Account: Alexander Burnes on the Akali/Nihang

Alexander Burnes made a name for himself as a traveler and a British agent in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Account: Charles Metcalfe on his First Meeting with Ranjit Singh

Charles Metcalfe in a capacity of a diplomat met with Ranjit Singh and wrote of his encounter with the Sikh Maharaja.

Account: Victor Jacquemont on his meetings with Ranjit Singh

Victor Jacquemont in his travels to the Sub-continent met with Maharaja Ranjit Singh and he wrote an account of his audience.

Account: Victor Jacquemont on European Officers of the Sikh Army

Victor Jacquemont during his travels to the Sub-continent made an observation on the conditions of European officers serving under Ranjit Singh.

Founders: Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire

Ranjit Singh established an Empire that the Sikhs as well as Muslims and Hindus called their home. He emerged as another defining leader of Sikhs after the 10th Guru Gobind Singh. He excelled beyond his age and appearance to become the founder of the Sikh Empire.

Who was Bandar Singh Bahadur?

Guru Gobind galvanized a generation of Sikhs earning him enormous respect second only to Guru Nanak. After his assassination in 1708, he said to have ordered a slave of his to punish the Mughals that have done harm to Sikhism. This man who declared himself as a servant of the Guru named Banda Singh Bahadur.

Banda Singh Bahadur (image from sikhwiki.org)

Who was Guru Gobind Singh?

If Guru Hargobind established the foundation of Sikh martial tradition, Guru Gobind built the structure that furthered the militarization.

The Rise of Sikh Military - Guru Hargobind

Sikhs made a name for themselves as ferocious soldiers. They served in major conflicts in modern history, from the wars of India and Pakistan, the 2 World Wars, or even British war for imperial expansion. How the Sikhs whose religion promoted harmony developed a reputation as valiant warriors?

Sikhism: The Basic

Sikhism is one of the major religions in India and recognizable in the world for their long beards and turbans that exude an aura of mystery. But what is Sikhism? And what are its teachings and principle?

Founders: Guru Nanak of Sikhism

Guru has been used informally to mean an expert in a particular field – financial guru, fitness guru, business guru, etc. For the Sikhs, however, the word meant something sacred. A guru meant a spiritual and wise mentor that share his word of Enlightenment. And such the case of 10 of Sikhism’s Guru which began with its founder Guru Nanak.

Rise and Fall of the Maurya Empire

It dominated India from 321 BCE to 185 BCE becoming the subcontinent's earliest Empires. Inspired by Alexander the Great or not, the Mauryan Emperors held sway over vast lands. At its center, Pataliputra, a center of wealth, sophistication, and piety of the powerful Empire.

Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire

The Taj Mahal continued to dazzle millions of tourist with its white marble, minarets, and perfectcly shaped dome – a monumental reminder from one of India’s greatest Empire, the Mughal Empire.

Gandhi in South Africa

Gandhi in South Africa

Gandhi used non-violence noncooperation, known as satyagraha, to bring independence to his country India. However, the satyagraha developed not in India, but in a country across another side of the Indian Ocean – South Africa. There Gandhi stayed for more than a decade and developed his most revolutionary way of fighting oppression and discrimination.

Jainism: The Basic

Depiction of Mahavira (Wikimedia Common)

A religion that originated in India, it stood overshadowed by two other prominent Indian religions – Hinduism and Buddhism. A belief that followed the same path of spiritual enlightenment and detachments. It is the religion known as Jainism.

The Economy of Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire

The Indian Sub-Continent hosted numerous kingdoms and empires. It lands became fertile thanks to the flow of numerous rivers and estuaries, including the well-known rivers of Indus and Ganges. One of the first and largest empire in Ancient India was the Mauryan Empire. The laws of its ruler Ashoka made Maurya well-known. But the strength of its rulers equaled the strength of its prosperous economy.

Economy of the Gupta Empire

Chandragupta II

India occupies a large area of Asia. It is characterized as a sub-continent for its large territory. Alongside of its vast and wide ranging terrain it was gifted with many rivers that made its soil fertile for various wide of crops. It allowed subsistence and even wealth to its farmers. It allowed wide ranging of economic activities which had and would sustain various empires in history.  The most famous of these empires was the Mughal Empire that reign through the 16th to the 19th century. But even before back there were other powerful empires that had capitalized on the natural wealth of India. One such empire was the Gupta Empire.

Agriculture of Mughal Empire

Babur

The Taj Mahal, symbol of the wealth and affluence of the Mughal Empire. Built by many workers for many years. Workers are fed from the bountiful harvests of the Mughal peasants. Money to build the lavish tomb came from the exports of several cash crops. The agriculture of the Mughal Empire played a huge role in the sustenance and territorial integrity of the Empire. It fed and it gave wealth to the Emperors in the peacock throne.

Varna - Hindu Caste System

Jawaharlal Nehru (Left) and Gadhi (Right)

Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. It spread across the subcontinent of India, making it one of the major religions in the world. The religion hosted many Gods like Shiva and Vishnu. It is also includes a set of social caste system known as the Varna.