Tag Archives: India
India’s Republic Day, January 26 Posted by Nitya on Jan 30, 2018
This past weekend, friends and family in India enjoyed a long weekend in observance of India’s Republic Day (Bharatiya GaNatantra Divas), which is celebrated on January 26 each year. It marks the day that the Constitution of India came into effect (January 26, 1950), thus cementing India’s transition into an independent republic after it’s independence from British…
For the Love of Coffee: कॉफ़ी के प्यार में Posted by Rachael on Jan 23, 2018
I’m sure most of you have heard countless times about the obsession India (mostly North India) has with “chai” (चाय) or tea. But, as an American who LOVES coffee, I must desist from rehashing a trite discussion of the various forms of “chai” and instead devote this blog to India’s time-honored and burgeoning fascination with…
Sahir Ludhianvi: A Poet of the Silver Screen (Part 1) Posted by Rachael on Oct 9, 2017
In the world of Hindi-Urdu literature and popular film, Sahir Ludhianvi’s (साहिर लुधियानवी) name stands out as one of the most gifted and insightful poets of the 20th century. Born Abdul Hayee (अब्दुल हयी) in 1921 in Karimpura/करीमपुरा, Ludhiana (लुधियाना, a district in the state of Punjab), Punjab/पंजाब (in what was then British India), Sahir…
Hindi: India’s National Language? Posted by Rachael on Jul 31, 2017
हिंदी: इंडिया की राष्ट्रभाषा? You can be sure that if a particular topic (विषय/vishay, masc. noun) has aroused enough controversy (विवाद/vivaad, masc. noun) to be the subject of numerous books and articles, it is by no means a foregone conclusion. The question of Hindi as India’s national language is just such a topic. Those who…
Mushrooming Neighborhoods Posted by Nitya on Jul 20, 2017
I’m currently traveling in India and my work brings me to a relatively newer sprawl of the Bengaluru city (shahar). This area , (yeh jagah) which has mushroomed (panapaa hai) as a response to the IT industry, is peppered with paying guest accommodations. Every morning (har subah) a veritable ocean of young professionals in the IT…
Top 5 Places to Visit in Gujarat Posted by Nitin Kumar on Jul 29, 2016
Gujarat (गुजरात) is a state in Western India, sometimes referred to as the “Jewel of Western India”. It has a population in excess of 60 million.Its capital city is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad. Gujarat is home to the Gujarati-speaking people of India. It is home to some of ancient Indus Valley Civilization…
India’s States and Union Territories Posted by Nitin Kumar on Dec 28, 2013
India is a vast country ranking the 7th in the landmass and 2nd most populated country (देश – Desh) in the world. It is a republic nation and consists of 28 states and 7 union territories. Every state (राज्य – Rajya) has its unique cultural heritage, tradition, cuisine, costume, festival, language and so on. India…