The ancient Hindu saying “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God) is one of the oldest sayings of India. It means that a guest is always given the status equal to God's whenever they come home. This itself speaks of the old Indian hospitality that is legendary and the ancient traditions, culture, and language that itself defines our history.

Our idea of India is mainly supported by history, especially for foreigners, the history that goes back many millennia, back to the land and time of the epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and the overall philosophy that outlines the Upanishads, the Vedas, and the Puranas. As Indians, we have taken pride in our rightful history and not the one that has been written down and highlighted by western historians and scholars.

Whenever a child is asked to name any queens who ruled our country, most children and adults would only be citing the few names known such as the Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Raziya Sultan, Ahilyabai Holkar, Bijapur’s Chand Bibi, Manikarnika Tambe, Kashmir’s Didda, and the 13thcentury Kakatiya monarch Rudrama Devi. However, our ancient scholars and historians have written about the many female regents that were also very common in the glorious history of India.

Western historians have glossed over much before and after Nurjehan, but with Akbar and Ashoka the Great, a more significant part of our prideful past. In contemporary India, it is a delight to witness how historians and scholars are reviving, rewriting, and rediscovering the old and new India over the past crowded canvas.

Though there is a lot of poetry in this idea, there are also many contemporary historical accounts and pieces of evidence being dug up and made known to the world. Now, from Mountain Railways of India to the ancient temples, caves, forts, majestic palaces, stupas like the Sanchi Stupa, the old cities, museums, fossil village in Spiti Valley that is home to pieces of evidence that goes back to the dinosaur ages and more. Come and be a part of this nation that is ancient and be a part of rediscovering India.

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