Murali Duggineni

Murali Duggineni

The Living Heritage of Ramnagar Fort, Varanasi

The Ramnagar Fort lies on the eastern bank of the Ganga River, opposite Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi. It was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh, who established it as the royal seat of the rulers of Banaras. Constructed primarily from creamy Chunar sandstone, the…

The scholar who composed the “Suprabhatam”

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam is a Sanskrit hymn traditionally recited early in the morning to awaken Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. The word Suprabhatam means “auspicious morning,” and the hymn is a poetic invocation seeking divine blessings…

Pic of One Rupee Note of India

The Unique Status of India’s One-Rupee Note

The one-rupee note is the only Indian currency note issued by the Government of India, not the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Unlike other notes, which bear the RBI Governor’s signature, the one-rupee note carries the signature of the Finance…

Mother’s Day: Emotion or Enterprise?

Mother’s Day, celebrated globally, honors the invaluable role of mothers. Its origin traces back to 1908 when Anna Jarvis, a West Virginia activist inspired by her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis’ Civil War-era community work, held a memorial for her to…

Khaki: The color of camouflage and style

Did you know that the word khaki derives from the Urdu word ‘khak’, meaning ‘dust,’ which aptly describes its yellowish-brown, earthy tone? Introduced in the mid-19th century, khaki was first adopted by British colonial troops in India, who needed attire…

How the month of “May” got its name?

Have you ever wondered where the name “May” comes from? Like many other months, it goes all the way back to ancient Rome! The name May comes from Maia (MY-uh), a Roman goddess of spring, growth, and plants. She was…