#OTD in 1948, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was shot dead by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse, but the bullets were not enough to limit his legacy to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. A thread on streets named after Mahatma Gandhi across continents.
Gandhi almost has 50 around streets, if not more, named after him outside India across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. Undying legacy.
This street in Warsaw, Poland is more interesting as this is the place where Tagore street meets Gandhi Street.
Milan, Italy.
North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Zagreb, Croatia.
Paris, France.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Casablanca, Morocco.
Ankara, Turkey.
Montevideo, Uruguay.
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mexico City, Mexico.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Hanover, Germany.
Bucharest, Romania.
Overijssel, Netherlands.
Chicago, USA.
Image Source: Google & Wikimedia.
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You may have seen the viral video of Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ripping up a bill and leading a haka in parliament. It brings to mind a fascinating historical connection—how the Māori economy was boosted by gold, thanks to an unlikely hero: a man from Maharashtra. 1/19
Before European colonization, the Māori were aware of gold’s existence but didn’t mine it. They had no interest in its economic value. This changed dramatically during the Otago gold rush of the 1860s, New Zealand's largest gold strike. 2/19
Gabriel Read, a gold prospector from Tasmania, is widely credited with discovering Otago's gold. But the truth is, he wasn’t the first. The credit rightly belongs to a man of Indian origin: Edward Peters. 3/19
This 1969 issue of "Betty and Me" had something extra special - Archie Andrews in a cool Nehru jacket! So, how did Nehru make it into the Archie comics?
A thread on the story behind this unique fashion moment.
1/19
The Nehru jacket—iconic, sophisticated, and daringly distinct. Named after India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, this tailored coat with a mandarin collar broke style barriers in the '60s. But what’s so unique about it? Let’s dive in.
2/19
A bit of history: Jawaharlal Nehru frequently wore a similar style known as the achkan or sherwani, traditional Indian garments, possibly a derivation from Regal Bandhgala Jodhpuri suit, along with a red rose buttonhole.
Earlier this year, something incredible happened near Delhi. Protesting farmers flew kites to counter tear-gas drones deployed by security forces. It might sound simple, but using kites as a tool to fight a battle has a fascinating history.
A thread. 1/21
Kites have long been more than just toys. In ancient China, they were also military tools. In 202 BC, General Han Xin had a brilliant idea: he used a kite to measure the distance over enemy walls. 2/21
By calculating the kite’s length, he dug a tunnel to breach the fortress—a move that would change history.
Today is Election Day in the USA and we’d like to tell you a story. More than a century ago, a group of men tried to humiliate a woman by nominating her for mayor in a small town in Kansas. It was a lesson to keep women out of politics. But what happened next was remarkable 1/13
The town? Argonia, Kansas. The year? 1887. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) had recently organized in Argonia, and with their newfound voting rights, local women carefully selected a male candidate they trusted to serve the town’s best interests. 2/13
Politics wasn’t just a man’s domain anymore, and this group of women was making sure their voices were heard. But not everyone was happy. This didn’t sit well with a group of men in town. To “teach them a lesson,” they hatched a plan to embarrass the women 3/13
As most of India celebrates #Diwali, Bengal also turns to the fierce and divine godess Kali. This stunning 1916 photo captures a bahurupi, a traditional folk artist, dressed as Goddess Kali, embodying the spirit of the festival.
But who are these bahurupis? A short thread. 1/17
Bengal’s villages hold secrets of forgotten art, and among them, one stands out: the Bahurupis, the 'shape-shifting' performers of folklore. These traveling artists roam from place to place, embodying gods and mythical beings. 2/17
The word “Bahurupi” comes from Sanskrit: *Bahu* (many) and *Rupa* (form). Quite literally, they are the ones who transform, becoming different deities every day. They were doing it long before cosplaying became cool. 3/17
Of every ten firecracker boxes you’d pick up during #Diwali, nine of them would probably contain a label that reads ‘Sivakasi’, a town in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu.
A short thread on this unique town that has been synonymous with #DiwaliCelebration
#Revisit
(1/7)
Sivakasi city alone produces about 90% fire crackers of the nation while providing employment for about 250K people. The city thrived on an industry of making firecrackers and safety matches for almost a century (2/7)
The arid landscape of Sivakasi gets little rainfall, making the place difficult for agriculture and other industries. The city often fell under the grip of extreme drought and famine (3/7)