Understanding Political Structures: Philosophical Underpinnings of the Iranian Political System
The Iranian political system is a unique blend of theocracy and republicanism, officially termed as the “Islamic Republic.” This system emerged following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. The theoretical foundation of this system is primarily based on the concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), […]
Was the Cold War purely an Ideological Warfare?
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” Winston Churchill made this famous statement about the situation prevailing in the Euro-Asian region during the Cold War. The term Cold War was coined by Bernard Baruch however Walter Lipman popularized it through a series of articles. […]
The Man Who Cracked the Code: James Prinsep and the Ancient Scripts
Imagine a man whose ancestors, his father and grandfather, have lived in a country for centuries, yet he remains oblivious to the rich past buried beneath the soil of his homeland. He is unaware of his historical legacy or the political heritage that shaped his land. When invaders from foreign lands arrive and tell him […]
Understanding Political Structures: Sri Lanka’s Semi Presidential system and its Constitutional Crisis
The year 2024 is a year of election as 49 percent of the world population votes to choose their government and Sri Lanka is one among them. The island nation stands at crossroads, grappling with the aftermath of an economic crisis. Hence, the election becomes exceptionally crucial for Srilankans. It is important to note the […]
The Deccan Riots Report of 1878: Exposing the Underlying Causes of Rural Uproar
In 1878, the British Parliament received a crucial document known as the “Deccan Riots Report,”. What was this report all about? What does the name Deccan Riots suggest? How did the Deccan Riots report of 1878 served as an important and valuable historical source that discussed the causes of the agrarian outbreak in the Deccan […]
The Fifth Report of 1813: Understanding the Company’s Administration and the Early State-Building process
The British East India Company initially operated as a commercial enterprise, but its influence expanded significantly. The company established its administrative system. This expansion and control were examined thoroughly in the Fifth Report, submitted to the British Parliament in 1813. It was part of a series of investigations into the East India Company’s activities in […]
What is the use of studying History? Is it needed? : Answering a common question
In the rush of today’s fast-paced world of rapid technological advancements and fleeting trends, one night questions the relevance of knowing the past. Understanding history is not just about dusty old textbooks or ancient civilizations. It’s rather a lens through which we can make sense of our world today. I believe that history is more […]
TD Explains: Hellenistic influence on Gandhara Art
India’s art is more original and more varied and her forms of civilisation present an ever-changing variety, such are nowhere else to be found. India is a living entity. India is a complete cosmos in itself. India’s west, having one door of communication, across the Indus, was open to the outer world. Across that stream, […]
TD Explains: What caused the Tiananmen Square Incident
From a space for gathering to commemorate public events or to a spot for rallying protests, squares are of paramount importance in Chinese polity from villages to cities. Of several such squares, Tiananmen square, located in the heart of the Forbidden city of Beijing and boasting a history of 500 years, is the one that […]
TD Explains: Legacy of Non-Aligned Movement
Non-alignment as a topic can be discussed under two heads i.e. non-alignment as a foreign policy and non-aligned as a movement which was led by third world countries. However, in this explainer we are going to discuss Non-aligned as a movement. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) emerged during the Cold War as a response to the bipolar […]