Aranya Doloi
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India – a land so diverse and magical that we have to delve deep into it to get some pearls of erudition. This country is a place where unfulfilled dreams come true, a place that surpasses the nuances of any given place, a macrocosm where people splurge the pride of their very existence. Travelling in India portrays the trifles you must not have even thought of.
In pursuit of knowing our country better, we bumped into lesser known facts, events, incidents and trivia about India and Indians on the internet. Trust us, these will surprise you probably make you question them a little but ultimately give you a ‘Wow, I didn’t know that’ moment.
Indian Hockey Team, 1920
India was so good at Hockey in the 1920 that the British withdrew the game from the Olympics to avoid a possible embarrassing defeat by its own colony.
Murder in a courtroom
In 2004, 200 Indian women, armed with vegetable knives and chilli powder stormed into a courtroom in Maharashtra and hacked to death a serial rapist whose trial was underway. And then, each and every woman claimed responsibility for the murder.
A floating post office
India has the highest number of post offices is a fact the whole world knows. But did you know that one of them is floating? It’s in Dal Lake, Srinagar and was inaugurated in 2011.
Shampooing is an Indian practice
Yes, shampoo and shampooing burgeoned in India. Of course, not the commercial liquid ones but the method by use of herbs. The word shampoo, allegedly, itself was derived from the Sanskrit word champu, which translates to massage.
The first rocket was transported in a bicycle
We have indeed come a long way! Apparently, he first Indian rocket was so light and small that it was carried on a bicycle to the Thumba Launching Station in Kerala. India’s first satellite was transported on a bullock cart as well.
Hitler had an offer for Dhyan Chand
Major Dhyan Chand was summoned by Adolf Hitler after India defeated Germany in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was offered German citizenship, a high post in the German military and the chance to play for the German National team. The hockey wizard however declined the offer.
Benedict Cumberbatch was a teacher in India
The actor, famous for playing the role of Sherlock volunteered as an English teacher at a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling for a year. Blessed students, we must say!
