Archive for the 'History' Category

Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) PART I

Friday, June 8th, 2007

India and Pakistan have in the past fought four wars over J&K and held several talks to resolve the 56 year old problem, but till now no tangible results have emerged, except for a composite dialogue. Although, both India and Pakistan are trying to move the peace process ahead, yet there are very few indications […]

Ferdinand Marcos - President of the Philippines, 1917-1989

Monday, April 30th, 2007

A trained lawyer, Marcos was convicted of assassinating a political opponent of his father in 1939 and, from his condemned cell, argued his case up to the Philippine Surpreme Court, where he won an acquittal.
During the Second World War, Marcos collaborated with the Japanese who occupied the Philippines Â- though he later claimed to have […]

Flag of Mexico - Dia de la Bandera

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

The Flag of Mexico is rich with historic symbolism. The tricolors of green, white and red with the coat-of-arms centered in the white middle stripe were adopted by Mexico following their independence from Spain during the War of Independence in 1821.
There have been changes to the flag during history but the coat of arms […]

Lindbergh, Charles Augustus

Friday, April 27th, 2007

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was the first person to cross the Atlantic in a nonstop flight. This made him an instant celebrity. When, in 1932, his 19-months old son was kidnapped and murdered, the nation was appalled.
Finally, a German carpenter, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, was apprehended and, following a much-publicized trial, executed.
The police chief who arrested Bruno […]

The Abdication Crisis Revisited

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

The love affair of Edward, Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) and Wallis Simpson in 1936 is the stuff of romantic dramas. Alas, reality was a lot less inspiring. Even as she was being wooed by her regal paramour - and while still being married to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, who knew of the Prince’s attentions and […]

Human-made Monsters

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

Humans made monsters by inhuman treatment abound in literature. In “The Man Who Laughs”, published in 1869, the French author, Victor Hugo (1802-1885), described the comprachicos thus:
“The comprachicos (child buyers) were strange and hideous nomads in the 17th century. They made children into sideshow freaks. To succeed in producing a freak one must get hold […]

Re-Reading The Magna Carta

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

Honest - you may have covered it in history class, but when was the last time actually read the Magna Carta (The Great Charter) in its entirety?
Well, now you can (again) - here it is once more for your reading pleasure and edification!
Preamble
John, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, duke […]