Because Urdu is more than a language.
“Listen:
my father speaks Urdu
language of dancing peacocks
rosewater fountains
even its curses are beautiful.”
(Shailja Patel, Migritude)
No image could do justice to the emotion I wanted to convey to you while describing my mother-tongue.
Maybe its the woman in left, that reminded me of all those days I spent in India and spoke Urdu or the three abayah clad women behind seated with their children that reminded me of Urdu. …
Our ancestors were more badass than we assume
As unbelievable this may sound, the humans that inhabited Earth thousands of years ago were not dumb. They did not just eat bananas and swing from one tree to the next. If anything our ancestors were smart and brave. Living in the wilderness sharpened their survival instincts. They knew when to fight and when to let go of the urge and live in peace. Our ancestors and their cousins were sophisticated, intelligent, and hard-working.
1. They owned inbuilt pesticide beds
Ancient humans didn’t have one of those fancy mattresses you own, but they were very clever in putting together a comfortable place to sleep on. Archaeologists…
Attributes that medieval knights had that you don't about
Recognized by their horses, chained armors, heavy suits, swords, and daggers, knights were soldiers during the medieval period with a very high status in the military. The head of the state conferred them with their raking and position. Sometime before 800 A.D., knights were considered ordinary soldiers. It was only after that time that they were given an elevated status. They became associated with chivalrous demeanor, a high court of conduct, and a perfect soldier.
Knights were usually raised by the king or one of the nobles. Some perks of being a knight included fighting with the enemy forces, a…
A short historic account of the Mughals in India
It took the Mughals more than a century to strengthen their hold over the Indian subcontinent. After Babur won the First Battle of Panipat against Lodi in 1526, the Mughals’ series of conquests began in the Indian land.
With the British starting to gain more strength within the Indian subcontinent, the Mughals began losing their power. This was a consequence of rising internal conflicts. Moreover, with the European countries trying to find more ways to expand their economic territory — they focused on the empire’s abundant wealth. …
The tragic tale of Raziya Sultan: the only woman to ever sit on Delhi’s throne
“My two sons have given themselves up to wine, women, gambling, and worship of flattery. Government is very heavy for their shoulders to bear. Raziya, though a woman, has a man’s head and heart and is better than my two sons.”
— Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, father of Raziya Sultan
South Asian history is filled with male Sultans, and never once does a female name pop up. Raziya Sultan was the first female ever to bear the title of ‘Sultan.’ What makes it more surprising is her family background. She came from a family of slaves. …
A step-by-step guide on how to save money in your 20s.
Admit it — the 20s is the time when most of us are flexible, daring, and embrace discomforts as an old friend.
There are a million reasons why you have to save money. It could be either because you have to pay off college debt or save for early retirement. There could be some holiday that you are looking forward to that needs money or some expensive new gadget that you want to buy. Everybody has their own reasons to save money.
Studies suggest that saving money improves not only mental health but also ensures emotional wellbeing.
#3 Pros Own Their Ideas; Amateurs Don’t
As easy as it may sound, making even a tiny change in any habit is painstaking. I have tried everything — maintained a routine for twenty-one days, sometimes even sixty-six days — yet always found myself back into the procrastination loop. It’s annoying and amateurish. I didn’t need any motivation anymore. Instead, I wanted someone to point a gun at my head because I felt that’s the only way I would work hard towards my own goals.
Everything changed for me when I read James Clear’s Atomic Habits, in which he wrote,
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”
This…
And What You Can Do About It
“Thank you, but I am busy tonight.”
I have found myself repeating this line a lot more times than I can count. Even when I did not have work or any other preoccupation, I have turned down offers from my friends — just to go straight to the comforts of my bed and mindlessly scroll down my phone.
It’s easy to start a job and get so engrossed in it that you forget yourself in the process. Working hard is inevitable and so are burnouts. …
1730–1740: Empress Anna of Russia
They say that ‘history repeats itself.’ Looking around, we sometimes see the glimpses of mad rulers around us. Some drive themselves insane because of their workload, some are driven by their lust for more power, and others are just who they are — unfit to hold that kind of power. The struggle to expand the kingdom has also tested many kings and queens’ sanity over the years. History bears testimony to several mad rulers who were revered and hated alike.
1730 — 1740: Empress Anna of Russia
Anna Ioannovna was a decade long Empress of Russia. Though she had blue blood running through her veins, she was…
A beginner’s guide to freelance writing
Before we dig into the details, let me tell you something about this post.
This story is not a step-by-step guide for every single skill I mentioned below. Instead, I have jotted down the things I learned from my short experience as a writer and how they may help you too. I hope the following uncredited skills make you a more focused and successful writer.
1. Make a target and stick to it
Even you will agree with me on this: making a schedule is relatively simple. But sticking to it is always the tricky part. Sometimes you may get too focussed on the goal that you lose…
