Hardit Singh Malik was born on 23rd November 1894 in Rawalpindi, West Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan. He was born into a prosperous Sikh family and grew up in a large ancestral mansion with his father, three brothers, their families, and servants. His father, a contractor who specialized in building railroads and bridges, played a significant role in shaping Hardit Singh's early life. The family's success in business established them as prominent landowners in the regi

The subject of the First World War evokes many images, many of which are used repeatedly nowadays in film and TV, but they tend to concentrate on the drama and the misery of war. The reality was that it didn’t rain every day, the trenches were not knee deep in mud all year round, and soldiers were not subjected to shelling and death every day of their lives. In fact, day-to-day life was, as one veteran expressed “90 per cent sheer boredom and 10 per cent fear, but when we wer

In the world of literature, where words wield the power to evoke emotions and transport readers to far-off realms, the dedication page is often an overlooked gem. Traditionally a space for authors to express gratitude or pay homage, it has evolved into a canvas for wit and humour, offering a delightful prelude to the narrative that follows. #funnybookdedications

The Rolling Stones are a band that really need no introduction, they've have been stages around the world for over 60 years. Throughout their lengthy career, they've given us not just some of the most iconic music, but also a rich visual history through their tour posters. These posters have become a significant part of their identity, offering a glimpse into the band's artistic evolution and cultural influence over the decades. Let's take a look at 50 years of Stones poster

If the thought of drinking beer that was once inside another person turns your stomach, you might have some sympathy for Corona beer lovers in 1987. By then, Corona Extra had established itself as a sensation in the United States, despite having been introduced to the market only eight years earlier in 1979. Its branding as the ultimate "California surfer" beer — synonymous with carefree, beachside living — quickly made it a national favourite. By the mid-1980s, Corona was th

In 1887, a young journalist named Nellie Bly made history with a daring undercover assignment that forever changed the landscape of investigative journalism and mental health reform. Those words, describing New York City’s most notorious mental institution, were written by Bly after she got herself committed to Blackwell’s Island. Her shocking exposé, “Ten Days in a Madhouse,” catapulted her to fame and shed light on the horrendous conditions within the asylum, ultimately lea

When Monty Python’s Life of Brian  was released in 1979, it was immediately surrounded by controversy. The film, which cleverly satirised organised religion and human behaviour, was hailed by some as a masterpiece of comedy and condemned by others as blasphemy. The controversy largely stemmed from religious groups and individuals who believed the film mocked Jesus Christ and Christian teachings, despite the creators’ insistence that the film was not about Jesus, but rather ab

In the late 1970s, the music world was undergoing a seismic shift. Two genres, punk rock and heavy metal, emerged from the underground, seemingly evolving side by side. Both were raw, rebellious, and loud, yet the two movements ran parallel to each other, rarely converging. But there are moments in history when these musical paths cross, creating something magical and unique. One such moment occurred on August 24, 1977, when AC/DC played CBGB in New York City, a venue synonym

In 1913, the cafés and cobblestone streets of Vienna hosted an astonishing line-up of future icons and tyrants. Adolf Hitler, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Josip Broz Tito, and Sigmund Freud all lived there, unaware that each would soon play a defining role in the turbulent decades ahead.

In the summer of 1944, long after much of Europe had been consumed by invasion and occupation, thousands of Yugoslav families were living not in forests or ruined cities, but in rows of military tents pitched deep in the Egyptian desert. There were no olive groves. No stone houses. No Adriatic breeze. Only sand and wind. “A wide, yellow, sandy plain stretched into infinity… oh, how unfriendly it was. Not a blade of grass, a flower, not a bug, butterfly or bird. Silence… and

In the early months of 1971, amid a turbulent time for all four former Beatles , John Lennon sat down to write a letter to Paul and Linda McCartney. The correspondence, scrawled on two sheets of paper bearing the letterhead of Bag Productions – the company Lennon had formed with Yoko Ono – captures a raw and painful moment in the aftermath of the Beatles’ disintegration. Far from offering a note of reconciliation, Lennon’s words reflected anger, hurt, and a profound sense of

When most people think of the name “Hitler,” it immediately conjures images of one of the darkest periods in human history. Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Nazi Germany, is universally recognized as the orchestrator of World War II and the Holocaust. However, few know about a peculiar and almost forgotten figure in history: William Patrick Hitler, Adolf’s estranged nephew, whose life unfolded in a bizarre and often ironic fashion. William Patrick Hitler was born on March 12, 19

It looks solid and immovable from the outside. White stone, balanced columns, calm symmetry. Yet the White House has been burned, gutted, nearly collapsed, and entirely rebuilt from the inside out. What stands today at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is not simply an old building preserved through time. It is a structure repeatedly dismantled, reinforced, modernised, and reshaped to keep pace with a growing presidency and a changing nation. The White House project officially broke g

In the golden age of animation, before CGI and digital tools changed the game, artists had to rely on ingenuity, pencils, and a whole lot of reference footage. And when it came to adapting Lewis Carroll’s whimsical tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , Walt Disney ’s animators pulled out all the stops. While the final film dazzled audiences with its vibrant, surreal imagery, what most viewers never saw was the peculiar live-action process happening behind the scenes — a kin

In 1980, the U.S. allowed women to actively serve in the military. Here, women take part in basic training against atomic radiation in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Jean-Pierre Laffont's vast photo collection appears almost legendary: How could a single photographer capture so many pivotal events with such a distinctive perspective? Laffont came to New York from France in 1965, a significant period for American photojournalists amid the Watts riots and the Selma to Montgomery march

Before Fear and Loathing, Hunter S. Thompson embedded himself with the Hell’s Angels. These rare photos and self-portraits capture the grit, danger, and chaos of life inside America’s most notorious biker gang.

The Beatles ' album Revolver received high acclaim from rock critics, although it was not universally loved upon its release. In a 1966 article for Disc and Music Echo magazine, Ray Davies of The Kinks wrote a critical review of the album, offering brief commentary on each song. In stark contrast to the present-day praise from Rolling Stone and Allmusic, Davies appeared to only appreciate a few tracks, particularly those with a more traditional upbeat sound. He called “I’m On