The Dharma Dispatch

The Horrific Finale: Glimpses of Hindu Persecution by Murshid Quli Khan The final episode of our series on Murshid Quli Khan narrates some horrific stories of Hindu persecution in Bengal under his regime. Murshid Quli Khan’s conduct thus reinforces another common theme in the history of Muxlim rulers in India: the more orthodox, the more fanatical the ruler, the greater is the power exercised by his freeloading Ulema. -- Read the whole essay! https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/the-horrific-finale-glimpses-of-hindu-persecution-by-murshid-quli-khan

On the punya parva of Mahashivratri, it's a sacred tradition at Dharma Dispatch to offer a bouquet of three stories extolling Shiva Bhakti. Wishing you all an auspicious Maha Shivaratri. 🕉️ Namah Shivaya 🕉️ 🙏 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/three-stories-for-mahashivaratri-2021/

The Bigotry of Murshid Quli Khan and the Farman that Founded Kolkata Murshid Quli Khan was a typical Islamic Shia bigot. With age, his zeal for his sect became more fanatical. As the Nawab of Bengal, he ran it strictly according to the diktats of the Quran. In this, he proved to be a worthy disciple of Aurangzeb. Read the whole piece! 🙏📑😡 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/the-bigotry-of-murshid-quli-khan-and-the-farman-that-founded-kolkata

The Forgotten 1947 Siege of Delhi: Scripted in Pakistan, Executed by Indian Muslims and Foiled by Sardar Patel In less than a month after India attained Independence, Pakistan decided to capture Delhi itself. The plan was scripted in Pakistan and was executed from within India by Indian Muslims and it could have well succeeded but for the steely intervention of the vigilant Sardar Patel. This is a story from recent history, carefully buried by the Congress establishment. Read and share widely! https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/the-forgotten-1947-siege-of-delhi-scripted-in-pakistan-executed-by-indian-muslims-and-foiled-by-sardar-patel

In Memoriam: Sri K.K.S. Murthy, the Gentle Proprietor of the Iconic Select Bookshop My heartfelt obituary to Sri K.K.S. Murthy, the unassuming proprietor of the legendary Select Bookshop in Bangalore, who passed away today. Select Bookshop is a state of mind. Nobody gives you its location. You find it. Or you don't. You are not a full-blooded Bangalorean if you haven't at least heard its name. The life of Sri K.K.S. Murthy epitomises DVG's memorable verse of devoting oneself to a lofty purpose and persisting in it for life. His journey of 96 years on this earth is worth emulating. --- Read the full piece! 🕉🙏🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/in-memoriam-sri-kks-murthy-the-gentle-proprietor-of-the-iconic-select-bookshop

The Tragic Tale of Sitaram Ray, the Last Hindu King of Bengal Raja Sitaram Ray was a self-made Hindu king who built a small empire by the dint of his talent, bravery and leadership. He was also the last Hindu king of Bengal, executed by Murshid Quli Khan. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya has written a very powerful novel celebrating his heroism. Titled, Sitaram, it was his last novel, published in 1886. Do read his tragic story in full! 🙏🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/the-tragic-tale-of-sitaram-ray-the-last-hindu-king-of-bengal

Bureaucracy as Dharma: Glimpses from Ancient India In its most profound conception and in enlightened practice, Dharma was the foundation of bureaucracy in Ancient India. A minister or bureaucrat had to uphold the mandatory elements of achara (spiritual conduct) and vyavahara (worldly conduct)—including prescribed dharmic rituals, festivals, vratas, daana, building rest houses, granting pastures etc. Perhaps we wait in vain for the day when the long-overdue reform of our bureaucracy will incorporate these time-honoured Sanatana precepts of statecraft and governance. 🙏🕉🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/bureaucracy-as-dharma-glimpses-from-ancient-india

A Glimpse into the Theory and Practice of Statecraft in Ancient India We also need to shed another deeply-ingrained colonial habit — of somehow trying to “prove" that democracy existed in ancient India. That is, the sort of democracy that has been in vogue for roughly the last three hundred years in Europe and America. A reasonable definition of ancient Indian polity and statecraft is that it was a Circumscribed Monarchy in which the power of the monarch was constrained by a Council of Ministers. --- Read the whole essay! https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/a-glimpse-into-the-theory-and-practice-of-statecraft-in-ancient-india