Bipin Shah

The secularism is defined as state, politicians and institutions separates themselves from the religion.
Unlike western democracy, India is unable to separate the religion from politics and government institutions.

This is largely the fault of the politicians and framer of constitution and political rulers. Some examples are: India subsidized Haz pilgrimages (may have stopped now) to Mecca under congress rule for decades, but did not subsidize Amaranth Yatra for Hindus. Nothing for Jainism to visit to Bahubali festivals, or other important religious festivals for other communities. This creates so much bitterness among various communities
that does not elevate the nationalism. The secularity loses its meaning and the democracy loses its relevance
to the people. The entire system need revision and congress who ruled should be disbanded and punished for this
communal abuse and mockery of democracy.

This brief article describes confirmation of "steppe origin of Porto-Indo-Europeans" based on new genetics studies performed on discovered mummies and connects the dots on various cultures of steppe and their genetic affinities and subsequent dispersal, covering their religion and mythologies to Europe and south Asia.

Olympia is a major archeological site in Greece, where once the ancient Olympic games were initiated as part of religious festival and prayer for Greek god Zeus and other Gods & Goddesses. Despite its name and carry forward tradition to modern Olympic games, the site is no where near Mount Olympus where most Greek gods and goddesses believed to have resided. This short narrative describe history of Olympic tradition and its archeological ruins during my visit to sanctuary.

This is the second part of Spanish history that shows how Queen Isabelle-1 of Castile and King Fernando of Aragon organized a campaign to throw Islamic invaders out of Europe. There is another story of another Isabelle who was kidnapped at younger age by sultan of Granada who fell in love with the sultan and bore him two children became a catalyst for downfall of Emirates of Cordoba. After reconquest Christopher Columbus was sponsored for new discovery.

Iberian Peninsula is close to Northern Africa and Asia. There were early Phoenician, Greek and Roman settlements. Then Gothic tribes occupied this fertile and beautiful region. This paper deals with Moorish invasion of Spain and after 700 years of rule of Cordoba, the Spain was returned to European fold. This was once the home of Sephardi Jews , once prosperous and thriving community .

After WW2, America emerged as a great and leading power both economically and militarily. The colonial era was ending. Small geographical colonial entities like Britain, Japan, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain who had capitalized by employing " divide and rule policies " in distant world, found out that it is much harder to administer colonies plagued by internal insurrections and demand for freedom by natives. One by one, Latin American countries booted out colonial Spanish governors and conquistadors. Portuguese had to give up many small colonies and settlements. The France faced the stiff resistance of their rule in Angola, Algeria and Vietnam. American holding was separated from Mother England in early 17 th century AD through American Revolution. Later 18 th century war of Independence waged by Indian states against British did not succeed. After WW2, Dien Bien Phu's defeat led the French to withdraw from Vietnam. Although, Germany, Italy and Japan were defeated (Axis powers) by Allies (colonial powers-British and French). The victorious colonial powers can no longer afford financially to hold on to their colonial possessions. Germany devastated Europe and British and French had to rebuild their own economy and country. There was urgency at home and rebuilding of the home nation became an overriding priority. The quick inroads of communism through violent revolution in Soviet Union, China and Vietnam made western democracies very nervous and they feared the advance of communism with the help of a giant " yellow peril " (a word reserved for China during cold war). This fear persisted for decades in the minds of US policy makers. The cold war was set in where each nation was asked to choose the side. In the middle of this ugly contest of ideologies, non-alignment movement was born during the cold war. When the French left the occupation of Vietnam, Americans took over the fight to thwart advance of " yellow peril ". Americans had a firsthand experience of fighting Mao's Chinese army during Korean war and felt the future of Japan, south Korea and Taiwan was at stakes where great investment was made to install democracy and lift their economies through investment and trades.

This article deals with struggle for supremacy of Indian ocean and Persian guelph, between Ottoman Turks and Portuguese in early 15th century AD. Seydi Ali Reis was Ottoman Naval commander who was accidentally driven by Typhoon to Gujarat where Portuguese were fighting for the control of Ports in western India.

The assumption by classical and colonial historians that Gupta kings of 5th century AD were attacked by Hepthalite/ Epthalite nomads were case of mistaken identity. The attacker kings belonged to Hindu Turki Shahi dynasty that followed Kushan Shahi dynasty and their aim was to recapture Kushan held territory prior to its fall.

The New DNA studies and research by Chinese archeologists have substantiated that revolt in Bactria was led by Indian tribes against the rule of Macedonian Greeks and was not an invasion of migrating Yehzhi tribe of China. Yehzhi's involvement was minimal and after brief stay they moved on to west over Dane River in Roman Dacia. This findings are a result of new discoveries and reconciliation of various ancient Chinese historical sources. One can easily conclude that the revolt that elevated Kushan tribe to the forefront was the the result of the indigenous revolt . The conclusion is Kushan were native to ancient India and not foreigner as originally stipulated.

Afanasy Nikitan a Russian merchant visited south India prior to Portuguese arrival when last Hindu kingdom of south India -Vijayanagar was still thriving. He pent much of his time in Muslim ruled Bahmani Sultanate and went through forced conversion. He observed many places in ancient India during 15th Century AD but due to discriminatory taxes and duties applied to non-Muslims, he cannot conduct a profitable trades on products that can be sold to Russians back home. He returns empty handed. On his way back he died so close to his home.

As a part of continuation of Duarte Barbosa journey to west coast of India's trading ports in 15th century AD , this second part covers rich lands of south India and the history of several ports during Medieval age. The information supplied by Barbosa is invaluable to the teachers and student of history of India and its people.

Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese explorer and fellow traveler of Megellon  who circumnavigated the world and found the sea route to spice island. Duarte made several visit to India as part of Portuguese attempt to set up trading colonies. He learned Malayalam language of India. This paper covers his observation of people, places, customs and life in western India during 15th century AD

This article narrates the arrival of Parsee community in India after the fall of Sassanian Empire. The Parsee of India is a model community and example of Indian exceptionalism. Dedicated followers of Prophet Zarathustra, an earlier Indo- Iranian Sage, they have added to richness of Indian culture and their members have played decisive roles in Indian history.

This article discusses the early Indo-Iranian Aryan splits due to religious schisms and how Zarathustranism was born from early Rig Vedic religion. The comparative analysis of pre-vedic and post vedic religion shows how close they wee in their objectives.

The pyramids, ziggurats and sacred mountains had very similar purposes and use. Although, now it serves as tourist attractions, there is a deeper mystery of their existence. This article gives a comparative analysis and human's evolution of  thoughts regarding the power of creator- God for all.

This brief article discusses the Alexander's departing port on Indus and its connection with Samoi, Barbaricon, Alexandria on Indus and Nagar Thatta of sindh. It also describes the Arghoon rules of the Sindh and massive migration to south. This article also draws parallel to ISIS ideologies and creation of refugees in Europe.

The celibacy became a required monastic tradition during 6th century BC in ancient India that was adopted from Shavism and Nath Tradition that arose in Indus valley culture. This article describes the Tantric and Yogic aspect of asceticism that traveled east and west from India and adopted in non-Abrahamic religions

Surya Pahar means "Sun mountain". It is located in in Indian state of Assam. It is an unique place and shows its antiquity to vedic period of India. Archaeological evidence shows the confluence of three different language speakers of India, converging, sharing and mixing their cultures and languages while worshiping four different religions. Hsuan-Tsang, a chinese Buddhist traveler visited this place.

This article adds to the debate on the elusive search for original homeland of Sanskrit speakers of India by establishing linkage of archaeology, language and legends of Hyperboreans. It brings the readers up todate on how India's caste system evolved.

For last 1000 years of Indian history, we have seen minority of foreign invaders ruled the country with extreme prejudice that was below human indignity. This article contrast the "Age of intolerance" that Babur practiced and Age of tolerance Rana Sanga practiced with magnanimity and forgiveness.

This article deals with western branch of Turkish nomad who established an empire by defeating Byzantine Empire. The internal incompetence, lack of religious tolerance and the rise of colonial powers ultimately destroys the western Turkish Empire. Their history teaches us very valuable lessons.

Central Asia and India in particular witnessed Islamic invasion by Turks, Mongols and Moguls that left a permanent mark in the history that can be regarded as "Age of unreason" . The period was marked by large scale violence and wanton destruction of culture and arts

This article is about cave painting during Stone Age of India; however there is one painting in particular that catches our attention. We have heard many reports of UFO sightings including some eyewitness accounts in the past. We also heard some speculative theory of who built pyramids all over the world. Central India is full of prehistoric Stone Age paintings. One painting in particular increases speculation that perhaps some unknown alien race visited us. Although, I am not proposing any alien theory but what that ancient Stone Age artist drew as depicted in painting remains a mystery. Recent reports from NASA telescope and explorer further confirms the strong possibility of alien life somewhere yet to be discovered.

The new discoveries of ancient civilization on banks of extinct Saraswati River of India that archeologist have called Indus-saraswati civilization. The Sumerian and Akkadian referred them as country of Meluhha. The paper discusses the finds, archeological artifacts, known and unknown aspect of the civilization.

The archeological discoveries in United Arab Emirates by D. Potts and other teams of archeologists by Denmark and France have firmly established the identification of ancient Bronze age sea ports that served as the trading exchange points between Indus- Sarashwati valley and Mesopotamian cities of bronze age.

Ancient Dilmun (today's Bahrain) provided vital trade links to trade between Indus valley and Mesopotamian from 3000 BC to 600 BC and then its lost importance. The excavation and finding at various archeological sites provide very interesting clues and as one expert stipulates that one of the temple of Barbar may be a Shiva temple.

Like many other parts of world, India had a stone age and there is not much known. Mr. Praveen Parihar, a friend and a student archaeologist have bravely crossed the frontier of unknown and this paper reveals some of his work and findings and serves as testimonial that there were aboriginal people living in India before the modern human migration took place from Africa and they are well represented in India's vast tribal groups.

Osian is a small town in Rajasthan near Thar desert and have  ancient Jain and Hindu temples. They are outstanding in architecture and arts going back to 8th century AD and should be named as UNESCO world heritage sites. This article describes its history, legends and its ancient greatness.

Diodorus of Siculus , the only historian who described the Assyrian queen Semiramis of unknown era and her exploits and expedition with Indian king where she was unsuccessful. This article examines  entire aspect of her existence, her legend and her real history.

There are two royal dynasties who claim antiquity all the way to Mahabharata and Ramayana. Although, it is very hard to verify their claims, these two Royal groups have shed bloods for India in their struggle against external aggression and genocide of Hindus during the middle ages. Samma-Jadeja Rajputs of Western India were brave but diplomatic when circumstances demanded it and they had mastered the art of survival. As Islam advanced and climate driven change in the course of Indus (Sindhu) river, they kept moving to south to establishing their new kingdom. This brief narrative highlights their contributions to religious freedom for Jain, Hindu, Muslim Memons and others who were seeking new beginning and new life.

Modern Genetic science has revealed that Indian subcontinents have a presence of genes of early human ancestors who left Africa 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. This article demonstrates wide variation in genetic diversity among Indian people and how they contributed to peopling of the Asia and subcontinent.

Swastika is widely used in India's various religious traditions. In prehistory, various civilizations and cultures of the world used the sign of Swastika since Neolithic period. Although, India maintained its tradition over thousands of years, other culture discontinued or never made Swastika as a permanent part of their religious tradition.