Porunthal excavations

Porunthal excavations prove existence of Indian scripts in 5th century BC: expert

New results from the analysis of paddy grains found in the Porunthal graveyard archaeological site prove that writing systems in India were in existence in the 5th Century BC, predating the arrival of Asoka, according to history professor at the Pondicherry University and director of the excavation project at Porunthal K. Rajan.

Kerala Council for Historical Research

KCHR

         Kerala Council for Historical Research [KCHR] is an autonomous institution committed to scientific research in history and social sciences. Funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Kerala, KCHR is a recognised research centre of the University of Kerala. 

         KCHR is located at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala State, India, in the multi-purpose cultural complex Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, at Nalanda.  It is housed in the blocks dedicated to the memory of pioneering researchers of Kerala history, Sri.K.P.Padmanabha Menon and Prof. Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai.

         KCHR offers doctoral, post-doctoral and internship programmes and short term courses in social theory, research methods, epigraphy, palaeography and numismatics. Research, publication, documentation, training and co-ordination are the major domains of KCHR activities.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

1-The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.

2-The prime concern of the ASI is the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.

3-The ASI is the nodal public agency for the project. Conservation works are underway or will be undertaken on several protected and heritage buildings standing within the project area.

Sword and tiger of Tippu-unniyarcha

Sword and tiger of Tippu

1-Tipu Sultan had lost his sword in a war with the Nairs of Travancore during the Battle of the Nedumkotta, in which he was defeated. The Nair army under the leadership of Raja Kesavadas again defeated the Mysore army near Aluva.

2-The Maharaja,Dharma Raja, gifted the famous sword to the Nawab of Arcot, from where the sword went to London. The sword was on display at the Wallace Collection, No. 1 Manchester Square, London.

3-At an auction in London in 2004, the industrialist-politician Vijay Mallya purchased the sword of Tipu Sultan and some other historical artifacts, and brought them back to India for public display after nearly two centuries.

Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai

Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai

The first ashram that Gandhi set up in India was housed at the bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, who was a barrister by profession and a friend of Gandhi.

This ashram was built at Kochrab, near Paldi, a modest village near Ahmedabad, on 25th May, in 1915. There were twenty five inmates at the ashram.

 However, as Kochrab became infested with plague after two years, Gandhi had to relocate his ashram.

This time, the bank of Sabarmati River was selected as the new site for the ashram. testimony to rise of the Mahatma as the voice of the masses and as the leader of the nation.

The Battle of Poitiers 1356

 

The Black Prince’s great victory over the French King John.

Date: 19th September 1356.

Place: Western France.

Combatants: An army of English and Gascons against the French and their allies.

Generals: The Black Prince against King John I of France.

Size of the armies: The Black Prince’s army numbered some 7,000 knights, men-at-arms and archers.

Numbers in the French army are uncertain but were probably around 35,000, although Froissart gives the size of the French army as 60,000. The French army comprised a contingent of Scots commanded by Sir William Douglas.

Winner: The English and Gascons decisively won the battle.

The Battle of Ali Masjid

The Battle of Ali Masjid

War: Second Afghan War.

Date: 21st November 1878.

Place: At the Afghan, western, end of the Khyber Pass on the border between Afghanistan and India.

Combatants: British and Indian troops against the Afghan army and tribesmen.

Generals: Lieutenant General Sir Sam Browne VC against Gholam Hyder Khan.

Size of the armies: 12,000 British and Indian troops against 3,700 Afghan troops and an unknown number of Afghan tribesmen.