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Nikita MohtaApr 19, 2025
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution: how language inclusion creates exclusion Subscriber Only
Linguists argue that the 22 languages currently on the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution “have gained power, recognition and prestige”, while others have been left to languish as ‘dialects’ or ‘minor languages’.
Mira PatelApr 18, 2025
Hinglish is a language adopted by people young and old, across, Mumbai, Delhi, Kerala and every other city, state and village in India. While the post colonial atmosphere favoured English, the cultural shifts of the
Nikita MohtaApr 17, 2025
The fight to keep Punjabi alive in Pakistan Subscriber Only
Despite being the most spoken language in Pakistan, Punjabi lacks official status, while Urdu and English dominate the legal system, mass media and educational sectors of the country
Adrija RoychowdhuryApr 16, 2025
The Arabic script influenced several South Asian languages such as Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, and Malayalam. While most of these traditions lay forgotten for decades, there have been fresh efforts in the recent past to
Nikita MohtaApr 12, 2025
Awadhi: A language from the Oudh struggling to retain its roots Subscriber Only
Awadhi, established as a literary language in the 14th century and widely spoken in Uttar Pradesh and surrounding regions, now finds itself overshadowed by Hindi and is often relegated to the status of a dialect
Mira PatelApr 10, 2025
How American universities embraced the study of Indian languages Subscriber Only
While Indian languages have fascinated Western scholars for centuries, World War Two marked a tuning point, when American Universities started launching large programs for the study of Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali and Punjabi
Nikita MohtaApr 9, 2025
What George Grierson’s First Linguistic Survey of India tells us about multilingual South Asia Subscriber Only
Amid ongoing debates on multilingualism, a look at George Grierson’s First Linguistic Survey of India that identified over 700 linguistic varieties across South Asia by 1927
Mira PatelApr 8, 2025
Harinath De: The scholar who knew 34 languages Subscriber Only
In a quiet suburb of Calcutta lived a man who mastered 34 languages, edited sacred texts, and became the first Indian librarian of the Imperial Library. At just 34 years old, he died of typhoid
Nikita MohtaApr 4, 2025
The story of BarBQ: From a 1962 rotisserie to Calcutta’s beloved North Indian restaurant Subscriber Only
Nestled in the heart of Calcutta on Park Street, BarBQ was once a rotisserie that now sells the city’s favourite Dal Bukhari and Paneer Butter Masala.
Nikita MohtaApr 3, 2025
‘Young Bengal was the crucible within which the Indian left first took shape’: Author Rosinka Chaudhuri Subscriber Only
In her latest book India's First Radicals, Rosinka Chaudhuri sheds light on the pioneering radicalism of Young Bengal—a group whose role has long been overlooked in India's national struggle for independence
Mira PatelMar 29, 2025
Of the top ten richest men in the world, all built their own fortunes. Of the top ten richest women? Only one. Most female billionaires inherit their wealth from their fathers or husbands, an indication
Adrija RoychowdhuryMar 27, 2025
Caste in West Bengal: Invisible or ‘unrecognised’? Subscriber Only
The conspicuous absence of caste in the public consciousness of Bengal is accompanied by an equally noticeable lack of a consolidated lower-caste or Dalit movement in the region. This, despite the fact that West Bengal
Nikita MohtaMar 26, 2025
The rise of Bengal as a hub for female domestic labour: from Partition to the present Subscriber Only
Despite historically low female labour force participation rates, West Bengal in recent years has emerged as a major source of female domestic labour in the country
Mira PatelMar 25, 2025
Pamela Harriman: The ‘greatest courtesan’ of all time, celebrated for her political diplomacy Subscriber Only
A British-born American power broker, Pamela Harriman was known for forging lifelong alliances from what may otherwise have been fleeting affairs.
Nikita MohtaMar 20, 2025
How Muthulakshmi Reddy became British India’s first woman legislator and Madras Presidency’s first woman doctor Subscriber Only
Born as the daughter of a college principal in Pudukkottai in 1886, Muthulakshmi Reddy broke barriers for women in various fields, advocating for their rights and education in colonial India.
Mira PatelMar 19, 2025
Five Eyes: The world’s oldest intelligence-sharing network Subscriber Only
Formed in 1946, the Five Eyes Alliance is the world’s most exclusive intelligence-sharing network, influencing global conflicts, regime changes, and economic policies. From Cold War espionage to modern surveillance, its operations have shaped world history—sometimes
Mira PatelMar 18, 2025
Although India, Pakistan and Germany have had three powerful women in power, gender parity across other metrics remain low. If men can elect Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto or Angela Merkel to lead their country, why
Nikita MohtaMar 17, 2025
The trailblazing journey of Cornelia Sorabji, India’s first woman lawyer who fought against odds to graduate from Oxford Subscriber Only
Born in 1866 in Pune, Cornelia Sorabji saw opportunities when others merely saw her gender. She went on to overcome societal obstacles to pave the way for future generations of women.
Nikita MohtaMar 13, 2025
From a street cart to a sandesh legacy: The 180-year-old journey of Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy Subscriber Only
Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy has been serving sandesh-loving Bengalis for over 180 years. This is the story of how Bengal's iconic sweet shop has transformed over time.
Nikita MohtaMar 11, 2025
Women in Assam’s tea industry: Forced to pluck or left to perish Subscriber Only
For generations, women have been the backbone of Assam’s tea industry, enduring harsh conditions, exploitation, and low wages. Their resilience shaped India’s tea industry, yet their story remains largely untold.
Adrija RoychowdhuryMar 9, 2025
Desai was part of a community of South Asian migrants who moved to Britain between the late 1960s and early 1970s following the Africanisation policies of newly independent East African countries.
Mira PatelMar 7, 2025
How Florence Nightingale revolutionised sanitation in India without setting foot in the subcontinent Subscriber Only
Florence Nightingale’s influence on India extends far beyond her role in the Crimean War. Though she never set foot in the country, her statistical rigour and relentless advocacy reshaped public health policy under British rule.
Nikita MohtaMar 6, 2025
From Goa to Burma to Calcutta: The story of Kolkata’s premier musical instrument seller Subscriber Only
Founded at 2A Marquis Street, Calcutta, during World War II, Braganza & Co. began with pianos and violins left behind by the British and American armies. Today, it thrives on a legacy built on trust
Adrija RoychowdhuryMar 5, 2025
The ‘invisible’ thread that connects Pondicherry and Vietnam: An interview with Professor Ananya Jahanara Kabir Subscriber Only
Vietnam is like a “public secret” in Pondicherry, says Ananya. In her conversation with indianexpress.com, she explained the complex colonial history that ties the two territories and the many residues it has left behind.
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