Neeraj Sharma

“The large hall, together with the tomb chamber over the actual burials below and the outer dome above, was the Taj Mahal’s core. A bronze lamp hanging above the cenotaphs cast a golden glow. During the day nobody noticed the lamp, even fewer were aware of its romantic history. A gift from Lord Curzon, a viceroy of British India, it was inlaid with silver and gold, and modelled on the design of a lamp that hung in the mosque of Sultan Beybars II of Cairo. The story went that on a visit to the Taj, Lord Curzon was so dismayed by the smoky country lanterns used by his guides to show him around, that he resolved to present the Taj with worthy lighting. For a century now, Mehrunisa reflected, an Englishman’s love had illuminated the imperial Mughal tomb.”
― Manreet Sodhi Someshwar, The Taj Conspiracy

“What is your favorite book?” “Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen,” I said. Her expression was of a pleasant surprise. She asked me why. “Elizabeth Bennett is a resilient woman. She is unapologetic about who she is, and is a strong character who does not care what others think of her. My mother is that way too.”
― Gramash Paul, 5 Rupees: Based on a true story in India

“Florence Nightingale’s greatest achievement was her ability to link infection to unclean environs despite the absence of the germ theory. Nightingale’s patients were also around a hundred years too early to benefit from the advent of antibiotics.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, Florence Nightingale: A Life Inspired

“You know what I love about India, Mr Selvam?’ he asked softly. ‘It’s the birthplace of so many new thoughts. Religion. Philosophy. Science. Zero. Geometry. Trigonometry. Governance. But above all, tolerance. Take any topic, any era before the British Raj, and you will see that we’ve never persecuted anyone for the thoughts they had or the beliefs they propagated.”
― R. Sreeram, KALYUG