Spotlight

Spotlight

The Story of an Unknown Vijayanagara Hero: The Barber Kondoja who Obtained Tax Exemption for his Entire Community
History Vignettes

The Story of an Unknown Vijayanagara Hero: The Barber Kondoja who Obtained Tax Exemption for his Entire Community

By
Sandeep Balakrishna
6 min read
Kondoja, an expert barber in Karnataka impressed Aliya Rama Raya with his beard-shaving skills and used the opportunity to get a tax exemption for his community throughout the Vijayanagara Empire. The ...
The Appalling Cost of Hindus Ignoring Mahmud of Ghazni's Open Vow to Purge India of Idolatry: Conclusion
History Vignettes

The Appalling Cost of Hindus Ignoring Mahmud of Ghazni's Open Vow to Purge India of Idolatry: Conclusion

By
Team Dharma Dispatch
6 min read
The concluding part of the series on the Hindu Response to Islamic Invasions shows that Hindus repeatedly lost out because they were unable to take a long-term view of national policy and wasted energ ...
Illustration of Murshid Quli Khan reading the Quran
History Vignettes

The Bigotry of Murshid Quli Khan and the Farman that Founded Kolkata

By
Sandeep Balakrishna
5 min read
Murshid Quli Khan was a fanatical Shia who ran his administration strictly according to the diktats of the Quran
Bengali Arrack and Bouleponge: A Glimpse into the Savage Lifestyle of European Naval Merchants and their Crew in the 17th Century Mughal Empire
Notes On Culture

Bengali Arrack and Bouleponge: A Glimpse into the Savage Lifestyle of European Naval Merchants and their Crew in the 17th Century Mughal Empire

By
Sandeep Balakrishna
8 min read
A brief history of the liquor industry in the 17th Century Mughal Empire and its interactions with the European trading merchants reveals a rather stark picture
Illustration of Mysore University in disrepair
Commentary

How Caste Politics, Communism and Congress Transformed Mysore University into a Crematorium of Knowledge

By
Sandeep Balakrishna
16 min read
The University of Mysore took its inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita. Power-hungry caste politicians aided by communists eventually transformed it into a graveyard of knowledge.
From the West's War against Breastfeeding to Puberty Blockers
Notes On Culture

From the West's War against Breastfeeding to Puberty Blockers

By
Sandeep Balakrishna
3 min read
From the 1950s onwards, Corporate America declared a war against breastfeeding leading to long-term, disastrous societal consequences.
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