Amar Singh Rathor was a commander in the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan''s army. The emperor held him in greatest esteem and valued his service. But once when Shah jahan was tricked into impressive a heavy good on the Rajput by jealous and scheming courtiers Amar Singh was furious and defiant. In the ensuing battle for honour the Rajput fought bravely and escaped but was killed by his treacherous brother-in-law. His body was however retrieved from the emperor''s custody by twin comrades and incremated with d

This stock of Buddhist tales tell of Amrapali an accomplished dancer who commanded the love and admiration of an whole town and of Upagupta who was just a poor monk. Amrapali craved peace; Upagupta''s bearing exuded contentment. Amrapali depended on the adulation of her audience; Upagupta spurned the attentions of the rich and famous. Their stories were differ but the Buddha''s intelligent teachings linked their life - and the lessons to be learned from them.

Anand Math is considered to be a milestone in the history of modernize fiction in India. It received such wide acclaim in the late nineteenth century that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee its author was referred to as the Walter Scott of India.

Rama is the more famous king in his ''Solar Line'' tracing its origin to the Sun. Poet Valmiki composed the ''Prime Epic'' Ramayana to narrate Rama''s story. The fifth century poet Kalidasa described twenty-nine kings of this line involving Rama and his three ancestors in the epic Raghuvamsha. The stories of Rama''s three ancestors Dilipa Raghu and Aja describe the paragon of the Indian kings of old. They practiced austerities made conquests acquired riches and made donations to holy men. In old a

The story of Andhakasura the offspring of Shiva is mentioned in the Shiva and Vamana Puranas. Andhaka is born ugly. When mentioned afar in adoption he life encircled by the crudeness and arrogance of the Asuras. But his origins being glorious there is a differ destiny in store for him. Through a boon he gains physical beauty but his heart continues to harbour evil. His parents themselves are instrumental in bringing about his final immaterial transformation. Andhaka''s story aptly traces the journe

A disciple walks into a town where sweets and vegetables price the same amount of money. Thrilled at being able to eat sweets so cheaply he decides to remain there ignoring his guru''s warnings. Bharatendu Harishchandra is one of the greatest playwrights in Hindi and Andher Nagari written in 1881 is his masterpiece. Harishchandra''s vision of a kingdom so ill- run that it is effectively blind to injustice remains a strong image even today and the phrase ''andher nagari chaupat raja'' (in the city

The bandit wore a gruesome garland of fingers of the men he had killed. As his garland of fingers grew longer strong men cowered in fright. The bandit was invincible - until he met a affable monk - Buddha. Thus darkness came face to face with light and at last the restless bandit found peace.

Usha was the daughter of demon-king Bana with a thousand heads unconquerable by anyone not equal to Shiva. Usha saw an unknown good-looking immature hero in her dream and fell in love with him. She opened her heart to her familiar Chitralekha (''maker of pictures'') but could not name the man. Chitralekha made drawings of the popular princes from which Usha identified her sweetheart. He turned out to be Aniruddha grandson of Krishna. Chitralekha landed in Krishna''s palace at night and brought slee

Aruni was willing to give up his life for his Guru; Uttanka cast aside his dreams for his teacher. Immature or old their veneration and obedience were almost superhuman. Fortunately as described in the Mahabharata the gods looked kindly on them. After all these immature men had earned the right to happiness.

Ashoka is unequalled amongst the earliest rulers of India (3rd century BCE) in that the memory of his rule is well preserved in the form of his message to the people engraved on rocks and pillars that span the length and breadth of the country. The four lions emblem on one of his pillars is sovereign India''s official seal.Ashoka was prince of the kingdom of what is the city of Patna today. Brave and strict as viceroy he crushed rebels in a far off northwest and nearer abode in central India. He was eq

The stories in this Amar Chitra Katha are retold from the Mahabharata which is an Indian epic that has had a fundamental access on the culture and philosophy of people over the ages.

A strange and fascinating series of glorious events led to the birth of Manikanthan who had a divine destiny. According to Indian mythology he is one of the sons of the greatest ascetical Lord Shiva. At the end of a life filled of comic events Lord Parashurama himself sculpted and installed an idol of Manikanthan in the hill temple of Shabari. There as Lord Ayyappan he is worshipped as the presiding deity of the entire range. This lone temple on the top of the Shabari Hills deep in the forests of Ker

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in 1891 in an ''untouchable'' caste. He was a shining student in school and encouraged by his teachers. However he had to face insults from peers because of his social background. With persistence and aid from some well- significance people he became the first matriculate from his community. He went on to study in University of Mumbai Columbia University in New York and the London School of Economics obtaining various degrees involving doctorates in political science an

Descended from the house of Timur and Genghis Khan Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur established the Mughal dynasty in India. But the emperor of Hindustan lived for more of his early life as an exile in and around his homeland in Central Asia. Declared ruler of Farghana at the age of 12 the immature boy had to contend with treacherous uncles tyrant neighbours and rebellious generals. But Babur dealt with all of them even while walking towards his historic tryst with India.

Bagha Jatin or ''Jatin the Tiger'' one of the greatest Indian revolutionaries was born in 1879 in Bengal. After years of British rule the great Revolt of 1857 ignited the first flames of independence in India. Even though the British tried to suppress it ruthlessly the spirit of mutiny could not be destroyed. In the early 20th century a revival of this invincible spirit of freedom was seen in the activeness of revolutionaries who drew inspiration from Sri Aurobindo - the ''Prophet of Indian Nationalis

Bahubali''s is a two-fold story: of the son of the first of 24 prophets of the Jains and of his statue of ten times man''s height sculpted in granite. The first prophet was a king who made Bahubali''s brother Bharata his successor to the throne and renounced the world. Bahubali''s brother driven by the ambition to be the supreme ruler subdued all kings involving his brothers other than Bahubali. Bahubali had also renounced the world but faced by his brother for a combat agreed to a one-on-one wr

As a military strategist and soldier Peshwa Baji Rao I is one of the greatest names in Indian history. Some historians even rank this superior warrior with Napoleon Bonaparte. For a man born in the peace-loving and entirely religious Brahmin community this is indeed a noteworthy achievement. Whirlwind campaigns characterize his career. He went he fought and he conquered afar from losing a single battle. His rivals envious of his succeed and of the belive Shahu Maharaj set in him tried to poi

Towards the middle of the 5th Century AD a section of the Hunas - a nomadic tribe from Central Asia occupied Gandhara which is modernize Afghanistan. Skanda Gupta the able ruler of Magadha prosperously prevented them from advancing each and every additional.After his death the Hunas under the leadership of Toramana and his son Mihirakula renewed their attack. In the first of the 6th Century AD they accomplished their rule over the territories that are known today as Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Punjab Haryana

Few characters in the history of India have had as wonderful and meteoric a life as Banda Bahadur. He paved the way for the fundament of the Sikh Kingdom. Born a Rajput in Jammu he renounced the world to become a Bairagi. While live a secluded life by the banks of the river Godavari he was told by Guru Gobind Singh - the last of the Sikhs'' ten Gurus to lead the revolt opposite to Mughal tyranny. Banda planted the flag of rebellion within few miles of the Imperial capital. For the next eight

He was known as a hardworking honest immature cowherd but Bappa Rawal''s bearing and talents were that of a well-bred prince. And one day he was to unite the divided Rajput clans to regain their last glory. This gallant 8th century ruler of Chittor lived to be a hundred years old enjoying his last years in the tranquility of the remote Himalayas.

Basava occupies a unequalled place among the prophets of the world. An eminent scholar has described Basava as a wondering of concoction and each and every serious student of Basava will endorse this whole-heartedly. The many facets of Basava''s charismatic personality easily baffle us. He was Bijjala''s ''Bhandari'' Shiva''s ''Bhakti Bhandari'' a mystic of a very high order and an independent and original thinker. He was a revolutionary social reformer an architect of a new classless and casteless society settled on

t was a time of turbulence when resentment opposite to British treachery and betrayal was simmering in the people of India. The Nawab of Avadh had been a staunch ally of the British providing them with money grain and cattle. And yet Avadh was annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse as were other states alike Satara Sambalpur Nagpur and Jhansi. The discontent triggered off the first war of Indian Independence. Rana Beni Madho and Pir Ali were twin heroes of that period who �encouraged many to stand up agai

Bhagat Singh was a fighter for freedom from British rule in India. Born in a Sikh family of patriots he was an activist even as a student. He was member of a group of revolutionaries who did not shun the usage of arms. They knew that theirs was not a decisive battle opposite to the mighty foreign power. They however wished to rouse the masses into action opposite to the rulers. Bhagat Singh''s life story is filled of thrilling episodes of bravery and talent in a hostile environs. India achieved freedom s

Bhanumati is the granddaughter of Krishna. One day wandering in the forest she runs into the Sage Durvasa. Known for his short temper Durvasa curses her to be abducted by a demon. Though Durvasa regrets cursing a child a curse once made can't be taken back.When Bhanumati is older the curse appears true and a strong rakshasa named Nikumbha carries her off. He shifts her and himself invisible so they can't be followed.Now Krishna Arjuna and Pradyumna ought achive and defeat Nikumbha and rescue Bhanu

Bheema was the strongman of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. So was Hanuman the ape in the Ramayana. For both the poets held that their powers were the gift of the wind-god their father or mother. The twin face all other in this story from the Mahabharata. During the Pandavas'' exile in the forest their wife Draupadi expresses her desire to have a particular flower. Bheema sets out for the mountain on which the flower blossoms. On the way he demonstrates his strength opposite to an elephant. He is however unabl

Son of the exquisite goddess Ganga the giver of life the lad was born to greatness. Not only was he good-looking and intelligent he was also equally adept on the battlefield or in a regal court. As this tale reveals Bheeshma is greatest remembered for his exceptional honesty and kindness. Who else would have uncomplainingly suffered the trials of kingship afar from its facilities? Who else would have chosen long years of loneliness just to pander to a father''s whom?

For a tribal people live in the forests of central India Bikal means the animal that is to be feared. Tribals believe that by avoiding to utter the word Bikal they can defend danger.This is a stock of Bikal stories. In the first story settled on a tribal folk-tale a tiger himself is imagined to be afraid of the word ''Bikal''. Funny situations following for him on this account are described in the story. The second story describes how twin daredevil boys get together a ferocious tiger in the fores

The sixth century BC was a watershed period in the history of India. The north of India then was politically fragmented with a number of kingdoms and perhaps few republics. It was Bimbisara the Emperor of Magadha who for the first time brought these kingdoms together under the rule of a single authority. This was additional consolidated by his son and successor Ajatashatru. This account of their life and times has been reconstructed from references some times divergent from Buddhist and Jain Liter

Birbal had proved himself to be the more trustworthy minister at court time and again. He dispensed justice dealt diplomatically with other rulers led military expeditions and composed poetry. In adding he also rescued Akbar from the dangers of arrogance and unfettered power. More importantly he made the Greatest Mughal laugh. Birbal a real person with the name ''Maheshdas'' was one of the ''nine gems'' of court advisers of Akbar the Greatest. He also composed poetry by the pen name ''Brahma''. He led

Only Birbal could outwit Akbar and acquire afar with it. A witty and intelligent diplomat he ensured that both the emperor and the empire maintained their greatness. This stock of tales highlightning Birbal''s presence of mind his kindness and his shrewdness promise a good laugh. At the same time it divulges some beneficial tricks for overcoming sticky situations.

Rogues and scoundrels were forced to tread carefully - even the exalted emperor was not spared when he erred - for Birbal Akbar''s able minister was available to dispense justice. Part detective part psychologist he never failed to nab a wrongdoer. His methods might have been unorthodox - he once summoned a tree as the key witness in a case - but he never failed to acquire the wanted results.

Birbal whose real name was ''Maheshdas'' was one of the ''nine gems'' of court advisers of Akbar the Greatest. He composed poetry by another pen name ''Brahma''. He led a famous expedition into faraway Afghanistan and managed to subdue the turbulence there. Hear

Birbal a real person with the name ''Maheshdas'' was one of the ''nine gems'' of court advisers of Akbar the Greatest. He also composed poetry by the pen name ''Brahma''. He led an expedition into faraway Afghanistan and managed to subdue the turbulence there. Hearing the news of his death there Akbar bust forth: "Birbal you forever gave the helpless whatever you had. I am helpless now and yet you've left nothng for me!" Birbal''s name however doesn't rest on these achievements. He is turned int

Birbal a real person with the name ''Maheshdas'' was one of the ''nine gems'' of court advisers of Akbar the Greatest. He also composed poetry by the pen name ''Brahma''. He led an expedition into faraway Afghanistan and managed to subdue the turbulence there. Hearing the news of his death there Akbar bust forth: "Birbal you forever gave the helpless whatever you had. I am helpless now and yet you've left nothng for me!"

In the area on the exhibit border of India and Nepal there was a small kingdom in the 6th century earlier the Common Era. When the prince was born fortune-tellers forecast that he would be either a greatest king or a great saint. The king took every caution to hold him in a life of pleasure so he would become king not saint. The prince grew to be a strong good-looking youth. Yet he was kind; he saved a bird struck by his cousin''s arrow and so claimed the bird as his. One day on a ride outside the palace t

Vishwambhar or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as he was later known was born at a time when a very large area of northern and eastern India had come under Muslim rule. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed a simplex path to reach God which later came to be known as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya not only stemmed the tide of conversion to Islam but also provided a new life force to Hindu religion. While explaining a number of ways by which supporters can reach Him Krishna mentions this simple one in the Gita: "Sarvadha

Chanakya lived about 2300 years ago in Magadha that is Bihar today. Born in a family of educators he was an ascetical with a vision. Chanakya''s fame rests on his role as the chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya who overthrew the ruling Nanda dynasty and laid the fundament of the greatest Mauryan Empire that ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent. Striving to arrange Chandragupta''s position safe in an unstable and serious time Chanakya championed a policy of realpolitik. He deployed a large ne

The story of Chand Bibi is imprinted on the Indian mind as an example of all that is noble and brave in the human spirit. Around the year 1595 the Deccan was divided into many kingdoms. One of these the historic kingdom of Ahmednagar was rife with attractive quarrels jealousies and power struggles. Burhan-ul-Mulk its ruler having gained the throne with the help of Akbar spurned that greatest Mughal king and asserted his independence. Burhan was too engrossed in his personal pleasures to arrange a good rule

Chandra Shekhar was only a small boy when he ran afar to Bombay in search of venture. Small did he recognize how much he would acquire �included in the country''s freedom struggle. Those were the days when the non-co operation movement had �aggregated immense momentum and it was in Varanasi that Chandra Shekhar first confronted British authority. After that there was no looking back. Assuming the surname ''Azad'' he and his band of revolutionaries did much to awaken in the Indian people the want for fr

The story of Chandragupta Maurya generator of the Maurya dynasty is told in this title.

The ''Jamini Bharata'' is attributed to a disciple of Vyasa Jaimini who is also said to be the generator of the Purvamimamsa philosophy. The book is a treasure house of stories of the supporters of Lord Vishnu. Through all story the author seeks to prove that God doesn't forsake him who has implicit faith. The repeated attempts on the life of innocent Chandrahasa not only failed to materialise but also assuredly boomeranged on the evil person himself because of Chandrahasa

Children love to hear stories - so do adults whether the story has relevance to their life . It is this love which has kept alive for generations stories that have been handed down by an oral long-standing tradition. Every time a story is retold it acquires a new colour and a new measurement. The grandmother will relish telling it to her grandchildren. A traveller from a distant land who happens to hear a story during his travel will later tell it to his own people modifying it or adding to it few inside information to fit

There was a greatest consternation in the court of Keladi when the king married a commoner. But Chennamma the merchant''s daughter proved to be a born queen. She became an proficient rider and archer. She took great attract in the governing of the kingdom. When a scheming minister poisoned and killed the king Chennamma was forced to catch over as ruler. Earlier she could calm the troubled kingdom Keladi came under attack from the strong armies of Bijapur. Undaunted Chennamma sold her jewellery to fina

Chokha was a immature boy when he first heard the call of the Lord. But all attempts to enter temples were thwarted by those who only saw him as a Mahar - an untouchable. However Chokha''s veneration was such that his heart became a temple and he sang with purity and entire faith. Chokha Mela''s Abhangs or verses echo to this day around the temples of Maharashtra

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Dasharatha the prince of Ayodhya was out hunting when he heard the sound of an elephant drinking water. Aiming his bow the prince shot in the direction of the sound. Tragically the arrow killed a youth who was filling water in a pitcher for his old and blind parents. the anguished father cursed Dasharatha that one day he would die grieving for his son. Dasharatha''s son was the valiant and unmatched Rama.

Swami Dayanand was born at a time when our country was under foreign domination. More of the people were steeped in ignorance and poverty. Hypocrisy and corruption flourished in the name of religion. Women were not allowed to have conversational education nor those from the Scheduled Castes. They were needed only to suffice the rest of the community afar from ever being mentioned the lucky chance for development. Prejudices of creed caste and community had corroded the social cohesion and the wily and the wick

Gautama was born a prince over 2500 years ago in Lumbini in the northern part of India. He left the comforted life of the palace his immature wife and infant son to go in search of true knowledge. After a life of wander austerities and meditation he became Buddha (''the Enlightened one''). Buddha taught compassion non-violence and the require for right conduct in life. His teachings spread a far and wide even outside India in China and Southeast Asia.The ''Jataka'' (Birth-cycle) tales narrate the stor

Chittaranjan Das had but one dream: the freedom of India. He had but one programme: the struggle for freedom. It was said of him "He dreamed and thought and talked of the freedom of India and of nothing else." Chittaranjan Das had greatest respect for Gandhi''s wisdom. Yet he knew when to compromise and when to act on his owned convictions. He agreed with Gandhi that non-cooperation was a peaceful and efficient means of achieving swaraj. He was prepared to boycott entirety even remotely connected w

The greatest Bengali novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya was born in 1838 in Kantalpara Bengal. He obtained a post as Deputy Collector and continued in Government service for 32 years but he was often harassed because his pride in his country and people angered his British superiors. The song ''Vande Mataram'' which Bankim Chandra first wrote in his novel ''Ananda Math'' echoed though the freedom movement; and during the non-co-operation movement the song was heard on the lips of many while they