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    My favorite artworks from European Museums

    My favorite artworks from European Museums

    Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

    Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

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    Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

    Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

    Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

    Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

    Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

    The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

    The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

    Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

    Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

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    Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

    St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

    St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

    Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

    Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

    Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

    Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

    The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

    The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

    The Dohany Street synagogue in Budapest

    St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

    St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

    The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

    The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

    Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

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    Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

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      My favorite artworks from European Museums

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      Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

      Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

      Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

      Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

      Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

      Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

      Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

      Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

      The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

      The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

      Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

      Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

      Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

      Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

      St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

      St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

      Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

      Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

      Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

      Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

      The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

      The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

      The Dohany Street synagogue in Budapest

      St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

      St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

      The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

      The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

      Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

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      Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

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      Delhi must hold on to its cosmopolitan culture: Writer Rana Safvi

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      Delhi must hold on to its cosmopolitan culture: Writer Rana Safvi
      on Business-standard. India’s capital city has always had a cosmopolitan culture and it is imperative to hold on to it, says renowned writer-scholar Rana Safvi, whose latest book, “The Forgotten Cities of Delhi”, provides an in-depth tour of Delhi’s archaeological history.
      — Read on wap.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/delhi-must-hold-on-to-its-cosmopolitan-culture-writer-rana-safvi-118061000220_1.html

      India’s capital city has always had a cosmopolitan culture and it is imperative to hold on to it, says renowned writer-scholar Rana Safvi, whose latest book, “The Forgotten Cities of Delhi”, provides an in-depth tour of Delhi’s archaeological history.

      But her book comes at a time when the demonisation of the Mughals, and perhaps of all histories associated with Muslim rulers, has become fashionable. Legislators holding significant portfolios have spewed venom time and again; roads and railway stations are being renamed in a brazen attempt at “re-writing Indian history”.

      “If one goes by the fact that the first war of Indian independence was fought under the banner of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, it is very clear that religious divides had not taken root in India.

      “In fact, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and Nana Saheb fought under the Mughal banner — and not that of the Peshwas. The 1857 Hindu-Muslim unity shook the foundations of the British Empire. The systematic divide and rule resulted in many divisions and finally we had the partition of India,” Safvi, who has previously authored acclaimed books such as “Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli”, told IANS in an interview.

      She pointed to “wild rumours on WhatsApp of supposed atrocities by the Mughals and attempts to rewrite history to address those perceived wrongs” and contended that most of them are “baseless”.

      What makes her so firm in her belief?

      “A perusal of any book or novel written in Delhi and Lucknow in Urdu (the language used in those times) shows a very homogeneous and, by and large, content urban society. I write and translate from these Urdu sources and do as much as I can to bring out these stories of communal bonhomie and harmony.

      “It is an uphill task as reading and believing a WhatsApp or fake video is easier, especially for a large number vulnerable Indians who don’t have access to fake news busters or genuine history,” she maintained.

      Asked if it is the responsibility of scholars and researchers like herself to point out the historical facts and records to the government, she said she does her bit by speaking out on every platform that she has access to — social media, writings and TV appearances.

      “I agree it is our responsibility and historians like Irfan Habib, Romila Thapar, Ramachandra Guha do speak out, but their voices are sought to be discredited on social media so that they lose credibility. Yet they continue undeterred. I am but a small fry in that ocean of voices, but I try and do my bit.

      “I have never interacted directly with anyone in the government nor ever been invited to participate, though I would love to, in the interests of my country. I have no idea if my voice — for whatever it is worth — has ever been noticed or heard. I continue to do what I know best, which is to write, speak and stand by the truth as I have been taught.”

      Elaborating, Safvi said of the 10 dynasties that ruled Delhi, eight professed the Muslim faith. They built capital cities that could rival the magnificent capitals of Central Asia.

      “So apart from giving us many cities, monuments, a system of land revenue and administration, these Muslim kings also gave us a unique Indo-Islamic architectural style, reflected in many of our modern-day buildings. Names can be and are being changed but their history can’t be denied as long as these monuments remain standing,” she said.

      And to conclude, she quoted the Bard’s words: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

      (Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

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      Rana Safvi

      Come, explore and fall in love the Beauties of Delhi (Dilli ki Ranaiya’n) and the World with me, Rana Safvi

      I have a masters in medieval history from the prestigious Centre for Advanced Studies, Dept. of History, AMU. A firm believer in our Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, I am passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge and these days I am doing it via the social media platform.

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      © 2018 Rana Safvi - A blog Exploring Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb of India, website handcrafted by Abu Sufiyan.