Devdutt Pattanaik is a renowned author, mythologist, and leadership consultant, whose work focuses on deriving management insights from mythology to reveal a very Indian approach to modern business. He has authored over 50 books, many of them best-sellers like Myth = Mithya, Business Sutra, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata.
September 11, 2025 18:26 IST
Parthian shot of the Steppe, hunting techniques of the Mongols, siege weapons of the Khiljis, and cannons of the Mughals - these invaders transformed the battlefield in India with their war technologies.
Fri, Sep 12, 2025August 29, 2025 18:37 IST
Brahmi is the mother of most scripts found across Southeast Asia, which spread with Buddhism. But why is it a unique script, different from the Latin alphabet and the Semitic script?
Mon, Sep 01, 2025August 26, 2025 11:53 IST
It reveals a historical push to downplay the playful and romantic sides of the idol for a masculine reimagination
Tue, Aug 26, 2025August 22, 2025 18:28 IST
Why did India adopt the Saka calendar, alongside the Gregorian calendar, after independence? How do history and legends shape our understanding of time?
Fri, Aug 29, 2025August 01, 2025 19:06 IST
While cows are usually revered in India, buffaloes play a vital role in the country’s economic ecosystem, art, and cultural practices. But how are buffaloes associated with Jain and Hindu mythologies, and the folk goddesses of the Deccan region?
Sat, Aug 02, 2025July 18, 2025 18:09 IST
How does the study of funeral monuments across India offer insights into diverse religious practices and beliefs in the country?
Sat, Jul 19, 2025July 04, 2025 18:39 IST
Elephants have been a symbol of wealth and power since ancient times. But how did the symbolic meanings of elephants evolve across Vedic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions? Why were they more culturally significant in India than in ancient China?
Mon, Jul 07, 2025June 20, 2025 18:45 IST
The Brahmi is an abugida script in which consonants are placed in the center and vowel markings are made around the center - almost like the milkmaids dancing around Krishna or the Yoginis dancing around Bhairava.
Sat, Jun 21, 2025June 05, 2025 18:35 IST
The Indian script or the Brahmi script is a unique form of script known as abugida. But what makes the script, discovered in Ashokan edicts in 250 BC, unique?
Sat, Jun 07, 2025May 23, 2025 19:58 IST
State trees in India are testament to its history, culture, and faith. From the sacred Banyan, revered across faiths, to timber trees that anchor tribal traditions in the Northeast and Lakshadweep’s breadfruit that still sways with the memory of great Polynesian seafarers, each tree tells a story.
Sun, May 25, 2025May 09, 2025 18:39 IST
The elephant and the horse played a major role in shaping Indian culture. The elephant is native to India; the horse is not. How did the arrival of horse-riding cultures like the Scythians and Kushans influence warfare and iconography in India?
Sun, May 11, 2025April 25, 2025 18:55 IST
As major trading highways connecting the East and the West passed through India, the subcontinent became its benefactor, beneficiary and guardian. But how did the exchange of goods and ideas transform India into a civilisation?
Sun, Apr 27, 2025April 07, 2025 18:49 IST
Who were the three great Muslim “gunpowder” kingdoms that dominated the world after 1600 AD? How did Mughals - who called themselves Badshah (world-emperor) and Shahenshah (king of kings) - differ from the earlier Turkish Sultans?
Tue, Apr 08, 2025March 20, 2025 18:41 IST
Pottery in India holds religious and cultural significance, with pots used to represent deities and perform rituals. But when did major shifts in pottery styles occur, and how did the introduction of glazed porcelain influence pottery traditions?
Sun, Mar 23, 2025March 04, 2025 18:34 IST
What is the concept of mandala and how did it arise? How did Kautilya’s idea of Rajamandala influence governance models in India and spread to Southeast Asia?
Thu, Mar 06, 2025February 19, 2025 18:38 IST
The story of Islam’s entry into India is complex and unfolds over seven centuries. But what were the different routes through which it made its way into the subcontinent?
Sat, Feb 22, 2025February 03, 2025 18:37 IST
What archeological, linguistic and genetic studies indicate about the encounter of Aryans with the Harappan civilisation.
Tue, Feb 04, 2025January 17, 2025 18:45 IST
From the ancient wall paintings of the Bhimbetka caves to their unique customs, mythology and craftsmanship, India’s tribes have left an indelible mark on the country’s rich culture.
Sat, Jan 18, 2025January 15, 2025 11:43 IST
It is distinctly male, ascetic, ritualistic, occult, military, and royal in nature and it is about a side of Hinduism often not talked about
Sat, Jan 18, 2025January 03, 2025 18:40 IST
A rupee note displaying multiple scripts, culinary traditions revolving around personal choice, and a piece of unstitched fabric worn in various styles are some of the ways to illustrate India’s diversity.
Mon, Jan 06, 2025December 20, 2024 18:43 IST
In India, dance acts as a powerful vehicle for politics, philosophy, festivals, rituals, identity, and entertainment. But what kind of dance competitions among gods, apsaras, and royal dancers are mentioned in Sanskrit and Puranic traditions?
Wed, Jan 08, 2025December 10, 2024 18:43 IST
Indian music has been deeply tied to religion, rituals, and spirituality, as evidenced by the Vedas and temple art. But what is the main difference between Indian and Western music, especially in terms of melody and harmony, and how does it reflect on their respective cultures?
Wed, Dec 11, 2024November 27, 2024 18:43 IST
At one level, caste in India is very much like a tribe in Africa. But how do the beliefs and practices within one caste differ from those of other castes, and how is this similar to or different from tribal divisions in Africa?
Mon, Dec 02, 2024November 04, 2024 18:34 IST
India has had relations with cultures around the subcontinent by both land and sea. What were some notable contributions that India made to other cultures through its interactions?
Sat, Nov 09, 2024October 21, 2024 18:24 IST
Over the centuries, Delhi has transformed from being a legendary capital to a thriving metropolis. How does the nation’s capital embody the mark of its diverse architectural and cultural legacy from various phases of historical development?
Fri, Oct 25, 2024