Blog Posts
Was Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism political or spiritual?
Critics say that his conversion was not spiritual but political. But to Harvard University’s Christopher Queen it was an amalgam of both and that, for valid reasons. By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, January 7: 18: The father of the Indian constitution and the unquestioned leader of the...
Bangladeshi Islam is rooted in the soil
Bangladesh, which was “East Bengal” earlier, became a Muslim-majority area by a peaceful and gradual process from the Sixteenth Century onwards without alienating the indigenous culture. By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, January 7: Bangladesh, which was “East Bengal” earlier, became a Muslim-majority area by a peaceful and gradual...
Flexibility marked the Hindu caste order in Buddha’s time
It was much later than the Vedic rigidities gained currency By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, January 7: In Buddha’s time (Sixth-Fifth Century BC) flexibility marked the Hindu caste order and it was much later that the Vedic rigidities associated with caste gained currency, says Dr. Thomas William Rhys...
Tipu Sultan: an Indian freedom fighter reviled by both British rulers and Hindu nationalists
Hindu nationalists and Hindutva historians are presently on a campaign to remove him from the pantheon of Indian freedom fighters By P. K. Balachandran Colombo, January 7: The Indian freedom fighter Tipu Sultan (1751-1799) is glowingly described by his admirers as the “Tiger of Mysore”...
Remaining hurdles in the path to revive Pali in India
Indian Prime Minister Modi has announced the inclusion of Pali in the list of Indian “classical languages”. But if its study is to actually grow, further steps are urgently needed. By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, January 7: On October 17, Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra...
Bangladeshi Islam is rooted in the soil
Bangladesh, which was “East Bengal” earlier, became a Muslim-majority area by a peaceful and gradual process from the Sixteenth Century onwards without alienating the indigenous culture. By P.K.Balachandran Colombo,January 7: Bangladesh, which was “East Bengal” earlier, became a Muslim-majority area by a peaceful and gradual process...
Stay connected