Interesting websites on India's past

[rkumar]

Dear Friends,

Under this heading I invite you all to post interesting websites on India's past when ever you come across some. I will certainly be doing that as and when I find some thing interesting. Here is one on some very rare photographs taken during 1860-1900;

1. http://photography.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/india/overview.html

one can see how the first locomotive called akbar was ferried across river yamuna. There is a photograph of a Maharaj Jaswant Singh of Bharatpur when he was just 11 years old. and also bharatpur darbar..

2. http://photography.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.geh.org/ne/mismi3/india%5Fidx00001.html

there are really interesting old photographs on this link. One can see how Taj Mahal used to look in those days with no garden on either side...

RK^2

[nrao]

Good idea Mr. Kalkhande. Here is one of my favourite. Link to Indian history through maps. These maps may not convey the most accurate information from a historical perspective but do provide general idea.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/history/index.html

Few of these are interesting from Jat history perspective e.g maps of Kushans, Yaudheya during Guptas time?, Raja Harshvardhan etc.

This one shows the area of Jats during Mughal times towards of 17th century,
http://www.india-history.com/medival-india/mughal-empire-in17th.html

[rkumar]

Sir Thomas Roe was the real man who should be called the founder of British empire in India in real sense and Jahangir was the empror responsible for handing over the India on a platter to British. Here is the briefs of the Great British who got could be called the first person to negotiate a FTA between India and Britain.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9064045

following is the english translation of the letter which Jahangir wrote to the British King;

The Great Moghul Jahangir: Letter to James I, King of England, 1617 A.D.

When your Majesty shall open this letter let your royal heart be as fresh as a sweet garden. Let all people make reverence at your gate; let your throne be advanced higher; amongst the greatness of the kings of the prophet Jesus, let your Majesty be the greatest, and all monarchies derive their counsel and wisdom from your breast as from a fountain, that the law of the majesty of Jesus may revive and flourish under your protection.

The letter of love and friendship which you sent and the presents, tokens of your good affections toward me, I have received by the hands of your ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe (who well deserves to be your trusted servant), delivered to me in an acceptable and happy hour; upon which mine eyes were so fixed that I could not easily remove them to any other object, and have accepted them with great joy and delight.

Upon which assurance of your royal love I have given my general command to all the kingdoms and ports of my dominions to receive all the merchants of the English nation as the subjects of my friend; that in what place soever they choose to live, they may have free liberty without any restraint; and at what port soever they shall arrive, that neither Portugal nor any other shall dare to molest their quiet; and in what city soever they shall have residence, I have commanded all my governors and captains to give them freedom answerable to their own desires; to sell, buy, and to transport into their country at their pleasure.

For confirmation of our love and friendship, I desire your Majesty to command your merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of rarities and rich goods fit for my palace; and that you be pleased to send me your royal letters by every opportunity, that I may rejoice in your health and prosperous affairs; that our friendship may be interchanged and eternal.

Your Majesty is learned and quick-sighted as a prophet, and can conceive so much by few words that I need write no more.

The God of heaven give you and us increase of honor.

Rajendra

[rkumar]

Raja Deen daya was one of India's very early photographers. Just for the information of young techie members, let me tell you that he was an engineer turned full time photographer. Here is a link to the wensite dedicated to Deen Dayal and his contibution to India photography.

http://www.deendayal.com/links.html

One interesting informatuion I came to know is that Roorkee engineering college was the third of its kind in the world when it was established in 1847.

Rajendra