History Stories

10 Key Ideas from The Happiness Hypothesis 1. The Mind Is Like a Rider and an Elephant Haidt’s central metaphor: Elephant = emotions, instincts, automatic reactions Rider = conscious reasoning Happiness requires training the elephant, not just giving the rider more logic. --- 2. Happiness Comes from Both Internal and External Conditions Neither “happiness is within” nor “happiness comes from outside” is fully true. You need both mental habits and supportive surroundings (relationships, community, meaningful work). --- 3. “Reciprocity” Drives Human Morality Humans deeply value fairness. We repay kindness and punish those who cheat. This reciprocity — “help those who help you” — is a foundation of social harmony. --- 4. The Negativity Bias Controls Us The mind reacts more strongly to threats than to positive events. This makes: criticism hurt more than praise bad news more powerful than good Happiness requires intentional effort to override this bias. --- 5. Changing Your Thinking Can Ch...

  1. Planter Associations and Racial Exclusivity The Dooars Planters Association , which included leading British firms like Duncan Brothers, excluded Indian planters from decision‑making and social club-like activities. Indian planters joining your typical road were expected to dismount and defer to British planters they encountered on public roads Taylor & Francis Online +2 Scribd +2 Scribd +2 . This formal exclusion reflects how social mixing—especially equality—was institutionally discouraged. 2. Colonial Ethnography and Racial Ideology Colonial intellectual traditions categorized Indians as inherently inferior or “uncivilised.” British planters relied on such frameworks—like Herbert Hope Risley’s caste and race schema—not only to manage labor but to justify social distance between rulers and subjects. These ideas strongly influenced corporate culture, endorsing strict segregation between British and Indian staff Wikipedia SAGE Journals . 3. Recruitment & Labor ...

  1. Colonial Racial Hierarchy and Segregation British companies like Duncans operated under a clear racially stratified worldview : British = rulers, administrators, and civilizers Indians = subjects or laborers 🔹 Socializing would challenge that hierarchy, which was central to maintaining colonial authority and exclusivity. 🍸 2. “Club Culture” and Exclusivity Duncans and other “Clubby” agency houses fostered a British-only corporate and social culture : British officers and executives belonged to elite clubs (like the Bengal Club) which excluded Indians —even elite, westernized Indians. Relationships were limited to “sahib-servant” dynamics, not equal colleagues. 🛡️ 3. Fear of Cultural Contamination or Political Influence There was a belief—especially post-1857 Revolt—that: Mixing with Indians might expose British employees to nationalist sentiments , or undermine their loyalty to Empire. Even friendly relationships were seen as potential threat...

 1. 🗡️ The Myth: The Workers Had Their Hands Cut Off Claim: Shah Jahan amputated the hands (or blinded) the workers so they could never replicate the Taj. Reality: No historical evidence supports this. It's likely a dramatic legend, possibly spread by colonial storytellers. The artisans went on to work on other projects across the empire. 👉 Content Idea: “Busted: Did Shah Jahan Really Maim the Taj Mahal Workers?” 2. 🪞 The Black Taj Mahal Legend Myth: Shah Jahan planned to build a black marble Taj Mahal opposite the Yamuna River for himself. Origin: 17th-century traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier claimed this. Ruins in Mehtab Bagh on the opposite side gave it weight. Truth: Archaeological evidence is inconclusive. Some believe the “black” Taj is just a reflection or imagination. 👉 “Was There Ever a Black Twin of the Taj Mahal?” 3. 🏰 The Secret Rooms & Underground Chambers There are sealed rooms beneath the Taj Mahal, which are not open to the public. Specu...

  Introduction: It’s not every day that a sweet treat makes history for being deadly. But in 1919 , a giant wave of molasses burst through the streets of Boston —and it wasn’t just sticky, it was dangerous . This is the true story of the Great Molasses Flood , one of the strangest and most tragic disasters to ever hit the city. Here’s how something as innocent as a syrup factory led to a devastating catastrophe that swept through an entire neighborhood. Setting the Scene: Boston, 1919 On January 15, 1919 , the industrial city of Boston was experiencing a cold winter day. The North End neighborhood was bustling as usual, with workers going about their business, and families enjoying the quieter pace of the early months of the year. But what the residents didn’t know was that a disaster was about to hit—one that would change their lives forever and become one of the most bizarre and tragic events in American history. The cause? A massive tank of molasses located at the P...

Introduction: If you’ve ever heard of "The Great Emu War" , you might think it’s a quirky bit of folklore. But this is no joke— Australia really did once go to battle with emus , the large, flightless birds. And remarkably, the birds won . In 1932, the Australian military took on an army of emus, and the results were so ridiculous they became the stuff of legend. So, how did a bunch of flightless birds manage to outsmart the Australian army? Let’s dive into this weird chapter of history where emus became the true victors. The Backstory: A Nation Facing a Feathered Foe By 1932, Australia was dealing with a serious agricultural crisis . The Great Depression had caused widespread economic hardship, and farmers in the state of Western Australia were already struggling to make ends meet. But then, to make matters worse, a flock of emus descended on the farmland. Emus , which can grow up to 6 feet tall and run at speeds of 30 miles per hour, were not shy about raiding cr...