were dissatisfied with the rule of the East India Company. Revolts erupted in various parts of India. Mangal Pandey, Sepoy of Bengal Regiment stationed at Meerut cantonment in UP, is widely credited for the start of the First War of Independence in 1857. Inspired by this uprising of the soldiers at Meerut on 10th May 1857, the revolution spread all over the nation within months. In 1858, the revolt was completely crushed and India’s administration rights were transferred from the East India Company to the British crown.
Uttar Pradesh continued to be vital to Indian politics and the Indian independence movement. After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British reorganized the administrative boundaries of the region in an attempt to divide the most rebellious regions of the country. The new state was named North-Western Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which were later renamed the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in 1902. It was popularly known as the United Provinces. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed at the Lucknow session of the Congress in 1936. Freedom fighters such as Chandra Sekhar Azad, Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Panday and Begum Hazarat Mahal are also from Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh after independence
After the independence of India, the United Provinces were renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950. The state has given the country seven prime ministers and also occupies the largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha.
In India, sweets are a vital part of social, religious and cultural gatherings as well as celebrations. Some of the sweets have some interesting origin stories associated with them. Here is a list of some popular Indian sweets and legends behind them.
Mysore Pak
Design: ACK Design Team
As the name suggests, this Indian sweet originated in the city of Mysore, Karnataka. The story of the invention of this dish occurred during the reign of Mysore King Krishnaraja Wodeyar. One day, the royal chef Kakasura Madappa realized that he had not made any sweets for the king and the time was running out since the king would arrive at any moment to have his lunch. The desperate chef made a sweet by adding gram flour, ghee and sugar. The king loved the sweet and enquired about the name of the sweet. Kakasura named it Mysore Pak as Paka means concoction.
Rasgulla
Design: ACK Design Team
The legend goes like this: When Lord Jagannath was going for Rath Yatra, Lakshmi was upset that he didn’t ask her to accompany him. Lord Jagannath offered her Rasgulla to pacify her. Hence on the ninth day of Rath Yatra, Rasgulla is offered to Goddess Lakshmi as tradition. After she savoured this desert, the three deities Jagannath, Balaram, Subhadra entered the temple.
Shahi Tukda
Shahi Tukda is a dessert that is said to have its origin during the Mughal period. It is said to be inspired by an Egyptian dessert named Um Ali. As per a legend, a king and his troupe went for a hunt and stopped at the Nile river to have some refreshments. The villagers were excited about hearing this and decided to arrange a chef to cook a delicious meal for the king. As they lacked resources, the village cook took some stale bread, dipped them in a rich gravy, and made a dessert using nuts, sugar, cream, and milk. Here, it came to be known as Shahi Tukda, meaning ‘the royal piece’. It was said to be a favourite of the Mughal emperors, who used to break their Ramzan fasts with the dessert.
Gulab Jamun
Design: ACK Design Team
Gulab Jamun is one of the most popular and loved dishes in India. Though it is believed that the sweet originated in India, it actually has its roots in Persia. The word ‘Gulab’ was derived from a Persian word that meant ‘flower’. Gulab Jamun was first introduced during the Mughal period and was inspired by the Persian dish Bamieh and Turkish sweet Tulumba.
Puran Poli
Design: ACK Design Team
Puran Poli has its origins in the south of India. The recipe of Puran Poli is mentioned in the 14th century Telugu Encyclopedia composed by Allasani Peddana named Manucharitra. Different names were in use to refer to Puran Poli in different states. It is known as Holige or Obbattu in Karnataka, Uppitu in Tamilnadu and Kerala, Bobbattu or Baksham in Andhra Pradesh and Puran Poli in Maharashtra.
Agra Ka Petha
Agra is famous for its delicious Petha. These Pethas known as Agra Ka Petha originated in the royal kitchen of the Mughal Empire. The dish was made to please Emperor Shah Jahan, who wanted a sweet white in color. It is said that five hundred chefs were appointed to prepare the Petha as per the emperor’s commands. Also, it is believed that Petha was prepared to provide refreshments for the twenty-one thousand workers who were working on the Taj Mahal.
Ghevar
Design: ACK Design Team
Ghevar is a disc-shaped sweet made with wheat flour and fully soaked in sugar syrup. Ghevar was traditionally prepared during the Rajasthani festival of Teej. According to Ayurveda, the months of July and August are predominated by Vata and Pitta disorders respectively, leading to ailments causing dryness, acidity, restlessness, and mood swings. Ghevar has Vata and Pitta calming properties due to its ghee content and also has a calming effect on both mind and body. It is specially prepared during the months of July and August in Rajasthan and also for the festive occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Teej.
The faith of Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The followers are known as Christians who believe that Jesus is the Christ whose arrival was prophesied in the Old Testament and chronicled in the New Testament of the Bible.
Illustration: Pratap Mullick
Jesus Christ
According to the Bible, Jesus was born as a son to Joseph and the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit’s power in Bethlehem, Judea. Jesus was regarded as the awaited Messiah, the Christ whose arrival was promised in the Old Testament. Jesus moved from place to place preaching to the people. He had twelve disciples during his lifetime. He was arrested for violating the Jewish laws and tried by the Jewish authorities. He was crucified and left to die on a cross on the orders of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a way of executing criminals at that time. It is believed by all Christians that Jesus resurrected from the dead, three days later, and met his disciples. He was then taken up to Heaven. This belief and the belief in his teachings are the foundations of Christianity.
Illustration: Pratap Mullick
The Bible
The English word ‘Bible’ is coined from the Latin word ‘Biblia‘ meaning ‘holy book‘. It is a collection of religious texts sacred not only to Christians but also to Jews, Samaritans and others. The collection of text in the Bible is treated as the revelations of God. The Bible has been translated into various languages from the original writings in Armani, Greek, and Hebrew. As of September 2020, the Bible has been translated into 704 languages. Thus, the Bible is regarded as the most translated book in the world.
History of Christianity
According to the Bible, the first church was established fifty days after Jesus’s death in Judea. Most of the early Christians were Jews. Shortly after the establishment of the church, many non-Jews also began to embrace Christianity. Early Christians considered it their duty to spread the teachings of Christ to more people. One of the most important preachers was the apostle Paul who was a former persecutor of Christians. Paul converted to Christianity after he had a vision about Jesus. Paul preached the gospel and established churches throughout the Roman Empire, Europe, and Africa. Paul is also thought to have written thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Roman Emperor Constantine also converted to Christianity and tried to spread Christianity in his region.
Illustration: Anvita Tekriwal
Types and Beliefs of Christianity
Christians accept Jesus as the Son of God who was sent to save mankind from sin. Christians also believe in the Trinity that is in God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christianity is divided into three branches – Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox. The Pope governs the Catholic Church and Catholic bishops all over the world. The Orthodox branch is divided into independent units governed by a Holy Synod. Protestant Christianity differs in its views and interpretation of the Bible and the church from the Catholics.
Christianity in Modern Era
Christianity is one of the world’s biggest religions with about two billion followers all over the world. Christians form a majority of the population in nearly 157 countries. Christmas, the day that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated throughout the world by Christians and by people of all religions.
Here are a few teachings of Christ:
Love God.
Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
It is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Whatever you do for the poorest of your brothers and sisters, you will be doing it for me.
Forgive those who wrong you. Bless those who curse you.
