Category BackStory

How a cow’s blister saved humanity

Did you know the word vaccine traces its roots to the Latin vaccinus, meaning “of or from cows.” Ever wondered why? This connection goes back to the late 18th century, when English doctor Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids who caught…

Why “Happy Hour” started at Sea, not in a Bar

Did you know the term “happy hour” as used today for late-afternoon or early-evening discounted drinks and snacks in bars and restaurants traces its roots back to an unexpected source: the U.S. Navy? Around 1913–1914, the U.S. Navy began hosting…

How Kos Minars guided travelers in Medieval India

Kos Minars are medieval milestones that once dotted the highways of northern India. The name combines “kos,” a traditional unit of distance (2 miles or roughly 3.22 kilometers), with “minar,” meaning tower or pillar. These solid brick-and-lime structures were first…

How did Carnatic music get its name?

Carnatic, the classical musical tradition of South India, derives its name not directly from the state of Karnataka, but from the word “Karnāṭaka Sangītam”. In Sanskrit, Karnāṭaka means “traditional” or “well-structured.” The term was used in medieval musicological texts to…

Decoding “Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam” in Tirumala

Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam is a purification ceremony undertaken at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. The term literally means “cleaning of the holy shrine” in Tamil, with Koil signifying holy shrine, Alwar meaning devotee/sanctified ones, and Thirumanjanam referring to an…