Did Rana Sanga invite Babur to invade India, or was this an allegation shaped by Babur's own political interests? Examining the contested account in the Baburnama, Avinash Nayak revisits one of the most debated episodes of medieval Indian history. Drawing on primary sources and competing historical interpretations, the article separates established facts from speculation and questions the facile branding of Rana Sanga as a traitor. It also revisits his formidable resistance to Babur, culminating in the Battle of Khanwa, offering a nuanced perspective on history, political alliances and Rajput valour.
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Kriya Yoga and a Visit to Aruni Ashram: The Forest Retreat That Remembered Silence
What begins as a brief escape from urban life to the quiet village of Joydev Kenduli in West Bengal gradually unfolds into a journey of spiritual discovery. At Aruni Ashram, amidst the landscapes of Birbhum, encounters with sacred spaces, the teachings of Kriyā Yoga and the stillness of the forest invite a deeper reflection on the nature of silence, attachment and inner awareness. Through visits to the Ashrams of Medhas Ṛṣi and the ancient Garh Jangal, Rajabhishek Dey explores the intimate relationship between India's spiritual heritage and its natural landscape. A contemplative travelogue about slowing down, letting go of expectations and rediscovering the stillness within.
Conditioned Responses (Part II): The Politics of Accepted Narratives
What lies behind the resistance to re-examining India’s dominant political and intellectual narratives? In the second part of his follow-up essay series on the politics of minority-progressive-celebrities (MPCs), Sriram Chellapilla questions the assumptions surrounding Hindu reform, religious supremacism and the alleged threat to the Constitution. He challenges the selective scrutiny of Hindu history, examines the ideological leanings of India’s media and cultural establishment, and questions who gets to decide what constitutes intellectual credibility. Moving beyond familiar political labels, the article makes a case for independent scholarship, intellectual scepticism and a willingness to confront uncomfortable questions.
Conditioned Responses (Part 1): The ‘Secularist’ Reflex
In this follow-up to his essay series on the politics of minority-progressive-celebrities (MPCs), Sriram Chellapilla examines the conditioned responses that, he argues, constrain public debate on communalism and secularism in India. He challenges prevailing assumptions about Hinduphobia, minority appeasement, Bollywood’s cultural influence and the equation of Hinduism with Hindutva. Tracing the political and cultural roots of these narratives, the article calls for even-handed scrutiny of religious extremism and a more honest engagement with Hindu concerns. It argues that genuine pluralism requires open debate, not ideological labels that silence dissent.
Learning Was More Than Remembering: How Indian Traditions Disciplined the Act of Knowing
What can India’s ancient traditions of learning teach us about the art of truly knowing? Rajat Kanti Satpati explores how Vedic recitation, Upaniṣadic inquiry and Yogic practice trained the faculties of hearing, memory, reflection and sustained attention. From the precision of oral transmission to the contemplation of the Self, the article examines how knowledge moves beyond mere retention towards deeper understanding. Though rooted in distinct intellectual traditions, these practices share a recognition that learning requires disciplined engagement. Ultimately, the essay presents knowledge not merely as information to be acquired, but as a capacity cultivated through practice.