History

Geet Sethi's 147

The first ever maximum break (147) in an amateur snooker competition was achieved by Geet Sethi in the Indian Amateur Championships on 21 Feb 1988.

Barbarous Indian and shrill Western music

In what perfection [Indian] music stands (as I am no competent judge), I could never give my ears the trouble to examine, it seeming loud and barbarous; yet they observe time and measure in their singing and dancing, and are mightily delighted with their tumbling and noise. They as much dislike our shriller music, hardly allowing our waits fit to play to bears, and our stringed instruments strike not their hard-to-be-raised fancies; but our organs are the music of the spheres with them, charming them to listen as long as they play.

The Humble Harm-onium

The harmonium was banned on All India Radio's networks between 1940 and 1971. The instrument was deemed incapable of handling the complex notes of Indian classical music and was also dubbed un-Indian.

Cliff Richard and Lucknow

The British pop singer, Cliff Richard, was born Harry Rodger Webb in the King's English Hospital in Lucknow. His family later moved to Calcutta before leaving India for good when he was around eight years old.

Kipling's swastikas

Early editions of Rudyard Kipling's works bore embossed or printed swastikas. He ordered his publishers to stop the practice after the rise of Hitler.

Statues of Lenin in India

Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary and communist leader, has statues erected in his honour in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Vijaywada.

History