All posts tagged: History

🚀 Exciting News: 2nd Edition of my Book Released Today!

Proudly published by Aseem Prakashan, my book ‘वास्को दा गामा – कथ्य और सत्य‘ is back in a new and refined edition, with corrections and added insights. This second edition is designed to empower readers with accurate, well-researched accounts that honour the truth about India’s past and the technical marvels of navigation. Why This Book? For generations, Indian education—rooted in Macaulay’s system—has subtly conditioned students into a narrative that breeds self-doubt. This book challenges that, offering a fresh perspective on India’s rich maritime history and dismissing the notion of our land as simply a “coast-hugging” nation. It’s time to dismantle the myths and tell the real stories of courage, knowledge, and mastery. Some facts discussed in the book Did you know Vasco da Gama had to rely on an Indian pilot from Malindi (modern Kenya) to navigate the Arabian Sea? Or that before his famous voyage, spies from Portugal had already gathered intelligence and mapped parts of the route to India? History hides much about the character of these figures—like da Gama’s atrocities, including the …

How was Vasco Da Gama’s ship on his first mission to India?

Published by Niraj Yadav

Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage to India was supported by a meticulously prepared fleet of four ships, each designed to endure the treacherous seas. The flagship, São Gabriel, captained by da Gama himself, and its sister ship, São Rafael, were robust three-masted vessels, equipped to handle fierce storms. Accompanying them were the swift Berrio and a provision ship, essential for the fleet’s long journey. Built from the finest wood and armed with cannons, these ships were a testament to Portuguese naval ingenuity, manned by a crew ready to navigate uncharted waters.

Age of Discovery Ships

Published by Niraj Yadav

The Age of Discovery and the Age of Sailing were transformative periods in history, marked by daring voyages and groundbreaking explorations. Used AI to generate stunning images of the majestic ships that sailed the seas. Few ship categories that were popular during these eras. Dive into this visual journey and rediscover the ships that shaped our world.

Historical quotes on negative numbers and acceptance by Brahmagupta

Published by Niraj Yadav

Throughout history, the concept of negative numbers has baffled, confused, and even outraged many thinkers. Their journey into mainstream mathematics is marked by scepticism and incredulity, as captured by various historical quotes. Here, we explore some of these fascinating perspectives. “Above all, he [the student] must reject the definition still sometimes given of the quantity -a, that it is less than nothing. It is astonishing that the human intellect should ever have tolerated such an absurdity as the idea of a quantity less than nothing; above all, that the notion should have outlived the belief in judicial astrology and the existence of witches, either of which is ten thousand times more possible.” In his book On the Study and Difficulties of Mathematics, De Morgan expresses astonishment at the acceptance of negative numbers. Comparing the belief in negative quantities to the belief in astrology and witches, he underscores the perceived absurdity of the concept. “Numbers that are less than nothing? Inconceivable! The next thing you’ll tell me is that there’s a witch outside with my horoscope.” …

भारतीय व्यापारी झूठ नहीं बोलते – फ्रांसेस्को कारलेटी १६ सदी फ्लोरेंटाइन मर्चेंट

Published by Niraj Yadav

फ्रांसेस्को कारलेटी (1573 – 1636) सोलहवीं सदी का एक फ्लोरेंटाइन व्यापारी था जो जहाज के माध्यम से विश्व भ्रमण किया। इस यात्रा में कारलेटी लगभग २० महीने भारत के गोवा प्रान्त में व्यतीत किया। अपने निवास के समय में भारतीय जन जीवन के बारे में लिखा है। उसी में से भारतीय व्यापारियों के बारे में कुछ अंश यहाँ प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूँ। फ्रांसेस्को कारलेटी कहता है कि – सिंधु नदी के पास कैम्बे नगर से हर वर्ष भारतीय व्यापारी अपने-अपने जहाजों से गोवा आते हैं। इन व्यापारियों को कारलेटी गुजराती और ब्राह्मण बोलकर सम्बोधित करता है और कहता है ये व्यापारी उसे सज्जन (gentlemen) लगते हैं। ये किसी भी प्राणी को नही खाते जिनमें लाल रक्त होता है। इनके पास ढेर सारे हिरे होते हैं। कारलेटी ने स्वयं इनके पास से एक २०० कैरट का हिरा देखा था। इन व्यापारियों द्वारा लाया गया सामान पुर्तगाली जहाजों में लदकर हर वर्ष लिस्बन जाता है। गोवा में इनके घर और दुकान अलग रहते हैं, और वहां वो बहोत सज्जन तरीके से रहते हैं। वे बिना कारन किसी …

Did an Indian helped Vasco Da Gama cross the sea to India?

Published by Niraj Yadav

Vasco Da Gama the captain of the 4 ships on a mission from Portugal to find India was hugging the eastern coast of Africa. Strictly sticking to the coast he reached Malindi, modern day Kenya. Portuguese ships by now were famous along the east coast for their treachery and abduction of locals. However, the Sultan of Malindi welcomed them thinking of using their cannons against his enemy neighbour. With all his preparation, charts, and inputs from spies, he was still unsure of the path and was desperately looking for the local pilot (sailor) from Cape of Good Hope. Vasco Da Gama requested him to somehow provide a pilot who can help them reach India. ‘Canaqua’ as the Portuguese called him was provided by Sultan who was going to help them sail across the sea. Kanha or Canaqua was an experience Gujarati sailor and navigator. As the Journal mentions he was not much impressed by the Portuguese navigation instruments and he preferred to keep them aside. Here is the extract from the book With the Da …

Book: ‘Vasco Da Gama – Kathya aur Satya’ – Purpose

Published by Niraj Yadav

A deliberate effort is been made to keep the confidence of generations of Indians low by repeatedly teaching false history. India’s education (Macaulay’s) doesn’t matter which board, pass a self-guilt to the students day in and out and traps their minds in the inferiority complex of being from a subjugated land and a country of coast-huggers. You can Order book from here I remember as a student and rather till late, I assumed that Vasco Da Gama and Christopher Columbus were some sort of Indiana Jones who would set on their ship alone and sail to explore hidden treasures. I believed their only purpose was to find gold and become rich personally. Little did I know that reading their sources would wash away their colour of masquerades and reveal the sinister conspiracies and deep geopolitics. It is still surprising that no school or college material shares the fact that Vasco Da Gama didn’t know to cross over the Arabian sea and he requested an Indian pilot from the king of Malindi (in modern Kenya) for …