The Best of Dharma Dispatch: 2021

IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION of publishing a list of the most widely read articles on The Dharma Dispatch each year, we present below a similar list for 2021. We celebrated our third anniversary in September this year and you can read our jottings on the occasion here.

As we never tire of repeating, our civilisational initiative continues apace, year after year, owing to the support, patronage, encouragement and contributions of the Sanatana community. It is both our backbone and our strength, which spurs our work day after day and helps us offer more back to the community. So, a big, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you.

We published about two hundred articles this year - not including podcasts and lectures - and here is the list of the most widely read and popular articles on The Dharma Dispatch for 2021.

1. Role of Our Sanyasis in the Freedom Struggle 

This series continues to occupy the top slot, and for good reason. Most "mainstream" narratives on the Indian freedom struggle either completely omit the central role that our Sanyasis and Sadhus played or grudgingly mention it in about a sentence. And so, when we published this series, the sort of overwhelming feedback we received truly warmed our hearts.

Also Read: The Sanyasi Freedom Movement: Busting Myths and Revealing Truths

Also Read: The Tradition of Dharma-Veeras and the Yogi-Warrior Contingent of Rajaputana as Precursors to the Sanyasi Freedom Movement

Also Read: The Majestic Vision of Madhusudana Sarasvati, Our Eternal Debt to the Naga Sadhus and the Eternal Stupidity of Warren Hastings

2. BIMARU, Cow Belt and the War of Narratives

This is a semi-detailed dissection of the manufactured Marxist-Leftist narratives that invented flagrant lies such as the Hindu Rate of Growth, BIMARU, Cow Belt and their ongoing consequences for the Hindu civilisation. We show how all these narratives were concocted to break the Hindu civilisational integrity in a multi-pronged fashion.

Also Read: BIMARU, Cow Belt and the War of Narratives

3. The Exit of Pratap Bhanu Mehta is a Harbinger of Cleaning up

This commentary on Pratap Bhanu Mehta's deserved exit from Asoka University elicited both approbation and opprobrium depending on whether a person was a human being or a Left-Liberal.

Also Read: The Exit of Pratap Bhanu Mehta is a Harbinger of Cleaning up

4. Making of a National Treasure: How the History and Culture of the Indian People was Written

This series tells the full story of how the majestic eleven volumes of History and Culture of the Indian People was written. Starting from its visionary conception by Kulapati K.M. Munshi to the actual completion of this mammoth project that took about three decades and involved more than fifty scholars of the highest calibre.

Also Read: Revisiting K.M. Munshi's Majestic Vision for Writing India's History

Also Read: K.M. Munshi's Flowing Stream Approach to the Study of Indian History

Also Read: The Unresolved Contrast Between the Philosophical History and Political History of India

Also Read: Making of a National Treasure: How the History and Culture of the Indian People was Written

5. Three Stories for Mahashivaratri 2021

We published three stories related to Ishwara or Mahadeva or Shiva on the sacred occasion of Mahashivaratri, 2021. These stories were drawn from the annals of our literature and history. We continue to deeply cherish the sort of numinous response we received to this compendium.

Also Read: Three Stories for Mahashivaratri 2021

6. The Grand World of Daana and the Civilisational Value we Have Lost

This is an exposition on the Sanatana conception of Daana or charity and the levels at which it works, how it shaped, integrated and harmonised the Hindu civilisation and society for several millennia and what lessons we can recover from it.

Responses to this piece included a curious mix of astonishment, piety, disbelief and abuse. All of which we welcome.

Also Read: The Grand World of Daana and the Civilisational Value we Have Lost

7. Bahadur Shah Zafar: The Last Mughal who was also the Last Great Traitor

Using a wealth of primary sources, we pieced together this story of how Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal, intrigued with the British to sabotage the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. In a way, this busts the myth that Zafar was some sort of hero or leader of 1857.

This historical essay continues to be referenced and cited across a wide spectrum.

Also Read: Bahadur Shah Zafar: The Last Mughal who was also the Last Great Traitor

8. Jayanti Dharma Teja: The Original Nehruvian Crony Capitalist

This essay traces the meteoric rise and the spectacular fall of the shipping tycoon and flamboyant businessman, Jayanti Dharma Teja, who managed to charm two prime ministers: Nehru and Indira Gandhi. It is a sordid story that shows the inner workings of the Nehruvian system of corruption, sleaze and dirty money.

Also Read: Jayanti Dharma Teja: The Original Nehruvian Crony Capitalist

9. What is Happening in Andhra is not Mere Temple Vandalism but an Outbreak of Hindu Persecution

This is a long form, in-depth analysis of the ongoing incidents of Hindu persecution in Andhra Pradesh by the forces of the Church-missionary apparatus unleashed by a friendly Chief Minister. The piece continues to be widely read and referenced and we were glad to learn that it evoked public discussions in Andhra and elsewhere.

Also Read: What is Happening in Andhra is not Mere Temple Vandalism but an Outbreak of Hindu Persecution

10. Jaitra Simha Rawal: The Forgotten Hindu Hero who Singlehandedly Saved South India for Half a Century

We excavated our archives and unearthed the inspirational and valorous story of Jaitra Simha Rawal, the fierce Hindu Hero who singlehandedly stopped the Delhi Sultanate's southward expansion and saved the Deccan and south India for about half a century. The grateful response to this recent story continues to pour in and once again, brings fulfilment to our work.

Also Read: Jaitra Simha Rawal: The Forgotten Hindu Hero who Singlehandedly Saved South India for Half a Century

Postscript

That's it for this year. Please do let us know if there is an article from this year that you personally liked but does not find a place in this list by writing a comment.

A very happy new year from all of us at The Dharma Dispatch!

As we always mention, our work is entirely supported by the munificence and goodwill of the Sanatana community to which we remain grateful forever. It helps to retain our independence and allows us to offer our content free of cost in a spirit of service to the Sanatana civilisation. As 2021 draws to a close today, we once again appeal to consider making a contribution of your choice by clicking here or here.