Education system in Pre-British India (by Ram Swarup)

Ancient India was celebrated for its learning all over civilized Asia and Europe. Metatheses (ca. 302 BC) was struck by the depth of this learning during his mission to the court of Chandragupta. Fa-hien, the famous Chinese traveller (399-413 D) spent some years at the Paliputra and Tamralipti monasteries. He also spent two years in […]

What it means to me to be a Hindu

Thousands of years ago, in ancient India and other neighbouring lands, a great civilisation arose. To me, being a Hindu makes me an heir of this civilisation and confers upon me the responsibility for its well being and continuity. Despite some errors and aberrations, Hindu civilisation has made a unique contribution to humanity’s collective knowledge and […]

List of Indian freedom fighters who perished in struggle against British colonialism between 1883-1943

This information is from a pamphlet by the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army, which was distributed throughout India in 1943. The purpose of re-publishing it here is that it the original site where it was published appears to have gone down, and I think it is worthwhile for this list to still exist on the web. […]

Hindu tolerance throughout history: fact or myth?

For a long time, ‘tolerance’ was spoken of as a characteristic feature of Hinduism. Even people who otherwise strongly disagreed with Hinduism still managed to praise the fact that Hinduism had a benign, harmless tolerance. But in recent years the image of Hinduism and of Hindu society has changed quite drastically. Media coverage of the […]

Looking back at YOUR life 500 years from now; how do you deserve to be judged?

Some from high action through base fear refrain; The path is difficult, the way not plain. Others more noble to begin, are stayed By a few failures. Great spirits undismayed Abandon never what once to do they swore. Baffled beaten back, they spring once more, Buffeted and borne down, rise up again (Nitishatakam of Bhartrihari, […]

Takshashila: The world’s first known university

At least 2,800 years ago, circa 800BCE, there existed a giant University at Takshashila (often called Taxila), a town located in the north-western region of India (in today’s Pakistan). According to references in the Ramayana, King Bharata founded the town in the name of his son, Taksha. The site initially began to develop as a […]

Was the British Empire beneficial for India?

The idea that British rule over India was a force for good is not uncommon in Britain and even in certain sections of westernised Indian elite. Read right-of-centre British newspapers and you will regularly find articles and columns that glorify Britain’s colonial past, giving the impression that Britain was spreading the light of Western Civilisation […]