April 24, 2025
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History

Later Vedic Period

The Later Vedic Period, spanning from approximately 1200 to 500 BCE, represents the second major phase of the Vedic Age in the Indian subcontinent, following the Early Vedic or Rigvedic Period. This era witnessed significant transformations in the socio-political, religious, and economic landscape of the region. The focus of Vedic culture shifted eastward from the

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History

Early Vedic Period

Introduction The Early Vedic Period, also known as the Rigvedic Period, spanned approximately from 1500 to 1200 BCE and represents the initial phase of the Vedic Age in the Indian subcontinent. This era is primarily characterized by the composition of the Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas and a foundational text of Hinduism. The

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History

Vedic Period

The Vedic Period, spanning from approximately 1500 to 500 BCE, marks a formative era in the history of the Indian subcontinent, following the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. This period is characterized by the migration of Indo-Aryan peoples into the Indian subcontinent and the composition of the Vedas, a collection of sacred texts that

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History

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, represents a significant turning point in the history of the Indian subcontinent. This Bronze Age civilization, which flourished in the Indus River Valley and surrounding regions of modern-day India and Pakistan, commenced a process of decline around 1900 BCE. This period witnessed

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Arts & Culture History

Sunayani Devi: A Woman’s Voice in the Bengal School

Introduction Sunayani Devi (1875-1962) was a significant, albeit often less celebrated, woman artist associated with the Bengal School of Art. Coming from the illustrious Tagore family of Jorasanko, she was a contemporary of her brothers Abanindranath and Gaganendranath Tagore. Unlike many of her male counterparts in the Bengal School who consciously engaged with nationalist politics

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Arts & Culture History

Dadasaheb Phalke: The Father of Indian Cinema

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (1870-1944), popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Cinema." A pioneer filmmaker, director, producer, and screenwriter, Phalke made the first full-length Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), and laid the foundation for the Indian film industry. While his films were primarily mythological and not overtly political,

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Arts & Culture History

Social Themes and Silent Protest: Early Socially Relevant Films in India

While mythological and historical dramas dominated early Indian silent cinema, another, often less discussed, strand of filmmaking emerged: socially relevant films. These films, though still nascent and often subtle in their approach, engaged with pressing social issues prevalent in early 20th-century India, such as caste discrimination, women's rights, and poverty. While not overtly political or

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Arts & Culture History

Subramania Bharati: Nationalist Poetry and Songs

Subramania Bharati (1882-1921) was a towering figure in Tamil literature, widely revered as a Mahakavi ('Great Poet') and a fervent Indian nationalist. His prolific output of poetry and songs was deeply imbued with patriotic fervor, social reformist ideals, and a revolutionary spirit that directly challenged British colonial rule and traditional social hierarchies. Bharati's works became

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Arts & Culture History

Nil Darpan (The Indigo Mirror) by Dinabandhu Mitra

[Nil Darpan, often translated as The Indigo Mirror] is a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858-1859. Published in 1860, the play is a searing indictment of the British indigo planters in Bengal and their brutal exploitation of Indian indigo farmers (ryots). Nil Darpan is considered a landmark work in Bengali drama and a

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Arts & Culture History

Bharatmata (Abanindranath Tagore Painting)

[Bharatmata] is a painting by the Indian painter Abanindranath Tagore in 1905. Considered an iconic image of Indian nationalism, it depicts a saffron-clad woman, reminiscent of a sadhvi, holding items symbolic of India's national aspirations. The painting is one of the earliest and most influential visual representations of Bharatmata (Mother India), and a landmark work

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