News for 'British Raj'

A History Lesson For Modiji

A History Lesson For Modiji

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

The concept of 'fairness by rulers' is deeply ingrained in Indians and any weakening of this dents the legitimacy of the ruler, warns military historian Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Hinduja group chairman Srichand Parmanand Hinduja dies in London at 87

Hinduja group chairman Srichand Parmanand Hinduja dies in London at 87

Rediff.com17 May 2023

His business successes which started with the international distribution rights for the Bollywood blockbuster movie 'Sangam' in 1964 made him one of the richest in Britain but it was the Bofors scam that made Srichand Parmanand Hinduja famous, or rather infamous, back home. SP Hinduja, as he was known, died in London on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. He was 87, a family spokesperson said. Born in a business family in Karachi, British India, he and his two younger brothers were accused of receiving payments totalling Rs 64 crore in illegal commissions to help Swedish gunmaker AB Bofors secure an Indian government contract.

From the Raj to Azadi, how I saw India change

From the Raj to Azadi, how I saw India change

Rediff.com2 Jun 2020

Bharati Dutt witnessed life-changing events that shaped India on the threshold of freedom. Her memories are an account of how ordinary Indians saw India change.

Ajit Pawar will replace Eknath Shinde soon: Uddhav Sena

Ajit Pawar will replace Eknath Shinde soon: Uddhav Sena

Rediff.com3 Jul 2023

An editorial in the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray mouthpiece Saamana claimed the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has not only 'muddied' politics of Maharashtra but also of the country.

Prabhas gets 50 crore! Deepika gets 20 crore!

Prabhas gets 50 crore! Deepika gets 20 crore!

Rediff.com23 Jul 2020

Deepika apparently asks for a pay cheque on par with the film's leading man.

Shahid Makes His Debut AGAIN

Shahid Makes His Debut AGAIN

Rediff.com24 Jan 2022

With OTT gaining popularity, quite a few stars will make their debut on digital platforms.

India's warmth and hospitality touched Queen Elizabeth II

India's warmth and hospitality touched Queen Elizabeth II

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

Queen Elizabeth II made 3 State visits to India -- in 1961, 1983 and 1997.

OMG 2 Review: Goes Round In Circles

OMG 2 Review: Goes Round In Circles

Rediff.com11 Aug 2023

Akshay Kumar looks cool in that trippy get-up and adds his charisma to the film that is otherwise a lot of verbiage, observes Deepa Gahlot.

Quiet Doesn't Flow The Cauvery

Quiet Doesn't Flow The Cauvery

Rediff.com18 Sep 2023

Today, with the Lok Sabha polls only months away, any inter-state dispute over the Cauvery water dispute has the potential to take more political turns than otherwise, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

'These laws are equipped to suppress democracy'

'These laws are equipped to suppress democracy'

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

'...by directing these draconian provisions against political and ideological opponents of the ruling group, minorities, and those who dare to dissent through and selective prosecution and prolonged incarceration as undertrials.'

Queen Elizabeth II admired richness, diversity of India

Queen Elizabeth II admired richness, diversity of India

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on Thursday, was the first British monarch to accede to the throne after India's Independence from colonial rule in 1952 and admired the 'richness and diversity' of India where she made three State Visits over the course of her reign -- in 1961, 1983 and 1997.

Ranbir IMPRESSES as Shamshera

Ranbir IMPRESSES as Shamshera

Rediff.com24 Jun 2022

Ranbir's Shamshera is funny, he's clever, observes Namrata Thakker, and he has a double role in the film!

Avenge Lakhimpur through votes: Jayant Chaudhary

Avenge Lakhimpur through votes: Jayant Chaudhary

Rediff.com11 Oct 2021

Chaudhary also announced that if his party is voted into power in Uttar Pradesh, high court benches will be set up in western Uttar Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal areas of the state.

The Aussie who took on the British for Rani Laxmibai

The Aussie who took on the British for Rani Laxmibai

Rediff.com26 Dec 2016

John Lang represented Rani Laxmibai in her legal battle against the East India Company to prevent the British from annexing her kingdom of Jhansi. Rediff.com's Archana Masih on a maverick Aussie who spent 22 years in India and became a friend in its dark days of bondage.

Manchester, Silicon Valley...

Manchester, Silicon Valley...

Rediff.com12 May 2021

Why do Innovation Revolutions happen outside India, asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

BJP can't win a single seat on its own in Tamil Nadu: Stalin

BJP can't win a single seat on its own in Tamil Nadu: Stalin

Rediff.com30 Dec 2022

Stalin said one cannot and should not decide the mood of the entire country based on the results of one state elections.

Revealed! What you didn't know about Amitabh's Deewar

Revealed! What you didn't know about Amitabh's Deewar

Rediff.com11 Oct 2019

At the launch of Khalid Mohamed's latest book, The Aladia Sisters, Karan Johar got Javed Akhtar and Anil Kapoor to reveal a few secrets.

SGPC seeks Punjab governor's help in gurbani row

SGPC seeks Punjab governor's help in gurbani row

Rediff.com22 Jun 2023

The move came after the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government on Monday approved an amendment to the British-era Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.

Jo Johnson, brother of ex-UK PM resigns as director of Adani linked firm

Jo Johnson, brother of ex-UK PM resigns as director of Adani linked firm

Rediff.com2 Feb 2023

Lord Jo Johnson, younger brother of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, has resigned his non-executive directorship of a UK-based investment firm linked with the now-withdrawn Adani Enterprises Follow-on Public Offer (FPO). 'The Financial Times' newspaper referenced UK Companies House records to reveal that 51-year-old Lord Johnson had been appointed as a director of London-based Elara Capital Plc in June last year and resigned on Wednesday, the day when the Adani Group announced withdrawal of the FPO. Elara, which described itself as a capital markets business raising funds for Indian corporates, was among the bookrunners on the FPO.

How Netflix Finally Got It Right In India

How Netflix Finally Got It Right In India

Rediff.com20 Sep 2023

Its success script: Investing more in local content ecosystem; growing its partnership footprint.

How the British stole the Kohinoor from a child

How the British stole the Kohinoor from a child

Rediff.com23 Jan 2017

'I can tell you the case that hurts me the most is the one in which the little boy is forced to sign the Kohinoor over.' 'You take a mother away from a child, you surround him with grown ups speaking a different language, you tell him he must sign this over or else...'

These Scientists Shaped India

These Scientists Shaped India

Rediff.com15 Aug 2023

I suggest we build a Vigyan Mandir (Temple of Science) with the ambience of a place of worship, so that it becomes a destination for pilgrims. We should embed on its walls bronze plaques describing each scientist mentioned here along with about a dozen of our ancient mathematicians, recommends Professor Kalyan Singhal, historian of science and technology.

May 'regrets' Jallianwala Bagh killing, but no apology

May 'regrets' Jallianwala Bagh killing, but no apology

Rediff.com10 Apr 2019

"The tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh of 1919 is a shameful scar on British Indian history," May said.

PM inaugurates underground museum of freedom fighters in Mumbai

PM inaugurates underground museum of freedom fighters in Mumbai

Rediff.com14 Jun 2022

The gallery has come up in a British-era bunker, discovered in the Raj Bhavan campus in south Mumbai in August 2016 during the tenure of the then-Governor C Vidyasagar Rao.

India Gate turns a page: Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with war memorial flame

India Gate turns a page: Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with war memorial flame

Rediff.com21 Jan 2022

The Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi was merged with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial on Friday.

UK daily 'The Independent' reverts to using Bombay instead of Mumbai

UK daily 'The Independent' reverts to using Bombay instead of Mumbai

Rediff.com11 Feb 2016

A leading British daily will revert back to using Bombay instead of Mumbai when referring to the city, to take stand against a "nastier strain of Hindu nationalism".

'Not a rubber stamp': Guv upset over Kerala govt's CAA move

'Not a rubber stamp': Guv upset over Kerala govt's CAA move

Rediff.com17 Jan 2020

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan hit out at the state government for not informing him before moving the SC against the CAA. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan retorted: "This is a democratic country and one must understand the democratic system. Earlier, during the British Raj, there were resident commissioners to check local chieftains."

Solomon would have been proud of Ayodhya verdict

Solomon would have been proud of Ayodhya verdict

Rediff.com9 Dec 2019

The Ayodhya judgment of November 9 draws on both the polytheism of Hinduism and the modern rule of law, says Deepak Lal.

Dalits not safe in TN: Governor Ravi opens fresh fire on Stalin govt

Dalits not safe in TN: Governor Ravi opens fresh fire on Stalin govt

Rediff.com13 Feb 2023

Although there is a lot of talk on social justice, Dalits in Tamil Nadu face atrocities of some kind every other day, Governor R N Ravi has said, apparently targeting the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after a gap of about a month.

Google's doodle honours India's diversity, harmony for R-Day

Google's doodle honours India's diversity, harmony for R-Day

Rediff.com26 Jan 2020

The multi-hued doodle, with a dominant blue tone, depicts iconic monuments interspersed with images of famous music instruments and dance forms. The six letters of the word Google have been portrayed colourfully and using images of India's national bird and an iconic south Indian dance form.

Taliban govt unlikely to survive: William Dalrymple

Taliban govt unlikely to survive: William Dalrymple

Rediff.com12 Sep 2021

"The most successful governments in Afghanistan tend to be those who have the biggest tents, which would include all communities and therefore leave all communities satisfied after a point and do not create massive resentments. Now, this is not a government which I would imagine would successfully govern Afghanistan," Dalrymple, the historian said.

The MOST SUCCESSFUL Stories on Real Women

The MOST SUCCESSFUL Stories on Real Women

Rediff.com5 Aug 2020

2020 could well have been a year of biopics with females taking centre-stage. After Chhapaak, it was time for Shakuntala Devi and Gangubai Kathiawadi to release later in the year with many more in the pipeline for 2021.

Law Commission wants Sec 124A (sedition) retained with safeguards against misuse

Law Commission wants Sec 124A (sedition) retained with safeguards against misuse

Rediff.com1 Jun 2023

The Law Commission has said it is of the considered view that Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition needs to be retained, though certain amendments could be introduced to bring about greater clarity regarding usage of the provision.

Is China New Leader Of Global South?

Is China New Leader Of Global South?

Rediff.com5 Sep 2023

Today, with China centrally seated and located, the Global South has an intriguing road ahead. Odds of it becoming a Chinese bloc in the emerging new bipolar world are higher than we'd wish them to be, observes Shekhar Gupta.

The Top 10 Spy Thrillers On OTT

The Top 10 Spy Thrillers On OTT

Rediff.com4 Jul 2023

As the second season of The Night Manager hits the OTT screen, Deepa Gahlot looks back at the top spy thrillers on streaming platforms.

Kamathipura: From shanty locality to prized real estate

Kamathipura: From shanty locality to prized real estate

Rediff.com17 Apr 2022

After years of living with his family in a poky 110 sq. ft. 'house', textile worker Sambhaji Surve dreams of moving into a home four times the size once the Maharashtra government starts its ambitious redevelopment of the 39-acre Kamathipura shanty town in south-central Mumbai. Sharing his dream are about 8,000 other families hoping for a better life when the redevelopment project, part of the government's effort to redevelop old settlements and make life more livable for some residents, gets underway. The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party aims to redevelop BDD Chawl and Dharavi but for Surve all the matters is Kamathipura where he arrived in the 1970s from Nasik to work in a textile mill. Kamathipura was originally built 150 years ago following construction of a causeway to connect the seven islands of Mumbai. From the British Raj to post-independence, it became infamous for slums and brothels.

'I was told Yash and Mumtaz were 'just friends.' That wasn't the truth!'

'I was told Yash and Mumtaz were 'just friends.' That wasn't the truth!'

Rediff.com20 Apr 2023

'Shah Rukh and I have a very good relationship.' 'When he is with you, he is completely yours, once he leaves the room, he doesn't know you.' Pamela Chopra discusses her life with her late husband Yash Chopra, and sons Aditya and Uday Chopra in an exclusive interview.

The T-Shirt Wars

The T-Shirt Wars

Rediff.com17 May 2022

Ajit Balakrishnan on the evolution of a cultural symbol.

Bollywood Releases, Coming Up This March

Bollywood Releases, Coming Up This March

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

March is going to be an exciting month when it comes to Bollywood releases as it would be a good mix of theatrical and OTT arrivals.

BJP regime similar to Hitler's fascist model: Yechury

BJP regime similar to Hitler's fascist model: Yechury

Rediff.com6 Mar 2016

An aggressive nationalism debate has been manufactured by the BJP and RSS so that they can force their agenda on the nation. They want to convert a democratic, republic and a secular country into a Hindu rashtra," the CPI-M general secretary said.