Fascinating History. Interesting Medieval Incidents from Indian and Middle Eastern past.

Following the horrific murder of Floyd George at the hands of police in Minneapolis US, a mini revolution is taking place across the globe. Every past military and civil hero is being re-evaluated in light of their role or support for slavery and racial injustice. Statues of Thomas Jefferson, one of the leading fathers of US independence and democracy, and Mahatma Gandhi, the prophet of non-violence and peaceful resistance, are being vandalized and toppled for their racial past. Story books, national medals, and even religious concepts are being badlisted (an alternate, politically correct word being offered here for ‘blacklisted’). In Rawalpindi-Islamabad, on the western side of GT Road, as it crosses the Margalla Pass close to Taxila, there stands a 40-feet tall obelisk, called Nicholson's memorial. It was erected in 1868 to honour Brigadier General John Nicholson of the British East India Company, one of the most demonical beasts produced by the English race. While the British

On the eve of 71st anniversary of our independence, let's pay homage to a forgotten hero of First war of Independence in 1857. This leader of that great crisis is Azimullah Khan Yusufzai. He is also sometimes called 'Krantidoot' - Hindi for 'ambassador of revolution'. Great struggles elevate ordinary souls to heroic deeds. The War of Independence of 1857 was a clash of epic proportions. First the sepoys and then other Indians in the northern belt, from Bengal in the east through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh to Punjab, rose up in revolt against British occupation. The revolt did not occur throughout the sub-continent and remained restricted in varying degree to certain areas and sections of society. Some influential local rulers were prudent or constrained to side with the British. These included such honourable names as Hayat of Wah, Nizam of Hyderabad, Abbasi of Bahawalpur, Nawab of Bhopal, Maharaja of Patiala and the Rajputs of Rajputana states. Of the three

Two-hundred years long anti-colonial struggle produced many brave noble souls. They stood against the foreign occupiers at the peril of losing their wealth, comfort and even life. It is our obligation to recall the sacrifices and tribulations of those who willingly suffered in this long endeavour for freedom. They include names of some very noble ladies too. One of these honourable freedom fighters is Begum Hazrat Mahal of Oudh, who stood up against the British during the 1st War of Independence in1857-58, commanded her troops in battles, refused to surrender and, spurring offers of clemency, eluded capture by the pursuing British forces to escape to Nepal, and lived a life of hardship in exile in Kathmandu. She now lies buried there in a non-descript grave . Hazrat Mahal was the one of major leaders who didn't surrender to the British, and she maintained her opposition through twenty years of exile in Nepal until her death in 1879. Before narrating the story of Hazrat Mahal, a b