Happy Diwali!!!

Having witnessed massive fireworks on New Year's eve on the banks of river Thames in London, on 4th July Independence Day in US, by Han river on Korean harvest festival of Chuseok, and on National Day celebrations in Singapore, I have realized that people of every country and community celebrate their joyous occassions with fireworks.

Study done by IIT Kanpur on causes of pollution in New Delhi, showed that pollution due to fireworks in Diwali was minimal - close to zero percent. May be people who commute to office by their four-wheelers are damaging environment far more than those who who light firecrackers for a few hours in Diwali.

This propaganda of firecrackerless Diwali is misguided activism at best, and selective targeting of our religious festivals at worst.

I hope people enjoy Diwali in ways that they find enjoyable. And if fireworks bring them joy in Diwali then they do that with no feeling of guilt.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali!!

Mumbai and the Marathas

In the eighteenth century, the Portuguese were persecuting natives of Mumbai and surrounding areas with brutal policies similar to Goa Inquisition, and were forcibly converting people to Christianity. Responding pleas of help from local Hindus, Peshwa Bajirao I decided to intervene. Maratha forces under the command of Chimaji Appa and Malhar Rao Holkar laid seize on Vasai fort. Marathas’ formidable navy under command of Admiral Manaji Angre joined in, and Marathas won quick victories at Versova, Bandra and Dharavi. In May 1739 Vasai fort was breached. Despite bringing reinforcements from various places, the Portuguese resistance collapsed. It was a decisive Maratha victory! Salsette island (largest landmass of Mumbai comprising of areas between Kurla, Bandra, Thane & Dahisar) and other areas around Mumbai were freed from foreign Portuguese rule, and became part the Maratha empire. The Portuguese never recovered from this defeat, and for next 222 years remained confined to pockets of Goa, Daman and Diu.