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Which are the best movies to understand Indian History?

Some of the best movies to understand Indian history are:

Gandhi, Sardar, Earth, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Bajirao Mastani, Hey Ram, Tenali Raman, Urumi, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, Kalapani and Jodhaa Akbar.

Best Movies to Understand Indian History

Gandhi (1982) - (IMDb - 8/10)

Gandhi is a biographical movie based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his struggles for India’s independence. The movie contains some of the important historical elements of India.

History you learn: The movie helps you to understand more about Gandhi’s life, his non violence independence movement, the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar, the Salt March in 1930, the end of British rule in 1947, and how Gandhi was assassinated.

Director: Richard Attenborough

Starring: Ben Kingsley, John Mill

Sardar (1993) - (IMDb - 7.9/10)

The Hindi language biographical drama tells the story of one of the greatest freedom fighters of India , Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s struggles during the fight for India’s independence.

History you learn: The movie portrays the age of the Quit India movement, Indian independence, the proposal of partition of India, and the riots taking place due to this decision. It also depicts how Nehru and Sardar worked together to unite India as an independent nation.

Director: Ketan Mehta

Starring: Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor

Earth (1998) - (IMDb - 7.7/10)

The Hindi movie Earth is a reflection of the political and social conditions that occurred in India at the time of Partition. It portrays the painful social split and its tragic consequences during the Partition.

History you learn: The movie discusses the Partition of India and the tragic situations that happened as a result of this. It highlights the state of uncertainty of India before partition, painful social split, disagreement between main political parties, and helplessness of common people who belong to different religions.

Director: Deepa Mehta

Starring: Amir Khan, Nandita Das

Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005) - (IMDb - 6.6/10)

A Hindi language historical biographical film, directed by Ketan Mehta, talks about the life of an Indian soldier Mangal Pandey, who is known to help start the Indian rebellion of 1857.

History you learn: It helps to learn about the brave life of Mangal Pandey and the spark he created for beginning the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The movie also demonstrates the beginning of the Sepoy Mutiny and also depicts small elements of the Mughal period.

Director: Ketan Mehta

Starring: Amir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Ameesha Patel

The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) - (IMDb - 8.1/10)

The Hindi language biographical movie is about a fearless freedom fighter who fights for Indian independence. The film also throws light on the pre-independent period of India along with the important historical events that happened during the independence.

History you learn: It aids you to get a better idea about the life of Bhagat singh, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Gandhi’s satyagraha policies, the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, the 116-day hunger strike in Lahore Central Jail, and the fearless death of Bhagat Singh.

Director: Rajkumar Santhoshi

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, Amrita Rao

Bajirao Mastani (2015) - (IMDb - 7.2/10)

The movie depicts the life of Peshwa Bajirao I, one of the most outstanding leaders of the Maratha Empire, and Mastani, the daughter of Bundela King.

History you learn: The movie portrays the period of the Maratha Empire, along with the fight with the Mughal Empire.

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone

Hey Ram (2000) - (IMDb - 7.9/10)

Hey Ram is a Tamil movie based on India's partition and its consequences on people.. It is also made available in Hindi language.

History you learn: It has some historical elements like pre-independence period, about Mahatma Gandhi, Godse’s assassination of Gandhi and the Partition of India.

Director: Kamal Hassan

Starring: Kamal Hassan, Vasundhara Das

Tenali Raman (1956) - (IMDb - 7/10)

The Tamil movie portrays the life of Tenali Rama, a 14th-century poet and member of the court of Krishnadevaraya, the king of the Vijayanagara Empire. It focuses on the king and Tenali’s efforts to save him.

History you learn: It portrays the life of Tenali Raman and also depicts more about the Vijayanagara Empire and king Krishnadevaraya.

Director: B.S Ranga

Starring: Sivaji Ganeshan

Urumi (2011) - (IMDb - 7.1/10)

Urumi is a Malayalam historical movie that portrays the 16th century period when the Portuguese completely ruled the Indian Ocean. The Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions of the movie were also released.

History you learn: The movie demonstrates globalization, another side of the explorer Vasco da Gama, his arrival to Kerala, the conquering of the British in different parts of Kerala, and about the Chirakkal kingdom in Kerala.

Director: Santhosh Sivan

Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Genelia D’Souza

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009) - (IMDb - 7.7/10)

The Malayalam historical drama film highlights the legendary king, Pazhassi Raja, who lived in the 18th century. He was a brave warrior who fought until his last breath against the British.

History you learn: The film portrays the fight of Pazhassi Raja against the East India Company, the First Pazhassi Revolt, the life of people during the British Rule, etc.

Director: Hariharan

Starring: Mammootty

Kalapani (1996) - (IMDb- 8.4/10)

It is an epic Malayalam historical film, set in 1915, that focuses on the life of activists during Indian independence. The movie is dubbed in Tamil and Hindi languages.

History you learn: The movie is an excellent historical piece that truly depicts the activists' life during the pre-independence period and the terrible and tragic incidents they had to face in the Cellular Jail located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the time of British rule.

Director: Priyadarshan

Starring: Mohanlal, Tabu, Prabhu

Jodhaa Akbar (2008) - (IMDb - 7.6/10)

Jodhaa Akbar is a historical drama film that portrays the 16th-century love story of the greatest Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar and the Rajput princess Jodhaa Bai.

History you learn: The movie has some historical elements like representation of the Mughal period, touches the history of Babur and Humayun, and talks about Rajput too.

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Is it possible to believe in Science and Religion at the same time?

Yes, it is possible to believe in science and religion at the same time. Both tend to be irreconcilable but somehow can coexist with each other. It’s like looking at the same world through two doors with different aspects. Science and religion both give information on why life as well as the universe exist.

Balancing of Science & Religion

Science is based on theories and facts, whereas religion depends on faith. Science leans on observations and evidence, but religion depends on the subjective belief of the creator. When science talks about the process that takes place in the natural world, like how planets move, the origin of organisms, and so on, religion discusses the meaning and purpose of the world and people’s relationship with its creator.

Religious belief and evolution need not be contradictory if both of them are correctly understood. Hence, you can believe in both science and religion at the same time as both concerns different matters.

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” - Albert Einstein

Is there anything Science can't explain?

In today's world, science is so advanced that anything is possible through science, but there are still few things that science can't explain, such as:

Why the universe exists?

Why the universe exists?

We all know that the universe exists because of the big bang or other reasons, but scientists are still not sure why the universe exists. Many theoretical frameworks explain 'WHY', but scientists cannot conclude.

Why do people yawn?

Why do people yawn?

Yawning is something we likely do every day, but it's strange enough that scientists still aren't sure why. The scientific community has moved to the idea that yawning is a thermoregulatory behavior that calms down the brain, but its actual biological purpose is still unclear. A study published in 2005 by Cognitive Brain Research found that the networks in the human brain are responsible for compassion, and social skills are activated when we see someone yawn.

Why Saturn's north pole has a hexagon-shaped swirling storm?

Why Saturn's north pole has a hexagon-shaped swirling storm?

At Saturn's north pole, there is a hexagon-shaped weather system at the size of 2 Earths. The storm was observed and photographed by NASA's Cassini Probe; the reason behind the hexagon-shaped storm remains mysterious. The storm appears to have changed color from turquoise to yellow in just a few years, which makes the matter more confusing.

Why do cats purr?

Why do cats purr?

Scientists understand how cats purr, but why do cats Purr is still a mystery. As per BBC, it is usually thought that the muscles around the feline larynx of the cats constrict, which creates a vibration that makes the purring sound. A theory is that purring supports bone growth as the vibration frequency leads bones to harden in response to the pressure. But the reason cats purr is still a debatable question.

Why there is dark matter or dark energy

Why there is dark matter or dark energy

A matter is made of protons, neutrons, & electrons, but what is dark matter is made of is still a mystery. Around 27% of the matter and energy observed by the universe is considered dark.

Since the beginning, the universe has constantly been expanding, but now, the expansion rate is accelerating outwards, and scientists are not sure where this energy is coming from. There are many models, theories, and extensive research going on about this, but none are conclusive.

Who were the greatest kings & warriors in Indian History?

Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Raja Raja Cholan I, Prithviraj Chauhan I, Krishnadevaraya, Shivaji Bhonsle are the greatest kings & warriors in Indian history.

Chandragupta Maurya

The founder of the Maurya Empire, Chandragupta Maurya, built one of the largest empires in the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta was one of the most important personalities in Indian history, laying the foundations of the first government to unite most of South Asia. Under the guidance of Chanakya, he created a new empire based on the principles of statecraft; he built a large army and continued to expand his boundaries until his final years.

Chakravarti Samrat Ashoka

The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka was the Maurya dynasty's third emperor; he spread Buddhism across ancient Asia. He was considered one of India's greatest emperors; he expanded the Maurya empire until present-day Bangladesh in the east to Afghanistan in the west. He conquered most of the Indian subcontinent except parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

After the devastating war against Kalinga (Odisa), seeing the deaths of 1000's of people, he converted to Buddhism. Ashoka is known for building the Ashoka pillars to spread his orders about Buddhism.

Raja Raja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I, belonging to the Chola dynasty, was the most powerful king in the south. His time was remembered for reinstating the Chola power and ensuring its supremacy in south India and the Indian ocean. His kingdom included parts of Pandya's land, Cher's land, and northern Sri Lanka; he also conquered Lakshadweep and Maldive Islands. Raja Raja Chola I was the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva; he built several temples standing still in modern-day Tamil Naidu. One of the most famous temples he built was Brihadeeswara Temple, popularly known as the Thanjavur Periya Kovil.

Prithviraj Chauhan I

Prithviraj Chauhan I was a king from the Chahamana/ Chauhan Dynasty. He ruled Sapadalaksha (traditional territory of the Chauhan dynasty), present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, & Delhi; some parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Soon after Prithviraj became the ruler, he faced rebel from his cousin, Nagarjuna. Prithviraj was defeated in his 'second battle of Tarain'; he was captured & taken to the Chauhan capital Ajmer, killed for rebel against Muhammad.

Sri Krishnadevaraya

The emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, Krishnadevaraya, was the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty; he was considered to be its greatest ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. He controlled the largest empire in India after the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Leading over the kingdom at its peak, he is recognized as an icon by many Indians. He became the most dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Golconda, Bahmani Sultanate, Sultans of Bijapur, and the Gajapatis of Odisha; he was one of the most powerful Hindu rulers in India. His rule was a golden age for Kannada literature and a period of prolific literature in many other languages.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji Bhonsale, popular known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian king and a member of the Bhonsle-Maratha clan. He created an enclave from the declining Bijapur Adilshahi sultanate, which set the beginning of the Maratha Empire. He was formally crowned the Chhatrapati (emperor in the Marathi language) of his realm at Raigad, in 1674.

He engaged in alliances and hostilities with the Sultanate of Bijapur, the Sultanate of Golkonda, Mughal Empire, and European colonial powers throughout his life. He instituted a satisfactory and progressive civil rule with well-structured administrative organizations. He restored ancient Hindu political traditions and court rules and promoted the usage of the Marathi language.

What are some things every Indian should know about our history?

These are some 16 things every Indian should know about our country:

Not even once in the past 10000 years of history, India invade any country.
Established in 700BC, Takshila was the world's first university. More than 60 subjects were taught here for over 10,500 students from all over the world.
Built in the 4th century BC the 'University of Nalanda', was one of the most outstanding achievements of ancient India in education.
Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, is the mother of all European languages. Forbes magazine, July 1987 edition reported that Sanskrit was the most suitable language for computer software.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine perceived to humans, with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. Charaka, the father of medicine, was one of the main contributors to Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
6000 years ago, the art of Navigation originated in the river Sindh. The very word Navigation is descended from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. This word 'NAVY" was also derived from Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
Though images of modern India often exhibit poverty and lack of development; India was the wealthiest country on earth until the British invasion in the early 17th century.
India invented the Number System; Aryabhatta invented zero.
The decimal system was manifested in India in 100 BC.
Budhayana was the first to determine the value of pi; he also explained the concept of the Pythagorean Theorem. Budhayan discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
Algebra, calculus, and trigonometry originated from India; Sridharacharys give the quadratic equations in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Romans and Greeks used were 10^6 (which is 10 to the power of 6), whereas Indians used numbers as big as 10^53 (which is 10 to the power of 53) with specific names in 5000 BCE during the Vedic period.
Bhaskaracharya was the one who calculated time taken by earth to orbit sun in the 5th century itself; the time taken by earth to orbit the sun was 365.258756484 days.
When all over the world there were only nomadic forest dwellers, Indians established the Harappan civilization in the Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley) 5000 years ago.
Shatranj/ AshtaPada, the modern say Chess was invented in India.
Until 1896, India was the only root of diamonds in the world- reported by the Gemological Institute of America.
2600 years ago, Sushruta and his health scientist were the first to conduct complicated surgeries like cataracts, cesareans, fractures, artificial limbs, urinary stones, brain surgery, and plastic surgery; with over 125 surgical equipment. Sushruta is acknowledged as the father of surgery.

Note: India is a country with several cultures and vast history, these are only some of the important facts about India which every Indian must know.

How to answer the beloved interview question, "Tell me about yourself"?

In an interview, "Tell me about yourself" might seem like an easy question, which you can answer randomly, but it's a question you must answer strategically.

Instead of repeating what's in your resume (they already know it), take this as an opportunity to make things crystal clear and tell them about your strengths, how you are a perfect fit for that job, how ambitious/ passionate you are, and why they must hire you.

You can start with some catchy words and explain them in your way, i.e., "I am a passionate and ambitious driven person; I thrive on challenges and constantly set my goals, so I don't get comfortable and settle down for less. I keep looking for opportunities ties to improve my skills."

What is the best diet to follow for healthy living?

The best diet is nutrient-rich and consists of vegetables & fruits, whole grain food, protein food like legumes, nuts, fish, eggs, dairy products, and most importantly drink lots of water.

Following a healthy diet is necessary as it can prevent heart diseases, build strong bones and boost mood. The seven factors required for a balanced diet includes carbohydrates, fats, fibres, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.

A healthy diet should include:

Carbohydrates & Fibres: Whole grains that include brown rice, barley, oatmeal, etc., and some fruits like apples, bananas, berries, citrus fruits, etc., are rich in carbohydrates. It also contains fibre and helps you to stay healthy as it is the primary source of energy. You can include a quarter of your plate with carbohydrates.
Proteins: The main source of protein includes legumes, nuts, fish, eggs, poultry, dairy products like yogurt and cheese. Proteins help to maintain muscles, skin, and bones. Make sure to eat protein-rich food everyday.
Fats: Little amount of fat is vital for a balanced diet as it is an essential fatty acid that the body cannot produce itself. Olive oil, nuts, avocado, cheese, etc., are sources of fat.
Vitamins & Minerals: Fruits and vegetables are fully rich in vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. Make sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables to stay fit and healthy as they are filled with nutrients.
Water: Drinking water is essential to stay healthy. It carries nutrients and oxygen to your cells, aids in digestion, rehydrates the body, flushes bacteria, and so on. Remember to drink at least 2 litres of water a day.

How to decide which health insurance to buy?

Health insurance is an essential policy that must be taken care of, especially during the current scenario, as it can safeguard you from the financial burden of health care expenses. Since there are a wide variety of health insurance plans available, you may feel confused. These tips can aid you to choose a suitable health insurance policy for you:

Search for the right coverage

Always make sure to select a health plan that covers you against different ranges of medical problems and offers benefits that include daycare expenses, hospitalization expenses, transportation, etc. You also have to check whether the policy satisfies your family's requirements if you are buying insurance for the family. Think about your requirements, compare the plans and choose a plan accordingly.

Try to keep it affordable

You should also consider your money while purchasing health insurance that suits you. You have to think about the plan benefits before you consider the plan price. It would be better to purchase an affordably priced health insurance policy at the beginning to assure you are adequately covered and, at the same time, premiums are reasonable. You can also review plans, increase your cover based on income, family size, and so on.

Pick family health plans rather than individual ones

If you plan to buy health insurance considering your family in mind, purchase a family health plan to enjoy maximum advantages at economical prices. There should also be flexibility to add a new family member without any problem.

Select lifetime renewability plan

While buying a health insurance policy, remember to check how many years the plan will cover you or if it provides limited renewability or not. It is essential as you require a health plan the most during the later years of age. It would be wise to choose the health plans that offer lifetime renewability.

Prefer one with large network hospital coverage

Once you have finalized the list of health plans, check whether your preferred hospitals and doctors are incorporated in their hospital network. Make sure to select an insurance company that has an extensive network of hospitals across the world.

Choose insurer with high claim settlement ratio

The claim settlement ratio is the number of claims settled by the insurance company over the total received claims. You must select an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio and a fast and easy claims process.

What is more important, money or health?

Health is more important; with good health, you can earn how much ever you want, but you can't buy good health with money.

What is important, health or money?

"Wealth is nothing without health", as health is a necessary requirement in one's life and wealth is a satisfactory condition; we need both of them to be happy. You will have a sense of well-being and feel happy when you're physically fit; it's not necessary that wealth will do the same.

Most people mistakenly think that having money will solve all their problems, health issues and be happy. There is the inevitable fact that some diseases still have no cure; studies have proved that most rich suffer from anxiety, stress, suspicion, and unhappiness, as being wealthy can rob your peace of mind.

What are the four pillars of democracy?

The four pillars of democracy are Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and Media.

Legislature: This is the pillar that makes the laws to govern the state and the country and can also amend or reverse them. The supreme legislative body of India is the Parliament of India. The country’s legislature consists of two houses; Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
Executive: This pillar acts to enforce and maintain the laws that are implemented by Legislature. Executives are selected on the basis of the election system and the elected representatives are called Members of Parliament. The parliamentary is formed by the party that has majority votes during the election.
Judiciary: This is an important pillar of democracy that controls the laws and order of the country and does not curtail the fundamental rights of the citizens. The Indian Judiciary System consists of the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, District Courts and other Boards.
Media: Media have to ensure transparency of three pillars and inform the real incidents happening to all the common citizens of the country. It is the responsibility of the media to make people aware about the activities of legislatures, executives and the judiciary system.