Did you know that India was a part of the Korean War (1950-53) as it provided a medical unit, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance, to treat the wounded? The unit treated 2.2 lakh soldiers and performed around 2,300 field surgeries. Two Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Known as the ‘real power’ behind Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan was the only Mughal Empress to issue coins in her name. But did you know that there was an ‘Assamese Nur Jahan’? Phuleshwari (r. 1724- 1731 CE), wife of Ahom King Sutanphaa, ruled as a proxy for her husband to spare him from an astrological prediction that his rule would end abruptly. Like Nur Jahan, Phuleshwari too minted coins that bore her name and that of her husband.

Did you know that a childhood favourite – ice lollies or sorbet – originated in China in the 7th century CE and travelled to India via the Silk Route? This summer special, a favourite of Mughal founder Babur (r. 1526 – 1530 CE), was brought to India by the Mughals in the 16th century CE.

It might seem unthinkable today but there was a time when the Chinese Army trained in India, in a secret camp at Ramgarh in present-day Jharkhand. Around 1 lakh Chinese soldiers were trained by the Americans, to fight Japan, their common enemy, during World War II. The Chinese and Japanese were already at war with each other and the Americans leveraged the situation to launch an all-out offensive against the Japanese. But, first, the demoralized and exhausted Chinese soldiers had to be trained in modern warfare.

Did you know that India was a part of the Korean War (1950-53) as it provided a medical unit, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance, to treat the wounded? The unit treated 2.2 lakh soldiers and performed around 2,300 field surgeries. Two Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Known as the ‘real power’ behind Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan was the only Mughal Empress to issue coins in her name. But did you know that there was an ‘Assamese Nur Jahan’? Phuleshwari (r. 1724- 1731 CE), wife of Ahom King Sutanphaa, ruled as a proxy for her husband to spare him from an astrological prediction that his rule would end abruptly. Like Nur Jahan, Phuleshwari too minted coins that bore her name and that of her husband.

Did you know that a childhood favourite – ice lollies or sorbet – originated in China in the 7th century CE and travelled to India via the Silk Route? This summer special, a favourite of Mughal founder Babur (r. 1526 – 1530 CE), was brought to India by the Mughals in the 16th century CE.

It might seem unthinkable today but there was a time when the Chinese Army trained in India, in a secret camp at Ramgarh in present-day Jharkhand. Around 1 lakh Chinese soldiers were trained by the Americans, to fight Japan, their common enemy, during World War II. The Chinese and Japanese were already at war with each other and the Americans leveraged the situation to launch an all-out offensive against the Japanese. But, first, the demoralized and exhausted Chinese soldiers had to be trained in modern warfare.