Adrija Roychowdhury
Adrija is senior sub-editor, Indian Express. She mainly writes on History and world politics. Follow her on Twitter @AdrijaRoychow
Articles By Adrija Roychowdhury
When Congress played politics over the ‘holy cow’
After the Congress split in 1969, the faction led by Indira Gandhi is known to have taken a conscious turn towards socialism. Interestingly, the new symbol of the breakaway faction led by Gandhi was that of a cow suckling its calf.
Thugs of Hindostan: A British myth or Indian reality?
Historical records show that almost all the material available on Thugs are those written by the British. Ironically, there is no record written in the Indian vernaculars that can be considered a source for deriving the history of the Thugs.
Decoding why Bengal celebrates Kali on Diwali
The divergences in the form and depictions that Kali denotes across different parts of the subcontinent is largely reflexive of the way in which her character developed and blended with local traditions and Hindu symbolism.
Shimla could have been named after Goddess Shamli, but there was no Simla before the British
The British did not just lay the foundation stone of an urban civilisation in the hilly district but also developed it with roads, transport, and bridges.
The story of Bengal’s Pal community: From potters to idol makers
The shift of the Pal community from the potter’s wheel to the making of clay idols is a story of exploring new caste identities through changing power structures and economic opportunities.
Now, Abhinav Bharat founder wants Gandhi assassination case reopened
His petition seeks a forensic examination of the blood-stained shawl and watch of Gandhi to ascertain how many wounds the Mahatma had suffered when he was shot dead on January 30, 1948.
Transport planes to S-400 missiles, the story of Indo-Russian military cooperation
The military relationship between the two countries dates back to the 1960s when the world was almost neatly split into two as a result of cold war politics.
150 years of Gandhi: Five world leaders who drew inspiration from the Mahatma
In course of time, the Gandhian way of struggle against exploitation would turn into a politically methodology in itself, inspiring several other revolutionaries around the world who dreamt of challenging the powerful.
What is the role of the mosque in Islam?
The question regarding whether the mosque is integral to Islam had come up as part of the Ayodhya dispute when in 1994 the Supreme Court had stated that “a mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam”.
Manto and the art of tolerating truth
Nandita Das, along with actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui (who plays Manto in the film) and Rasika Dugal (who plays Manto’s wife Safia), visited Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday to interact with the students of the Department of Arts and Aesthetics.
Behind the freedom of Hyderabad, a struggle against the Nizam
Among the princely states that had not acceded to the Indian union by August 1947, the case of Hyderabad was perhaps of the most complex, mainly by virtue of its location.
Section 377: A British legacy from which we have finally broken free
The century-old the law against homosexuality was imposed on pre-independent India in accordance with the Christian principles on which the British kingdom was founded.
Why Dalits want to hold on to Dalit, not Harijan, not SC
The word ‘Dalit’ has for years been used to identify those who fall outside the caste system in the Brahmanical social order. However, the term has acquired a political connotation, being associated with the radical movement of the depressed classes in recent times.
FemmeCon: India’s first women’s health fest is an eye opener for many
Apart from physical health and well being of women, the event conducted a number of sessions of, mental health, sexual harassment, abortion, infertility, legal well being of women as well as sanitation requirements of disabled women.
Kerala flood leaves remains of ancient sea port Muziris covered in silt
The devastation caused by the recent flood in Kerala has left its impact upon the Muziris Heritage Project, the state's grand plan to reinstate the cultural significance of its historic seaport.
Kerala floods: The deluge of 1924 was smaller, but impact was similar
Records show that thousands of people lost their lives and property, flora and fauna were destroyed and several parts of the Malabar region were submerged in water.
Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the orator who won hearts with his speeches
A writer and a poet before joining politics, Vajpayee’s dexterity with words was what brought him into the Lok Sabha.
Kashmir when India got independence: Neither here nor there
On August 15, Jammu and Kashmir had not yet acceded to either India or Pakistan. In this atmosphere of uncertainty, there was hardly anyone who celebrated Independence in Kashmir.
Before the spiritual Aurobindo, the political Aurobindo Ghose
Seventy-one years after India freed itself from the clutches of British rule, how exactly is the political philosophy of Sri Aurobindo remembered?
New book pours light on Anglo Indian way of life
Hari Bhaskaran’s recent book titled ‘These blooming Anglos” narrates the extraordinary history, achievements, and spirit of life exhibited by the Anglo-Indians.
