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Aizawl 1966 - How a Bamboo flowering phenomenon created militancy and the only time IAF bombed Indian territory

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March 5th, 1966, Aizawl  - The only time in Indian history when the Indian Air Force bombed its own territory.  I have always stressed on how climate and nature can have a direct impact on a region's politics and human conflicts. One of the best examples from history is the Mizo revolt of 1966 and the corresponding bombing of the city of Aizawl by the Indian Air force. What is interesting is that these events appear to have started with a Bamboo flowering phenomenon called 'Mautam' in 1958. The state of Mizoram in India's far north east, with it's capital Aizawl is today considered one of India's most literate and scenic states. Named after the 'Land of the Mizos', the state is a frontier territory bordering Burma and Bangladesh. While Mizoram today is an island of peace in an otherwise militancy hotbed of North East, the situation was very different 50 years back when the Mizo independence movement started. Back then Mizoram was part of the As

Portuguese in India and their influence on medieval Indian politics and culture

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Estado-Da-India or simply called as the Portuguese State of India - That's the term which defined the Portuguese rule in India. While people in India often talk of British colonization and influence on India, not many are familiar that the British were not the first european colonizers in India. It was the Portuguese who were the first in this. Even though the Portuguese are known for having ruled over the small state of Goa, not many know how deep and major influence the Portuguese had on important aspects of medieval and late modern Indian history - majorly on Politics, warfare and food habits. Portugal, a small country on the south western part of Europe, was a pioneer is sea navigation. Though today Portugal is not a major player in world politics, there was a time when this country ruled major regions of the world. Vasco-Da-Gama, a Portuguese, was the first man to circumvent Cape of Good Hope and reach India directly via sea route from Europe in 1498. This was the first