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A Malayalam alphabet transliteration chart details vowel and consonant sounds for linguistic study.
Language and identity

Malayalam: Language of Kerala's Coast

The Reserve Bank of India building in Mumbai stands on a city street, reflecting Indian culture.
Institutions explained

The Reserve Bank of India: Guardian of the Currency

A modern office building, reflecting the impact of student migration and settlement patterns.
Migration explainers

Student Migration and the Path to Settlement

A vintage Maratha Mandir film ticket, representing the history of Bollywood and Indian cinema.
India explained

How Bollywood Became a Global Industry

An electronic voting machine shows an 'Error-2' message on its control unit during India elections.
Institutions explained

The Election Commission: Guarding the Vote

The Election Commission of India was established on 25 January 1950, the day before the Constitution came into force, and that date is now marked annually as National Voters' Day. It...

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A snake boat race takes place on the water in Kerala, showcasing a vibrant cultural tradition.Culture and festivals

Onam: A Harvest Festival of the South

Onam is the great annual festival of Kerala, the narrow coastal state on India's south western edge, and it is...

1009 words
The Constitution of India is displayed, relating to current affairs and the republic.History briefings

Writing a Constitution for a New Republic

The Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time on the ninth of December 1946, in a circular chamber in New...

1094 words
Construction work blocks a sidewalk near Gregory's Bakery on Southall Broadway, illustrating migration networks.Migration explainers

Migration Networks: How Chains Form

Migration statistics are usually presented as flows between countries, as though people moved the way water moves,...

980 words
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Verghese Kurien are pictured on the IRMA Campus, highlighting India's cooperative.Business and trade

India's Cooperative Movement

A cooperative is a business owned by the people who use it. Farmers who pool their milk, weavers who share a dyeing...

1078 words
Chinese fishing nets extend over the water near Fort Kochi, Kerala, illustrating India's historic spice trade.India explained

Spice, Trade and the Making of a Coastline

The narrow strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, running roughly from Goa down to the southern...

969 words
A church altar with a painting and flowers illustrates the history of colonial trade in India.History briefings

Colonial Trade Companies and Their Legacy

For roughly two and a half centuries, the European presence in India was organised not by governments but by...

1030 words
Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India is pictured with a reflecting pool, showcasing Indian government architecture.Institutions explained

The Prime Minister's Office and Executive Power

India's Constitution says surprisingly little about the Prime Minister. Article 74 provides that there shall be a...

1062 words

Business and trade

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Parliament House and a bridge are visible in Canberra, Australia, highlighting the growing India-Australia trade.

India and Australia: A Trading Partnership Deepens

For most of the twentieth century India and Australia were two Commonwealth countries that traded surprisingly little...

954 words

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Culture and festivals

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The Golden Temple in Amritsar glows at night, beautifully reflected in the water, showcasing Indian culture.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights Explained

Diwali is the most widely observed festival on the Indian calendar and, for a great many people outside India, the...

945 words

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Diaspora corridors

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An elderly Afghan camel driver, Mahomed Usef, stands in front of the Broken Hill Mosque in 1935, showcasing Australia's.

Australia's Indian Story

India and Australia were joined for a century and a half by a shared imperial administration before they were joined...

1020 words

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History briefings

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Ruins of an ancient brick building are visible at the Arikamedu archaeological site in India, offering a glimpse into.

Ancient Trade Routes of the Indian Ocean

Long before the Atlantic mattered to anyone, the Indian Ocean was the busiest commercial space on Earth. It had a...

917 words

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India explained

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A lush green valley is partially obscured by clouds and sunlight during the monsoon season in Kerala, India.

How India's Monsoon Shapes a Subcontinent

The word monsoon descends from the Arabic mausim , meaning season, and it described a wind rather than a downpour....

1099 words

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Institutions explained

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India's Republic Day parade showcases military vehicles and cultural floats during celebrations in New Delhi.

Armed Forces Structure: An Overview

India maintains one of the largest military establishments in the world, with active personnel numbering well over a...

1099 words

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Language and identity

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Kumaoni language on a copper inscription from 989CE, written in the Devanagari script.

Hindi: A Language of the North and Beyond

Hindi is usually introduced with a number: it is among the most spoken languages on earth, ranking in the top handful...

988 words

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Migration explainers

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A research vessel rests at a dock, illustrating the history of indentured labour and migration.

Indentured Labour: A Difficult Chapter in Migration History

Between the 1830s and the First World War, roughly one and a half million people left India under contracts of...

1036 words

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