Creative Edge

The story of the Razakars is inseparable from one of the most dramatic and contentious chapters in the history of the Indian subcontinent—the integration of the princely state of Hyderabad into the Union of India in 1948. The term “Razakar,” derived from the Arabic word meaning “volunteer,” came to represent a paramilitary force that emerged in the final years of British rule and the immediate aftermath of Indian independence. These volunteers, organized under the political leadership of Qasim Razvi , became a powerful and controversial presence in the princely state ruled by Mir Osman Ali Khan , the last Nizam of Hyderabad. The Razakars were initially formed as a volunteer militia aligned with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), but over time they evolved into a force accused of intimidation, communal violence, and resistance against the integration of Hyderabad into India. Their rise and fall reflect the deep political anxieties, communal tensions, and power struggles that define...

Nestled in the lush green belt of northern West Bengal, Bagrakote is a small yet significant town in the Dooars region, a land known for its sprawling tea gardens, mist-covered foothills, and winding rivers. Often overlooked in favor of larger hill stations like Darjeeling or Kalimpong, Bagrakote possesses a quiet charm and a deep historical and cultural identity that makes it unique. Situated near the banks of the Teesta River and at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, the town serves as a gateway between the plains of North Bengal and the hills beyond. Though modest in size, Bagrakote tells a story of tea plantations, railway heritage, colonial history, and the resilient spirit of its people. Its simplicity is its strength, and its beauty lies in the harmony between nature and community life. Geographically, Bagrakote lies in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district, strategically positioned along the Sevoke–Alipurduar railway line. The town benefits from its proximity ...

The history of the United States is marked by individuals whose courage altered the course of a nation. Among these figures stands Rosa Parks , a woman whose quiet act of defiance became a defining moment in the struggle for civil rights. Known as “the mother of the civil rights movement,” Rosa Parks did not seek fame or recognition. She was an ordinary citizen with extraordinary resolve, a seamstress who believed in justice, dignity, and equality. Her refusal to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955 sparked a movement that would challenge the deeply rooted system of racial segregation in America. Yet her life was far more than a single act of protest; it was a lifelong commitment to justice that began long before that historic day in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Louise McCauley was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, during a time when racial discrimination and segregation were embedded in the laws and customs of the American South. She grew up in a society go...

Good morning, students. Let me start with a question that might surprise you. What would you do if life suddenly took something away from you—something important that helped you move forward? Would you stop? Would you slow down? Or would you find a new way to keep going? Imagine waking up one day and realizing that the path you thought you would walk has suddenly changed. Many people in that moment feel defeated. They feel stuck. But sometimes the most inspiring stories in the world begin exactly at that moment—the moment when life says no , and someone bravely answers, watch me try again . Today I want to tell you the story of an unlikely hero, a small creature with a big lesson for all of us: a tortoise named Gamera. Gamera is a 12-year-old African tortoise. Like many tortoises, Gamera moved slowly but steadily through life. But one day something terrible happened. Gamera suffered a severe injury to its front left leg. The injury was so serious that veterinarians had no choice but ...

Good morning, dear students. Let me begin with a simple question. Have you ever tried something new… and failed? Maybe you tried to read a difficult book and stumbled over the words. Maybe you raised your hand in class and gave the wrong answer. Maybe you tried a new sport, a new drawing, or a new idea—and someone laughed. That moment, that tiny sting of embarrassment, can feel huge. It can make you think, “Maybe I should stop trying.” But what if I told you that every great story—every adventure, every discovery, every success—begins exactly there? In that moment of uncertainty. In that moment when someone decides to try again anyway. That spirit of courage and imagination is exactly what we see in the wonderful book The Amazing Moustaches of Moochhander the Iron Man and Other Stories by Musharraf Ali Farooqi. It is a collection of lively, unusual stories filled with unforgettable characters—Molka, Mr Tallowball, Profundus, Madame Snotbog, and of course the magnificent Moochhander h...

As we look at the image before us—fresh green leaves emerging gracefully from calm water, each leaf holding delicate droplets of rain—we are invited into a moment of stillness that speaks louder than noise. This image is not dramatic, yet it is deeply powerful. It reminds us that growth does not always announce itself. Sometimes, the strongest progress happens quietly, patiently, and persistently. These leaves are not rushing. They are not competing. They are simply growing—rooted firmly below the surface, drawing strength from unseen depths. This is one of life’s most important lessons. In a world that constantly urges us to hurry, to compare, and to prove ourselves, nature teaches us a different truth: real growth takes time, and it begins from within. Water surrounds these leaves, symbolizing the challenges, emotions, and uncertainties that life inevitably brings. Water can nourish, but it can also overwhelm. Yet these leaves do not resist the water; they rise through it. They ada...

There are a lot of men who think as if they are doing a woman a favour by asking for their hand in marriage. But if we think about it after marriage, she changes her name, changes her home, and leaves her family to be with her man. She moves in with her husband and builds a home with her husband. Gets pregnant, bears a child, and she almost gives up in the delivery room due to the extreme amount of pain she goes through at that moment. Even the kids she delivers bear the husband’s name. So it can’t be a man always doing a favour on woman. Marriage isn’t about happily ever after.  It’s about work. And a commitment to grow together and a willingness to continually invest in creating something that can endure eternity. Through that work, happiness will come. Happiness is not short-term. It is a feeling still. How much, how often, how sustained and how maintained are all what make it’s differentiated.  Marriage is life, and it will bring ups and downs. Embracing all of th...