Manav Seth

Ukrainian casualties may skyrocket following the invasion by its gigantic neighbour. That the West continues to despise the intervention as part of Russian expansionism seems inappropriate, as it is the former that has put yet another nation on the verge of collapse and re-ignited global tensions. Ukraine has for long remained an integral part of Russia until 1991, when the USSR collapsed and the former gained independence. The main aim of the US and its European allies has since been to make it a Western stronghold in Europe. The US opposing Russian influence in Europe while at the same time having an incomparable record of foreign interventions remains completely unjustified. The issue began with various false assurances given to Soviet leaders regarding the non-expansion of NATO eastward and the preservation of Soviet (or Russian) security interests. On the contrary, NATO has expanded five times since then. Russia was left relatively weak, with the West facing no threat from it; nev...

The Delhi sultans and Mughals have been the subject of much heroic narrative, their exploits overvalued and their image enormously washed, while those who had laid the path to grandeur remain buried beneath the former’s imputed glory. How many of us truly knew about the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school? Very few, as we were too preoccupied with the lengthy sections devoted to foreigners. Over the past several years, the magnificent Chhatrapati of the powerful Maratha empire has gradually come to light and begun winning the well-deserved respect of the wider population. On this day of his three hundred and ninety-second birth anniversary, let us have an insight into his life and how a young Maratha transformed Indian history and left his imprint on the world. Born in 1630, mentored by his mother and guru Dadaji Kondadev, heavily influenced by Indian epics since his very childhood, Shivaji began exhibiting leadership and warrior-like traits as well as patriotism and devot...