History has always surprised us, but sometimes it also quietly mirrors the present. In 1932, something unusual happened in Australia. Farmers in Western Australia were facing a strange problem. Thousands of emus were destroying crops. They trampled the wheat fields, broke the fences, and ruined harvests. Desperate, farmers asked the government for help. The military …
Japanese Soldier Who Didn’t Know WWII Ended
Today, I bring to you a piece of history that will stun you. Sometimes, history quietly unfolds in isolation, in belief, and in unwavering commitment. Sometimes, people make history without even realising it. Hiroo Onoda was one such person. In 1944, a young Japanese intelligence officer named Hiroo Onoda was sent to Lubang Island in …
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Imprisoned in Time
In 1974, a few farmers in Xi’an, China, set out to dig a well. The land was dry, and they hoped to find water beneath the surface. As their tools struck the ground, they expected rocks or soil. Instead, they uncovered something unexpected. They found a broken piece of clay. At first, it seemed like …
Bizarre Epidemic: The Dancing Plague of 1518
In July 1518, something strange began on the streets of Strasbourg. A woman stepped into the street and began to dance. Her name was Frau Troffea. What’s weird in that, you may ask. Well, she danced for nearly a week without any music or any reason till she collapsed from exhaustion. This didn’t end here. …
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Human Zoos
History often surprises us with stories of innovation, courage, and discovery, yet there are some moments that make us deeply uncomfortable. Whenever I visit a zoo, it feels disheartening to see the wild animals in captivity. However, I start wondering, what if there is a world where the roles are reversed, or are we already …
Gratitude: Cultivating gratitude as part of mindfulness.
“Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey What better time to write about gratitude than when the world around us seems on the brink of crumbling? The times may be turbulent, but perhaps this is …
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Breaking Free from Autopilot: How to Take Control of Your Mind
When you make a decision, do you think it is your conscious effort? Is the decision completely yours? Well, not really! Did you know that up to 95% of our daily decisions are made unconsciously? From choosing what to eat to reacting to a stressful email, much of what we do is guided by …
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Timeless Letters of Love & War
Dear World, There was a time when a man in khaki, with a jhola slung over his shoulder, would come to our houses on a cycle and ring the bell… tring tring. And somehow, we would always know that he is here. The Postman. He would hand over our letter and quietly leave. Wasn’t he …
The Fight For Fresh Water
JUST IMAGINE: You’re stranded in the middle of the ocean. The water stretches endlessly around you. There is no sign of land but only water that shimmers under the sun like diamonds. Wherever your eyes go, there is water everywhere. You’re thirsty, desperately thirsty, but the irony is you cannot drink a single drop. The …
When the Flames Breathe Life: Lessons from Yellowstone
The historic Yellowstone National Park Forest Fire of 1988. Pic Courtesy: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/connect/yellowstone-hot-spot/the-value-of-fires-to-yellowstone-national-park/ Forest Fires can start naturally, like from a lightning strike, or be caused by human activity—campfires left unattended, discarded cigarettes, or deforestation. The fire spreads quickly through wooded areas, fueled by dry plants, wind, and the lay of the land. I started exploring …
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Cerebration 