History, mystery and an interesting coincidence today




I’m not a fan of profligacy but certainly one of mystery and history.


So it was but natural that I picked up this book this Sunday at the Delhi airport on my way to Angul in Odisha.


But I finally got around to reading it today on the flight back to Delhi just now from Bhubaneshwar.


Before I proceed further I must also say that I’m a great fan of coincidences.


So while I’m not a fan of profligacy and didn’t get to read the book on 19th of this month, I’m thrilled that I got to read a few chapters today, coincidentally the one titled the Missing Peacock Throne.


And why do I say that?


Because despite the profligate expenses (twice that of building Taj Mahal!!) that Shahjahan spent on creating the biggest and most expensive regal thrones (something I don’t get excited by), it was coincidentally inaugurated today - the 22nd March 1635!!


Read that chapter if you want to know what all went into making it and even more so if you’re curious enough to find out what happened after Nadir Shah whisked it away with him after his plunder of Delhi in 1739.


So that’s some history, mystery and coincidence.


Also managed to read chapters on Amelia Earhart, Nazi gold, Subhash Chandra Bose, Razia Sultana, Agatha Christie, Irish Crown Jewels, the ‘cursed’ village of Kuldhara and the library of Alexandria - all of them mysteries from history.


More chapters to go through on Saturday.


I have shared the table of contents too with this note in case someone feels tempted by curiosity to get it and read on.


Thank you Priyankee Saikia.







 

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