Manu S Pillai

@Manupillai
528 Followers
60 Following
37 Posts
Deviant vegetarian. Author: The Ivory Throne (2015), Rebel Sultans (2018) and The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin (2019), and False Allies (2021).
Manu S PillaiDec 24, 2022

I wrote for Conde Nast Traveller India on the founding of the town of Bidar in the 15th century--a story featuring bullocks, a murdered sultan, a Russian traveller, & the typical infighting that ruined empires.

This is the first in a 5-part series on cities of the Deccan.

https://www.cntraveller.in/story/bidar-karnataka-deccan-sultanate-fort-history/

How a battle of bullocks gave birth to a grand royal capital

Bidar in modern-day Karnataka is a chronicle of the glory and ruin of the Bahmani Sultans

Condé Nast Traveller India
Manu S PillaiNov 30, 2019
Manu S PillaiNov 30, 2019
On a sultan who ate poison, loved samosas, had a giant moustache, chopped his enemies into pieces, and ruled with such fearsome success that, as a Sanskrit mahakavya tells, Indra's court paled in comparison and Saraswathi decided to emigrate to Gujarat.
https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/the-poison-sultan-of-gujarat-11574998816067.html
The poison sultan of Gujarat

Mahmud Begada of the Gujarat Sultanate inaugurated his 53-year reign with a pool of blood .He was both a conqueror and an efficient ruler, in whom was also manifest a religious zeal

Manu S PillaiNov 30, 2019
On a sultan who ate poison, loved samosas, had a giant moustache, chopped his enemies into pieces, and ruled with such fearsome success that, as a Sanskrit mahakavya tells, Indra's court paled in comparison and Saraswathi decided to emigrate to Gujarat.
https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/the-poison-sultan-of-gujarat-11574998816067.html
The poison sultan of Gujarat

Mahmud Begada of the Gujarat Sultanate inaugurated his 53-year reign with a pool of blood .He was both a conqueror and an efficient ruler, in whom was also manifest a religious zeal

Manu S PillaiNov 23, 2019
Nilanjana Roy 🦊Nov 23, 2019

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the forgotten "maharaja" of Travancore — @Manupillai's excellent essay:

"As the product of a fading matrilineal society, in theory Sethu Lakshmi Bayi ought to have lived a life of tremendous influence: When in power, she was addressed with the male honorific of maharaja, for instance, and while the British defined her as regent for her nephew, in practice they permitted her to govern like any other male ruler."

https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/a-queen-exiled-from-history-11574406803709.html

A queen exiled from history

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, whose birth anniversary was this month, once ruled over Travancore with absolute authority.Mass adulation did not, however, protect the maharani from the insidious politics of the palace

Manu S PillaiNov 23, 2019
Maruti NaikNov 23, 2019
Lovely article by @Manupillai. As always the best way to start a Saturday https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/a-queen-exiled-from-history/amp-11574406803709.html
A queen exiled from history

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, whose birth anniversary was this month, once ruled over Travancore with absolute authority.Mass adulation did not, however, protect the maharani from the insidious politics of the palace

Manu S PillaiNov 19, 2019
The Maharani of Travancore, Madras, 1957. Today is Sethu Lakshmi Bayi's birth anniversary and also, as it happens, the day when four years ago I announced my first book, The Ivory Throne, after six years of research and writing :) Basically a decade since it all started.
Manu S PillaiNov 17, 2019
Manu S PillaiNov 17, 2019
My review of Avik Chanda's new book on the tragic Mughal prince Dara Shukoh--a beautifully written biography which, however, succumbs to romanticising Dara at the cost of fully understanding his historical reality.
https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/dara-shukoh-the-man-who-would-be-king-review-a-man-of-the-world/article29974095.ece/
‘Dara Shukoh – The Man Who Would Be King’ review: A man of the world

In a lovingly developed biography, the historical figure Dara Shukoh, who lost the war of succession to Aurangzeb, makes appearances, but the mythical persona dominates

Manu S PillaiNov 17, 2019
My review of Avik Chanda's new book on the tragic Mughal prince Dara Shukoh--a beautifully written biography which, however, succumbs to romanticising Dara at the cost of fully understanding his historical reality.
https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/dara-shukoh-the-man-who-would-be-king-review-a-man-of-the-world/article29974095.ece/
‘Dara Shukoh – The Man Who Would Be King’ review: A man of the world

In a lovingly developed biography, the historical figure Dara Shukoh, who lost the war of succession to Aurangzeb, makes appearances, but the mythical persona dominates

Manu S PillaiNov 16, 2019
Maruti NaikNov 16, 2019
This is one part of our history that we should all be proud of and not be afraid of repeating.... Live peacefully together no matter what our differences. @Manupillai in yet another beautiful article. https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/a-mosque-celebrating-a-hindu-king-11573545865351.html
A mosque celebrating a Hindu king

The oldest mosque in Kerala, Cheraman Juma Masjid, is believed to date to 629 AD.The mosque is linked to the tale of a mythical Hindu ruler who set sail to meet the Prophet

Manu S PillaiNov 15, 2019
Shivam VijNov 15, 2019
“Over a dozen tax officials interviewed by Reuters said they are stuck between a push to meet unrealistic collection targets, which influence their appraisals and transfers, and the fear of being accused of over-zealousness if they crack down on evasion.”
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-taxes-idINKBN1XP0R9
Indian tax officials find Modi's targets too taxing, some quit

India's tax officials are facing a taxing issue.