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EXPLAINED HISTORY NEWS

California, Mexico, California Mexico history,

The shared history of California & Mexico, why anti-ICE protestors were waving Mexican flagsSubscriber Only

June 18, 2025 17:45 IST

California was once a part of Mexico. More than 30% of its residents still trace their heritage to Mexico

A 19th century representation of the king agreeing to the Magna Carta, with King John seated and the barons around him.

Magna Carta: What is this ‘blueprint for democracy’, signed 800 years agoSubscriber Only

June 17, 2025 12:59 IST

The Magna Carta was signed on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede Meadows near London. It was annulled just a few weeks later, and much of it focused on local administrative issues. Why is it seen as influential?

charkhi dadri

Air India plane crash: Recalling the Charkhi Dadri collision, one of the worst aviation disasters in historySubscriber Only

June 16, 2025 19:20 IST

The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad came 29 years after the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision of Saudia Flight 763 which was going from Delhi to Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran, and Kazakh Flight 1907 which was travelling from Kazakhstan’s Chimkent (now Shymkent) to Delhi

mavi marmara, israel, turkey, gaza freedom flotilla,

Israel detains Gaza Flotilla, deports Greta Thunberg: Recalling the 2010 Mavi Marmara incidentSubscriber Only

June 10, 2025 20:40 IST

In 2010, Israeli commandos had shot dead 10 activists aboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a “freedom flotilla” carrying aid to Gaza in a similar effort. Here is what happened.

Census: People at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Census dates announced: recalling the last caste census of 1931Subscriber Only

June 5, 2025 11:51 IST

The last caste census took place in 1931. This data will form the baseline for the count of members of various castes in the upcoming Census. This is the story of Census of 1931, how it was conducted, and what it found

Metropole

Metropole: House of luxury to enemy property to now a parking lot, Nainital hotel’s inheritance of lossSubscriber Only

June 4, 2025 06:44 IST

Metropole is where Jinnah and his wife honeymooned in 1918. The design of its roof came to be known as Nainital-pattern-roofing, which the British then used across India. Why is the hotel being turned into a parking lot?

US role India Pakistan conflict: India-Pakistan

History of US role in India-Pakistan issues: Four wars, the hyphen, and TrumpSubscriber Only

June 19, 2025 13:27 IST

US role in India-Pakistan conflict: What is India's hyphenation with Pakistan, and why does New Delhi oppose it? Why is New Delhi against third party intervention? And what has the US role been in India-Pakistan hostilities in the past? We explain.

Nehru-Indira Gandhi in Pahalgam, J&K June 1963

When Nehru visited Pahalgam: Story of first PM’s last vacationSubscriber Only

May 21, 2025 11:15 IST

Nehru travelled to Pahalgam with his daughter Indira Gandhi in June 1963, at a time when his political difficulties were mounting and his health was failing. He was on vacation, but he did some political work as well

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during a visit to Sikkim.

On 50 years of Sikkim’s integration with India, recalling the role of royals, political partiesSubscriber Only

May 16, 2025 14:39 IST

How did Sikkim become a part of India almost three decades after Indian independence? We recall the history.

BijuStalingrad

Russia honours Biju Patnaik: What did he do during Battle of Stalingrad?Subscriber Only

May 7, 2025 16:44 IST

While he may be remembered today as a political leader, in his youth Biju Patnaik was a fine aviator. He flew British aircraft during World War II

Mexico US

With Trump’s offer to place troops in Mexico, recalling the US’s previous military interventionsSubscriber Only

May 6, 2025 15:29 IST

The prospect of military presence raises concerns, in no small part due to the countries’ history. Here is what to know.

sword

A sword returns, a legacy revived: Why Raghuji Bhonsle’s weapon matters?Subscriber Only

April 30, 2025 20:13 IST

The basket-hilt sword has a European-style single-edged blade, which is slightly curved, and two fullers — grooves or channels that run the length of the sword

Golconda Blue, Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, Vivid Blue Diamond, Blue Diamond, Christie’s, diamonds in Golconda, Golconda, diamonds, Indian express news, current affairs

The story of Golconda Blue, and of India’s once-legendary diamonds in GolcondaSubscriber Only

April 30, 2025 14:39 IST

Today, Africa, Australia, and Russia are some of the key players in the diamond industry. Yet, the appeal and romance of Golconda diamonds endure. Here's their story.

US President Ronald Reagan (left) and Fed chief Paul Volcker meet to discuss monetary policy in the Oval Office in 1981.

When governments disagree with the central bank: the Fed in the US and the RBI in IndiaSubscriber Only

April 18, 2025 16:50 IST

US President Donald Trump has threatened to sack Jerome Powell, whom he appointed to the Chair of the Federal Reserve in 2018. Such frictions are not unheard of in the US – or in India. But differences have mostly not been allowed to escalate into crises.

The fearless Sir Sankaran Nair and the story of the Jallianwala Bagh case

The fearless Sir Sankaran Nair and the story of the Jallianwala Bagh caseSubscriber Only

April 20, 2025 14:53 IST

Since his early days as a lawyer, Nair came to be known for an uncompromising commitment to what he believed, irrespective of the strength of the opposition he faced.

Ambedkar Jayanti: A statue of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar at the old Parliament House Lawns in New Delhi.

Ambedkar Jayanti: How Babasaheb defined an ideal society in ‘Annihilation of Caste’Subscriber Only

April 14, 2025 13:45 IST

Ambedkar Jayanti 2025, Caste System Critique: We recall a central idea of Dr BR Ambedkar’s seminal work, which was an extension of his views about the corrosive effects of the caste system.

Bihar Sharif, controversy in Bihar Sharif, Bihar Sharif controversy, clock towers, history of clock towers, Sundials & bell towers, Indian express explained, explained news, current affairs

Amid controversy in Bihar Sharif, a short history of clock towersSubscriber Only

April 10, 2025 14:49 IST

Functionally, clock towers are all but redundant today. Yet new ones keep coming up from time to time. This is because beyond telling time, clock towers serve various symbolic purposes.

Nintendo gaming

Story of Nintendo: How a company that made handcrafted playing cards became a billion dollar tech giantSubscriber Only

April 5, 2025 20:34 IST

The Japanese company, most known for its video games and consoles, was founded in 1889. Today, it boasts a market cap of almost $90 billion

Smoot-Hawley, Hoover

Why Trump’s tariffs are being compared to Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which worsened the Great DepressionSubscriber Only

April 5, 2025 20:33 IST

Smoot-Hawley came to be seen as exemplifying “beggar-thy-neighbour” policies that benefited one nation at the expense of the rest. Here is what to know.

mahabodhi temple

Explained: The decades old dispute over who controls Mahabodhi temple in GayaSubscriber Only

April 2, 2025 14:04 IST

Buddhists want the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 (BGTA), under which the temple is currently governed

Aurangzeb

The grave of Aurangzeb: What it tells us about the man, his lifeSubscriber Only

March 23, 2025 13:09 IST

Aurangzeb's grave and the circumstances of his death hold many lessons for those interested in learning from history. We explain.

BhagatSingh-gandhi

Could Gandhi have done more to save Bhagat Singh?Subscriber Only

March 5, 2025 20:46 IST

Mahatma Gandhi has long been criticised for his alleged failure to secure a commutation of Bhagat Singh’s death sentence in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Could he have done more?

Jahan-e-Khusrau, Amir Khusrau, Sufi tradition, Ganga-Jamuni culture, Narendra Modi, Chishti Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya, explained, indian express, current affairs

Prime Minister Modi attends Jahan-e-Khusrau: How 13th century poet is a flag-bearer of pluralistic Sufi traditionSubscriber Only

March 1, 2025 12:38 IST

Khusrau made lasting contributions to Indian classical music and qawwali, and is also credited for developing Hindavi, a precursor to modern Hindi and Urdu.

Chandra Shekhar Azad

How Chandra Shekhar remained ‘Azad’ until the very endSubscriber Only

February 28, 2025 10:38 IST

The revolutionary freedom fighter had made a resolve to never be captured alive. So after being surrounded by police, and with only a single bullet left in his gun, Azad had only one option before him

Savarkar

How Savarkar’s ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857’ gave a national character to the revoltSubscriber Only

February 26, 2025 19:17 IST

The characterisation of the revolt of the sepoys in his 1909 book, although not universally accepted, has been influential in how the events of 1857 are viewed till date

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