1864 - View of Srinagar from Jhelum River

Ettayapuram Palace

1880 - Ettayapuram Palace, Ettayapuram, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

It is located at Tuticorin - Madurai NH -45 B highway. It is known for being the birth place of the famous poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar. He is one of the best Tamil literary figures and is known as the pioneer of modern Tamil poetry. His poems depicted nationalism and patriotism during the era of Indian freedom movement. 

Anantheshwara Hindu Temple, Udupi

1880 - Udupi Anantheshwara Hindu Temple, Udupi (Udipi), Karnataka

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ananteshwar Temple is an ancient 8th-century temple believed to be the oldest in the region. The temple complex also houses Chandramouleshwara and Krishna Temples. The main shrine is made of stone and has a recently installed silver door frame. A Hindu philosopher, Madhavacharya, trained and taught his disciples in the temple complex.

This place was anciently known as Sivalli. Locals also called it Siva-belli and sometimes even Rajathapeetha Pura. History has it that Ramabhoja who was an ardent follower of Lord Parashurama was crowned the king of this place, hence, the name Rajathapeetha Pura.

Once, Ramabhoja wished to perform a Yajna. In the process of performing the Yajna a snake was sighted and got killed by mistake. To free himself from Sarpa Dosha (sin of killing a snake), the king decided to make a Silver Pedestal (Rajatha Peetha) which would have images of snakes carved on it, as instructed by Lord Parashurama.

Another story says that Lord Shiva occupied the silver pedestal in the form of a Linga. It is also said that Lord Parashurama was requested by Lord Shiva to enshrine the Linga in the form Lord Anantha. This is how the name Anantheshwara came into existence. This is how the story of the temple of Anantheshwara coming into being.

 

Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar

1858 - Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar

Katra Ahluwalia, developed by Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1718-1783), one of the prominent leaders of Sikh Misals in 1760, was a planned and secured residential locality near the Golden Temple

A Hindu Temple in Nashik

Naroshankar Hindu Temple, Nashik (Nasik), Maharashtra, India

Clicked in 1865

Situated on the banks of the sacred river Godavari, Naroshankara Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was constructed by Sardar Naroshankar Rajebahaddur in 1747 and hence got the name Naroshankar temple.

The Naroshankar Temple is a great example of the architectural style called "Maya" dating back to the 18th century. The main temple is built on a platform and its interiors as well as exteriors are adorned with stunning carved structures and ornamental works that contain elaborate laceworks, peacocks holding beads, garlands etc. The four directions of the temple are adorned with statues of the saints in Padmasana and its four corners are decorated with umbrellas, commonly known as 'Meghadambari' or 'Barasati', of which only three are existing, the other being washed away in Godavari floods. The temple is surrounded by an elevan feet fortification with a huge bell house in its center which houses the famous Naroshankar Ghanta bell. The bell house is a memorial to celebrate the victory over the Portuguese by the Maratha Ruler Bajirao Peshwa’s younger brother Chimaji Appa who won the fort of Vasai from the Portuguese. Naroshankar Rajebahaddur had played a vital role in this war and the bell is awarded to him for his bravery. The ringing of this bronze bell measuring six feet diameter can be heard up to about 5 kilometers.

 

Ambedkar with family

 Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar with his wife Dr Savita Ambedkar, helper Sudama and their pet dog

Hanuman kills Sahasa Kumala

 Hanuman killed Sahasa Kumala, at Wat Phananchoeng, Ayutthaya

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela Festival, Allahabad, United Provinces, India; 

captured by C. L. Sevenoaks (1948)

Boxing competition

 Boxing competition in Varanasi (1950-60 )

Mathura

 Mathura, India 1950 

Photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson

Indira Gandhi

 Indira Gandhi eating roasted corn, 1966

छत्रपति शिवाजी

 छत्रपति शिवाजी का एकमात्र लाइव स्केच, जिसे इतिहासविद वी. एस.बेंद्रे ने खोजा था

Mahishasuramardini

 The Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini) | India | Philadelphia Museum of Art

Gurkhas

 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry, c. 1890

Muslim refugees waiting to be transported to Pakistan

 A crowd of Muslims at the Old Fort (Purana Qila) in Delhi, which had been converted into a vast camp for Muslim refugees waiting to be transported to Pakistan. 

Pic source - Manchester Guardian, 27 September 1947.

साल 1900 में बनारस

 दुनिया का सबसे पुराना शहर जो आज भी बसा हुआ है.

THE GROUNDWORK OF INDIAN HISTORY

 

THE GROUNDWORK OF INDIAN HISTORY

BY

SURENDRA NATH SEN

India is the middle most of the three vast peninsulas that stretch southwards from the mainland of Asia into the ocean. On its north rise the lofty ridges of the Himalayas, which wall it off from the plateau of Tibet. On the north-west and the north-east a series of smaller hills run south from the great range and descend right to the sea which encircles the southern half of the peninsula like a deep moat....

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