Pragyata

"Few battles of Indian history have captivated the collective psyche of modern India as the Battle of Haldighati, fought from dawn till noon on a hot summer day of the 18th of June, 1576 between the hegemony-seeking Mughal forces of Akbar, then 34, led by the 26-year-old Kuwar Mān Singh of Amber and the forces of Mewar striving to preserve their freedom and independence, led by Maharana Pratap Singh, aged 36. The courage of the protagonists and the glory of the day that kindled the heart of generations has been enshrined in evocative verses of folklore, which afford careful comparison with, and scrutiny of contemporary accounts, principally left by Mughal chroniclers."

Chronicles of Valour- The Battle of Haldighati A research-based, blow-by-blow account of the day “the best blood of Mewar irrigated the pass of Haldighat”.

"The existence of the Medieval Mauryas is supported by abundant evidence, but there is insufficient data to construct a coherent picture of their reign. Mauryas ruled powerful principalities in the region around Mathura, Rajasthan, and Konkan in the seventh and eighth centuries CE."
https://pragyata.com/the-mauryas-of-the-medieval-period-a-rough-sketch/

Professor Saumya Dey of Rishihood University reviews The Brahmo Samaj and Its Vaiṣṇava Milieus by Ankur Barua.

"this book by Ankur Barua...is an important reflection on the nature of colonial subjecthood, at least in its elite manifestations. We discover that it was by no means completely lacking in agency. The elite colonial subject was not a passive receptacle for the political, or, in this case, the religious and philosophical ideas issuing from the West."

A Tale of Fraught Modernities Barua's book is an important reflection on the nature of colonial subjecthood, at least in its elite manifestations. We discover that it was by no means completely lacking in agency. The elite colonial subject was not a passive receptacle for the political, or, in this case, the religious and philos...

"While a lot of energy is spent on understanding the threats posed by Islam, Christianity, or leftist liberals to the Hindu way of life, we don’t spend as much energy on understanding the threats posed by secularisation and the costs thereof to Hindu religion."

✍️ Halley Kalyan

On Secularism, Modernization and Hinduism: Part 2 While a lot of energy is spent on understanding the threats posed by Islam, Christianity, or leftist liberals to the Hindu way of life, we don’t spend as much energy on understanding the threats posed by secularisation and the costs thereof to Hindu religion.

Dr Pingali Gopal reviews Essence of the Fifth Veda, a captivating compendium by Gaurang Damani.

"The author, in the selection of stories from our vast civilisational library, brings forth all the above aspects of Indian culture with great clarity. It adequately demonstrates why India is a civilizational entity. The book also shows how the incredible range and variety of stories in Indian culture play a crucial role in our socialising process without even realising it."

https://pragyata.com/book-review-essence-of-the-fifth-veda-by-gaurang-damani/

Halley Kalyan introduces an important work by Prof. AK Saran.

"Even if we disregard contentious aspects of Dharma (such as Varnashrama Dharma), what is the basis for human responsibility today in the Hindu context? This is a question that each of us should consider. As we moved away from being a duty-based society to a rights-based society, we also lost this Dharmic anchor or controlling principle. Our lives, hence, are now a lot more irreligious and anti-religious than most of our ancestors. Dharma and Karma make people conscious of the consequences of their actions. Today, the freedom-based discourse has mainstreamed this idea that one can do whatever one wants so long as the said act is not illegal and lands one in jail. This is an idea that is very different from our ancestral moorings, particularly so when the law that governs us today is also secular, i.e., lacks any appreciation for anything transcendental."
https://pragyata.com/on-secularism-modernization-and-hinduism/

Mihir Keshari, a student at JNU, analyses the coexistence of "Hindu" and "Tribal" cultures.
https://pragyata.com/hinduism-and-tribal-cultures-understanding-interactions-assimilation-and-coexistence/

In this article, Pratul Agarwal, a class 12 student, expresses his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in ancient history.

We the Harappans: a lament from a history buff In this piece, Pratul Agarwal expresses his rue at the state of affairs in ancient history.

"In his attempt to negate Radical Universalism, Dr Morales also belittles the Hindu saint, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–1886), who was perhaps the greatest embodiment of Hindu Universalism."

✍️ Dr Pingali Gopal

The Sword of Kali: Part 2 Dr Pingali Gopal encapsulates an old debate about the nature of Hinduism.

Dr Pingali Gopal encapsulates an old debate about the nature of Hinduism.

The Sword of Kali - Part 1 Dr Pingali Gopal encapsulates an old debate about the nature of Hinduism.

Pragyata is looking for creative writers to contribute articles for publication.

The guidelines can be found here.

Write for Us - Pragyata Pragyata Mag is a platform for anyone with a reasonable grounding in the Dharmic Indian civilization to air their views. You must know the following before you begin: 1. Your piece must fit into one of the following categories Essay: We accept contributions in the form of essays that are objective a...

In this piece, Raghu Bhaskaran passionately argues in defence of freedom for Hindu temples.

Freedom for temples, not parole. We want freedom for temples, not parole.