Swaveda
Indian history, plainly written.
A short daily post on Indian history — archaeology, genetics, historical linguistics, and the texts. Plus side-by-side translations of public-domain primary works. Plain language; no chest-thumping in either direction.
Plain language
Aimed at any curious reader, not the seminar room. Sanskrit / Pali / Tamil terms get a gloss on first use.
Tradition ≠ evidence
“The Mahabharata describes…” and “the Mahabharata war happened in…” are different sentences, and we don’t silently merge them.
Readers can edit
Sign in to send a correction or addition. If it holds up, it changes the article and credits you. If it’s contested, it’s preserved as a reader note.
Latest articles
All articles →
Samarkand's Outskirts: What Ordinary People Ate and Wore (13th-15th Centuries)
Archaeological finds reveal the daily lives of common people on Samarkand's outskirts between the 13th and 15th centuries, focusing on their material culture.
Kavya Sharma · Jul 13, 2026
myth vs. evidenceepic datingFrom Seringapatam to Waterloo: An Empire's Echo in a Tamil Town
Discover the unlikely historical threads connecting India's Battle of Seringapatam, Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, and the naming of Wellington, a town in Tamil Nadu.
Vikram Joshi · Jul 13, 2026
LinguisticsetymologyThe Brahmi Keyboard: Reconnecting with Ancient India's Written Past
An Android keyboard for the Brahmi script, ancestor to many South Asian writing systems, aims to bridge ancient history and modern technology, making India's linguistic heritage more accessible.
Asha Naidu · Jul 13, 2026
LinguisticsetymologyKarma: From Ritual Deed to Cosmic Law
Explore the etymological journey of 'karma,' tracing its evolution from an ancient Sanskrit term for action to its profound philosophical and moral significance in Indian traditions.
Asha Naidu · Jul 12, 2026
Geneticsancient DNARakhigarhi's Ancient Skeletons: Unraveling South Asian Pasts with DNA and Isotopes
New analyses of human remains from Rakhigarhi offer insights into the ancestry, diet, and health of the Indus Valley Civilization, contributing to active scholarly discussions.
Dr. Anil Patel · Jul 11, 2026
Recent translations
All texts →A note on tone
Swaveda is curious, careful, and dry. There’s no civilizational chest-thumping in either direction here — no “Vedic India invented everything,” no “everything came from outside.” If we get something wrong, tell us. We fix it visibly, with a dated note.