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Nov 19 • 20 tweets • 7 min read
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
Nov 14 • 20 tweets • 9 min read
Archie fans, raise your hands!
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.
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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.
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Nov 10 • 22 tweets • 6 min read
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
Nov 6 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
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
Nov 2 • 18 tweets • 6 min read
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
Nov 1 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
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
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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)
Oct 29 • 19 tweets • 5 min read
In the spring of 1941, amidst WWII, one Indian woman boarded a "whites-only" section on a train in the American South. A ticket collector ordered her to move, but what followed was nothing short of remarkable.
Thread.
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As the train sped across the Louisiana border, the ticket collector demanded her to move. Yet this woman, undeterred by the authoritative demand, remained seated. Calmly, she looked up and asked a question that revealed her resolve: “Why?”
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Oct 25 • 21 tweets • 7 min read
Remember this iconic DDLJ opening scene? Amrish Puri, feeding pigeons in London’s Trafalgar Square, lost in thoughts of Punjab’s mustard fields. It’s etched in Bollywood history. But have you ever wondered why so many pigeons are always present in city squares? A Thread. 1/20
Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most vibrant and iconic spots, featured in DDLJ where Amrish Puri’s character, in a nostalgic monologue, compares himself to urban pigeons searching for food in a foreign land. Throughout the film, pigeons serve as a metaphor. 2/20
Oct 19 • 19 tweets • 6 min read
Legend has it, the Czar of Russia challenged the brilliant mathematician Leonard Euler with a puzzle he couldn’t solve, despite years of effort. 177 years later, three mathematicians finally cracked it—two of them Indian. Today, we celebrate the birthday of one of them. 1/18
Euler, born in Switzerland, made a name for himself in St. Petersburg, Russia, working under the protection of the czars. His mathematical genius thrived, solving complex problems for both the Academy and the government. 2/18
Oct 6 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
You’ve probably seen that viral image floating around the internet: a zebra cart trotting through the streets of Calcutta in the 1930s. But the real story of taming zebras? It was a global obsession, and it’s wilder than you think! Thread 1/18
The most unique tale of a zebra-drawn carriage is linked to Calcutta’s Mullick family. You might think this was all about flaunting wealth, but, according to Rajat Mullick, it was much more—a daring answer to a challenge. The Ganges Walk has a brilliant article on this. 2/18
Sep 27 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
Kolkata’s iconic tram system, since 1873, is nearing its end as the Govt. plans to discontinue most routes. Kolkata—India’s last city with a functioning tram system—will now only keep one route operational. A thread of images from the golden days of #KolkataTram 1/18
Above: Car 205 was converted to normal layout in about 1970, and is seen here thus altered on 3 June 1977.
The car is on the roadside reservation on Kidderpore Road, and has just passed a "K" class car.
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Sep 24 • 17 tweets • 5 min read
Team India has just made history with a rare double gold at the #ChessOlympiad2024 in Budapest, dominating both the men's and women's events. This is the perfect time to look back at the fascinating story of India’s first chess superstar. Thread 1/16
Mir Sultan Khan was born in 1903 (alt. 1905) in Sargodha of present day Pakistan in a family of religious preachers. His initiation into the game of chess happened at the age of 9 through his father (2/16)
Sep 23 • 11 tweets • 6 min read
Every year, millions rely on a procedure that’s simple, non-invasive, and life-saving: Endoscopy. It's used to diagnose everything from stomach issues to cancer. But did you know its roots trace back to an ancient Indian circus art? Thread.
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Endoscopy—a flexible tube with a camera to look inside the body—has revolutionized healthcare. But what if I told you it was inspired by something as wild as sword swallowing? Don't miss the full deep dive into this incredible story in our latest YouTube video! Now read on. 2/9
Sep 21 • 18 tweets • 4 min read
The image below depicts The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai a renowned artwork from Japan's Edo period. Hokusai used a vibrant dye known as Prussian blue to bring the waves to life. But what does this have to do with the color of your living room?Let us explain 1/17
The shade was created by accident in 1704 in Berlin by a dye maker Johann Jacob Diesbach. When the shade became popular in the mid-18th century a German chemist created his own formula for the Prussian blue and started selling it in London. 2/17
Aug 27 • 24 tweets • 6 min read
Long before the cacophony reached the TV studios of ‘New India’, a newspaper in Bombay took sensationalism to a new high and defined a whole era of tabloid writing. But how is this related to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre? Let us explain. 1/22
On May 10, 1943, a notice was issued to the editor, publisher, and printer of a daily newspaper known as the "Bombay Sentinel" concerning a comment which appeared in its issue of April 28, 1943. The editor at the time was a man called Benjamin Guy Horniman. 2/22
Aug 22 • 22 tweets • 5 min read
In these dark and desolate times, hope is in short supply. In the quest for light at the end of the tunnel, we were reminded of similar times when a common man rose among the ruins and made a positive difference to countless lives (1)
The story begins about 25 years ago in Sutia – a village in Gaighata block of N24 Parganas district of West Bengal. In the late 90s, a reign of terror pervaded Sutia and other adjacent villages (2)
Aug 18 • 15 tweets • 3 min read
We are deeply disturbed, but this isn’t the first time and unfortunately won't be the last either. As many parts of the country reverberate with cries for justice, we ask the question: Why does it always take a heinous crime to be committed for a positive change to emerge? 1/13
On 26 March 1972, a rape was committed in Desaiganj, in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The victim was a young tribal girl named Mathura, aged hardly 14 or 16 then. 2/13
Aug 9 • 15 tweets • 4 min read
Take a moment to look at these shoes.
They might look unremarkable, but they’re at the heart of a word that’s been echoing among Indian sports fans this week.
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These are sabots—a traditional wooden clog from France and surrounding countries like The Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy. They come in different styles, from fully wooden clogs to leather shoes with wooden soles.
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Aug 3 • 24 tweets • 5 min read
The recent controversy and the unhinged social backlash faced by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif reminds us of an incredible story we once heard. Story of an intersex footballer from remote India who battles for identity against a ruthless society.
A story you must read today. 1/23
In June 2017, on a warm yet pleasant afternoon, our former teammate had the chance to meet Boni Paul for an exclusive interview. Despite the intense struggles Boni faced, he exuded warmth & grace, showing no signs of the severe battles he was enduring. He started the story. 2/23
Aug 1 • 23 tweets • 6 min read
On the morning of September 5, 1972, Kamajeet Sandhu stepped out of her quarters, in the games village in Munich, but something felt wrong. Over the day as the horrific events unfolded it would forever change Kamajeet’s life. A thread. 1/21
On December 13, 1970, the mood in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was somber. It had been raining cats and dogs since morning but by late afternoon it had stopped, Just in time for Kamaljeet to make a run for glory. 2/21
Jul 27 • 20 tweets • 8 min read
On August 11, 1936, Amrita Bazar Patrika published a dramatic photo of the Indian hockey team celebrating their gold medal win at the Berlin Olympics. The bold headline read: “Hockey Team Honoured.” But who's the mysterious woman in the saree at the centre? Thread.
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The photo isn't just about the team; it includes some stern-looking German officials and, intriguingly, an Indian lady in an ornate saree, radiating confidence. This gem was uncovered by the brilliant Baijayanti Roy for the Menaka Archive.