Thread by @Paperclip_In

Have you ever wondered how the absolutely fabulous @kalkikanmani is linked to the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty – two of the world's most iconic landmarks? And there's more to the story. Here is a history puzzle that might just blow your mind. 1/19

In February 2009, Anurag Kashyap came up with his modern day adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1917 Bengali novel "Devdas." Interestingly, the novel had previously been adapted 12 times and in 7 different languages for movies. 2/19

Kashyap's dark, psychedelic interpretation bagged a National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards, with the Best Supporting Actress award going to debutant French-Indian actor Kalki Koechlin, who played a modern-day version of "Chandramukhi." 3/19

During the auditions, Kashyap had initially rejected Kalki for her French roots as it didn’t match his visualisation of an Indian character. But Kalki took her character to the next level as she perfectly portrayed the turbulent life of the immortal love icon - Chandramukhi. 4/19

Speaking of immortal icons, let's jet-set to Paris and dive into the fascinating history behind the Eiffel Tower! Meet Maurice Koechlin, a brilliant mind and engineer extraordinaire, who designed this structural marvel that graces the skylines of Paris. 5/19

Maurice Koechlin, a key player in Gustave Eiffel's team, was the creative genius behind the tower's breathtaking structural design. 6/19

Erected in 1889 for the World's Fair Exposition Universelle, it was Maurice's brilliance that gave the Eiffel Tower its signature elegance and modern charm. 7/19

That's not all! Maurice also played a crucial role in designing the Statue of Liberty's framework or armature. Now, you might be wondering how Kalki fits into this intriguing historical puzzle. 8/19

Kalki Koechlin is the great-granddaughter of none other than Maurice Koechlin - the genius who gave us the Eiffel Tower and contributed to the creation of the Statue of Liberty. 9/19

But wait, this one hell of a history puzzle doesn't end here. There is more to it. Let's take a deeper dive into the esteemed Koechlin family. Not only were they masters of textiles, influential industrialists, but also shrewd politicians. 10/19

But exactly where did their origins lie? It is in picturesque Alsace, a slice of eastern France nestled beside the upper Rhine, neighbouring Germany and Switzerland. Now, why is this region significant to our story? 11/19

What if we tell you it's because of a particular breed of dog that we all have come to love and adore? It's none other than the German Shepherd. 12/19

But, here's a twist. In the first half of the 20th century, German Shepherds came to be closely associated with Imperial and Nazi Germany. 13/19

They gained fame during the Nazi era, resonating as they did with nationalistic sentiments through both World Wars. Even Hitler had a pack of German Shepherds. 14/19

They featured in Nazi propaganda (portraying Hitler as an animal lover) & served as guards in concentration camps during the Holocaust. 15/19

However, the aftermath of war sowed seeds of unease towards anything remotely "German." This sentiment rippled across Britain, the Commonwealth, and America after World War I, leading to an aversion to all things "German." 16/19

The solution? A rebranding protocol! A name was sought that wouldn't evoke the spectre of Nazi Germany and its wartime associations. The choice? A region synonymous with conflict, a land often caught in the crosshairs of French and German influences. Alsace. 17/19

Remarkable isn't it? The very same Alsace where Kalki's ancestors hailed from! So, the German Shepherd shed its wartime German origins and transformed into the Alsatian of today.
18/19

History is strange but it's also poetic in how it binds a Bollywood actress, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and the Alsation together in one, single thread.

There goes the puzzle.

19/19

Sources:

Khan, Yasmin Sabina. Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty. (Cornell University Press)

Clayson, S. Hollis. “Eiffel Tower”, Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. (Oxford University Press)

By Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak, The German Shepherd Dog, Historical View of the Breed's Development, Prime, and Deterioration, Brush Education

Image: Wikimedia Commons,
World War 2 Graves, ww2gravestone.com/hitlers-dog-bl…