Sandeep Balakrishna - The Dharma Dispatch (Page 10)

Decay of Mughal Empire

Building a Pit of Human Shit as the Revenue Model of Murshid Quli Khan

Murshid Quli Khan adopted extremely savage methods of torture to extract revenue from the Bengal province

Decay of Mughal Empire

“The Bengal Province is being Sucked by a Double Set of Leeches!”

Murshid Quli Khan's radical Ijtara revenue system outrages the old elite of Bengal who complain to the Mughal emperor

Cornwallis

Murshid Quli Khan’s Ijtara System and Bengali Cinema

As the Subahdaar of Bengali, Murshid Quli Khan introduces the Ijtara system of revenue collection which has far-reaching consequences lasting up to the early 20th century

CPI

North Mumbai Elections of 1962: When Nawab Nehru Batted for a Communist Traitor

In the 1962 general elections for North Mumbai, Nehru inaugurated an ugly precedent of debasing public discourse only in order to get his Man Friday, V.K. Krishna Menon elected

Decay of Mughal Empire

The Pathetic Breakdown of the Mughal Dynasty and the Resurgence of Murshid Quli Khan

Aurangzeb's grandson Azim-us-Shan dies in a botched up war for succession, which is followed by another series of such wars. In the end, Murshid Quli Khan is elevated as the Subahdaar of Bengal, which begins a new chapter in his career.

Kumbh Mela

The Mahakumbh Mela: A Masterclass

Presenting an in-depth video explaining the various dimensions of the Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on 13 January, 2025

Tirtha Kshetra

[PHOTOESSAY] The Multidimensional Maha Kumbha Mela

A long form essay exploring the various elevating facets of the fabulous inner journey called the Kumbha Mela

Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb’s Death and Murshid Quli Khan’s Exile to the Dakkhan

Aurangzeb’s death changes Murshid Quli Khan's fortunes for the worse. His enemy Azim-ud-din now takes revenge by banishing Quli to the Dakhhan

Aurangzeb

Murshidabad: The City Founded by a Shia Bigot

Muhammad Hadi successfully destroys his assassination plot hatched by Aurangzeb's grandson. He gets the title Murshid Quli Khan and renames the city of Makhsudabad as Murshidabad.

Aurangzeb

Muhammad Azim-ud-din: Aurangzeb’s Grandson and the Extortionist of Bengal

Aurangzeb’s grandson, Muhammad Azim-ud-din was appointed as the Subahdaar of Bengal in 1697. He ruled the province with shocking oppression and extortion and clashed with Muhammad Hadi or Murshid Quli Khan

Aurangzeb

Murshid Quli Khan: The Brahmana who Founded Murshidabad

The first episode of a comprehensive history of Murshid Quli Khan, Aurangzeb's confidant and the first Nawab of Bengal

Communism

How Indian Communists Helped the Muslim League to Carve out Pakistan

This is a little-known story of how the Indian Communists actively helped the Muslim League to create Pakistan

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