Who was Rakhal Das Banerji and why is he important for Indian history?

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn History, India10 Comments

If you are interested in ancient civilizations, you may have heard of Mohenjo-daro, one of the oldest and best-preserved urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. But do you know who discovered this remarkable site and realized its significance? The answer is Rakhal Das Banerji, an Indian archaeologist and historian who worked for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the early 20th century. His discovery of Mohenjo-Daro was one of the greatest achievements of Indian archaeology and history. He deserves to be remembered and celebrated as one of India’s finest sons.

Akitu Festival: A Celebration of New Beginnings in Ancient Mesopotamia

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Culture, Event & Festival, Iraq, Prehistory & Ancient History12 Comments

The Akitu feast was one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Mesopotamia. It marked the beginning of the new year and the renewal of life in spring. It was also a time to honor the supreme god Marduk and his son Nabu, who were believed to have created and ordered the universe out of chaos. It reaffirmed Marduk's role as the supreme god and creator of all things. It also reaffirmed the king's role as Marduk's representative on earth and his legitimacy as ruler of Babylon. It also reaffirmed the bond between the king, the gods, and the people, who shared a common destiny and fate.

Indian Rupee Goes Global

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Finance & Economics14 Comments

The Indian rupee (INR) is gaining momentum as an international currency, as more countries are opting to trade in INR instead of the US dollar. This is a significant development for India's economy, as it reduces the dependency on foreign exchange reserves, lowers transaction costs, and boosts exports. Trading in INR is also in line with India's vision of becoming a self-reliant and resilient economy. As more countries join the bandwagon of trading in INR, India can expect to reap more benefits and advantages from its international trade relations.

The Credit Suisse Collapse: What Went Wrong & What Are the Lessons?

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Finance & Economics6 Comments

Credit Suisse was once one of the world's leading banks, with a reputation for innovation and excellence. But in March 2023, it shocked the financial world by announcing that it had run out of cash and was being taken over by its rival UBS. How did this happen? And what can other banks learn from its demise? Credit Suisse's collapse is a cautionary tale for all banks that want to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic era. They need to be agile, customer-centric, and responsible if they want to avoid becoming obsolete or irrelevant.

Silicon Valley Bank: How Does a Bank Collapse in 48 Hours?

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Finance & Economics10 Comments

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was a well-capitalized institution seeking to raise some funds. Within 48 hours, a panic induced by the very venture capital community that SVB had served and nurtured ended the bank’s 40-year run. While relatively unknown outside of Silicon Valley, SVB was among the top 20 American commercial banks, with US$209 billion in total assets at the end of last year. Faced with higher interest rates, loss of IPOs, and a funding drought, SVB’s clients began pulling money out of the bank. Lenders somewhat similar to SVB are in an unfortunate situation. A failure to protect deposits over $250,000 could cause a loss of faith in other mid-sized banks. Analysts said SVB’s collapse is unlikely to set off the kind of domino effect that gripped the banking industry during the financial crisis.

Chhau Dance & Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi

On By Judhajit RoychoudhuryIn Folk art & culture, Heritage, India15 Comments

We went to the Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi and saw a lovely Chhau dance in the evening. Chhau binds together people from different social strata and ethnic backgrounds with diverse social practices, beliefs, professions, and languages. This semi-classical dance form originated at the royal court of Saraikela, now in Jharkhand. However, increasing industrialization, economic pressures, and new media are leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities becoming disconnected from their roots.

Iraq Dig Uncovers 5,000-Year-Old Pub Restaurant

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Iraq, Prehistory & Ancient History13 Comments

The US-Italian team made the find in the ruins of ancient Lagash, northeast of the modern city of Nasiriyah in Iraq, which was already known to have been one of the first urban centers of the Sumerian civilization of ancient Iraq. Team finds primitive fridge, oven, benches for guests, around 150 serving bowls, evidence of eating, drinking, and even beer recipe inscribed on cuneiform tablet. A detailed analysis would need to be carried out on the samples taken during the excavations.