Daak @DaakVaak Twitter profile

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Daak

1 year

We've been having so many conversations with all of you dear readers and we realised something - not all of you know all that we do.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Around the subcontinent through Hiroshi Yoshida's eyes. We begin with Delhi - “Jama Masjid Delhi,” Hiroshi Yoshida, 1931. Source: Toledo Museum of Art

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@DaakVaak

1 year

'The Palace of Udaipur', by Hiroshi Yoshida. c.1931

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@DaakVaak

4 years

A poor banana seller, with nothing to offer, sends bananas from Pakistan to his favourite poet, Amrita Pritam, in India. If someone asks why poetry is important, tell them that only poets can take all the love and heartbreak of the world and give it words that we can understand.

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@DaakVaak

3 years

Happy Independence Day to India and Pakistan...divided in geography but always bound by our shared history and culture.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Zohra Sehgal's Google Doodle is all love and beauty. Such a perfect encapsulation of her spirit.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Ustad Bismillah Khan playing shehnai by the ghats in Benaras is another kind of poetry.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Mohammed Rafi was touring America in 1979 when he met the boxer Muhammad Ali. They decided to take a picture, planned by Ali. Ali said, "You punch me on the face and I will punch you back". And they laughed about it. Narrated by Shahid Rafi (Rafi’s son) Source: TOI

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

Twitter needs some hope in these times!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

Renowned filmmaker and film historian Vijaya Mulay passed away last Sunday. Her film ‘Ek Anek Aur Ekta’, aimed at teaching unity, aired on Doordarshan in the 70s and 80s, and won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film. RIP. Source: The Indian Express

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

Munshi Premchand With His Wife Shiv Rani Devi, Wearing A Torn Shoe, c. 1930 Commentating on this photo, Harishankar Parsai - another great Hindi Writer, wrote an essay titled 'Premchand Ke Phate Joote' (Premchand’s Torn Shoes). Source: India History Pictures

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

On Ahmad Faraz's birthday, sharing a favourite verse. :)

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Golden Temple in Amritsar (1931) from the India and Southeast Asia series by Japanese artist, Yoshida Hiroshi. A very happy Guru Nanak Jayanti to all!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

'Morning of Darjeeling' by Hiroshi Yoshida. c. 1931

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

You may be familiar with Mario Miranda's bustling cartoons of people and cities. Here's a quieter sketch of a fleeting encounter between lovers.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

More than 70 years ago on Diwali, a painter saw his daughter with a candle, her hand guarding its flame. The rays illuminated her face beautifully and sparked a moment of inspiration for S L Haldankar who recreated it in his most iconic watercolour painting, ‘Glow of Hope’.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

You may know RK Laxman as the creator of the 'Common Man'. In 1952 he embarked on a different kind of project. One in which he created sketches of Bollywood artists in a series 'The Stars I Never Met'.

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@DaakVaak

3 years

Mahasweta Devi articulates our thoughts today.

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@DaakVaak

7 months

Inspired by Raja Ravi Varma, we made a deck of playing cards right in time for Diwali!

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@DaakVaak

4 years

Remembering the quiet grace of Madhubala on her birth anniversary.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

8 months

Lullaby for a Palestinian child by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, written decades ago and still ringing loud.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

At the Barcelona airport just before boarding the plane, Agha Shahid Ali was asked by a guard if he was carrying anything that could be dangerous to the other passengers. He pressed his hand to his chest and said, “only my heart.”

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Babasaheb Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee, presenting the final draft of the Indian constitution to Constituent Assembly president Rajendra Prasad on 25 November 1949. Happy 71st Indian Republic Day! May we continue to remember why we celebrate it.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

A lesson in self-sufficiency

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

In 1959, the legendary Che Guevara came to India for a brief political visit but there are only a handful of photographs that document it. A young, self-described "accidental jounrnalist", K.P. Bhanumathy, managed to steal an interview with him for the All India Radio.

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@DaakVaak

3 years

'Bombay from Malabar Hill', by SH Raza,1948 Source: SaffronArt

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@DaakVaak

2 years

Merry Christmas! Nativity, 1954, by Goan artist Angelo da Fonseca

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Muneer Niazi serves us a powerful reminder to tell those we love how we feel. Never too late to make amends, especially in these times.

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@DaakVaak

3 years

Ismat Chughtai with Majrooh Sultanpuri, Ali Sardar Jafri and Kaifi Azmi in Hyderabad (Photo: Twitter/ @marvisirmed )

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

Yesterday was the death anniversary of the man fondly known as the 'Birdman of India' - ornithologist Salim Ali

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

Eid Mubarak, dear readers! This vintage Eid Card is one we often revisit for it is all heart. From a younger sister to her older one, in beautifully formal Urdu, this greeting card is forcing us to give our WhatsApp forwards a rethink.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

How do you write? When do you write?

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Lullaby for a Palestinian Child by Faiz.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

Before Tata Airlines was taken over by the government and rechristened Air India, they made cool route maps of India like this one. Source: Pinterest

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Saadat Hasan Manto was often accused of obscenity in his writing. His sharp response to his critics was,

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Conscious of their 10 year age difference, Amrita Pritam urged Imroz to experience the world and then decide if he wanted to be with her. On hearing this, Imroz circled her several times and said, “Here! I have gone around the world and I am back to you.” Source: Hindustan Times

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Darjeeling "Morning at Darjeeling", Hiroshi Yoshida, 1931. Source: Smithsonian Institute

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Sita, detail from a Pahari painting, date unknown Image: Art Details

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Some wisdom from Bulleh Shah!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

What are the words of affirmation you're choosing in 2023? ✨

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Munshi Premchand With His Wife Shiv Rani Devi, Wearing A Torn Shoe, c. 1930 Commentating on this photo, Harishankar Parsai - another great Hindi Writer, wrote an essay titled 'Premchand Ke Phate Joote' (Premchand’s Torn Shoes). In the essay, he remarks...

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Lahore. “Shalimar Gardens, Lahore,” Hiroshi Yoshida, 1932 Source: Toledo Museum of Art)

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Life, in waiting.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Fatehpur Sikri “Fatehpur Sikri,” Hiroshi Yoshida, 1931. Source: Arthur M Sackler Gallery

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Jaipur Ajmer Gate, Jaipur. Yoshida Hiroshi, 1931. Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M Sackler Gallery

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Amritsar "Golden Temple", Hiroshi Yoshida, 1931 Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M Sackler Gallery

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Varanasi "Ghat in Benaras", Hiroshi Yoshida, 1931

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Daak

@DaakVaak

9 months

On MF Husain's birth anniversary, sharing this lovely painting with 3 literary greats! Can you guess who they are?

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

In 1967, Air India commissioned Salvador Dali design an ashtray for them to be given to a select group of first-class passengers? There were 500 of them and they looked like the one pictured here. Can you guess the symbolism?

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Daak

@DaakVaak

7 months

No words to express grief today so turning again to Faiz’s lullaby for Palestinian children.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

8 months

On the International Day of Translation sharing our most widely shared translated verse on social media. Do you have a favourite translated verse or piece of writing?

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

One of our favourites - love's belief in its own afterlife albeit in a changed form!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Scenes from August Kranti; Quit India Movement, 1942.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Merry Christmas dear readers! 🎄🎅🎁 Goan painter Angelo da Fonseca’s attempted to bring out the humanness and relatability of Gods. Pictured here: 'Nativity', 1954 by Angelo da Fonseca.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

For days when things look bleak, here is a couplet from a poem Faiz Ahmed Faiz wrote in prison.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

The ever-soulful Faiz in his own voice~ #faiz #UrduPoetry

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

More than 70 years ago on Diwali, a painter saw his daughter with a candle, which sparked a moment of inspiration for S L Haldankar who recreated it in his iconic watercolour, ‘Glow of Hope’. We hope this Diwali illuminates your greatest hopes and dreams - a happy Diwali to all!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Interesting to see Atlas marketing its bicycles to women in the 70s. Images: Pinterest

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Amrita Pritam today and everyday!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

So many legends in one photograph. How many do you recognise? Tell us in the comments! Image: The Friday Times

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

To one of the finest actors of our generation - thank you for the laughter and tears. Rest in peace.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Same old same old...Rahat Indori sums it up best in this sher!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 months

“We made no promises, no commitments. There were no questions, no answers. But love flourished without any formal expressions.” Rest in peace and love, dear Imroz. With your passing, the greatest love story of our times comes to an end.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Three Girls by Amrita Sher-Gil, 1935 With its quiet strength and vivid colours, this is a sublime work by Sher-Gil, one which came to define her later modernist style and her focus on Indian pastoral scenes.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Thinking about the wonderful Zohra Sehgal's mysterious words today.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

2 years

Another gem from Faiz reminding us to cherish our desires as much as their attainment.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

One of our favourite paintings of the phenomenal Amrita Sher-Gil, this painting titled 'Three Girls' says so much to us.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

On popular demand, we have some more wisdom from Baba Bulleh Shah today.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

MF Husain in the lanes of Nizamuddin Basti. Image courtesy: Parthiv Shah

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Always the tension between the ones who tether themselves to love and the ones who wander free.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Amrita Pritam and Imroz, truly a timeless tale. Here they are through the ages.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Poet and lyricist, Kaifi Azmi remebered by his daughter @AzmiShabana : "When I was a child, it seemed to me that my father did no work. He never went to office, was always dressed in kurta pyjamas, he never did any of the things the other girls’ daddies used to do...

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

We are hiring! Write to us if this is you.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Manto. On an unbearable society.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Legend has it that Parveen Shakir, who was also to go on and become a civil servant in Pakistan, had chosen Urdu literature as one of her subjects for the service exam. On the day of the examination, candidates were asked to write a note on the famous poet...Parveen Shakir!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Translation cannot do justice to this seemingly flippant but incredibly profound life philosophy!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Same old.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

As we do some year-end rethinking, the conflict between dreams and reality is real!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Of loss and memory...

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Daak

@DaakVaak

9 months

On this teacher’s day, here’s a heartwarming story about the deep and lasting impact teachers can make~ In 1979, Pakistani scientist Abdus Salam was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Amrita Pritam's magical imagery about the spaces that love occupies!

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Time for Spring, flower analogies and the usual aches of love :)

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Daak

@DaakVaak

8 months

I can only paint in India. Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque India belongs only to me. Amrita Sher-Gil Image: DAG

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Have you ever longed for someone so achingly? Shayari is often deceptively simple, lightly concealing the complex tapestry of emotions that makes human experience.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Perhaps we find each other again in dreams.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

Manto on his fiction.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

A young French boy greeting Indian soldiers in Marseilles in the year 1914, during World War I. Image:

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Love this painting of two women lost in intimate conversation by Abdur Rahman Chughtai Image: University of Toronto Archives

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Daak

@DaakVaak

1 year

On International Mother Language Day, Kedarnath Singh does the articulation for us.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

Happy Diwali! More than 70 years ago on Diwali, a painter saw his daughter in a beautiful saree with a candle, her hand guarding its flame to prevent the wind from blowing it out.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

We received comments full of hate for this artwork we posted. This thread is a good recap of all that is wrong with this misdirected anger that seeks to cleanse historic cultural productions inspired by religion and to deny the confluence of religion and culture in South Asia.

Ali Khan Mahmudabad

@Mahmudabad

3 years

The @DaakVaak page posted this image of Buraaq, the mythical winged creature in which the Prophet is said to have ascended to the heavens. They mentioned that paintings of Buraq have existed for centuries in various cultures. Some Muslims jumped at the admins...

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

"The only piece of Urdu Nastaleeq typewriter, a unique invention of Mr. Ittefaat Hussain in 1940." Found in the Jamia Milia Islamia University Archives block.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

It's Amrita Pritam's birth anniversary today and we're working on a lovely little surprise for all of you. In the meantime, enjoy her beautifully devastating words.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

It is Frida Kahlo's birthday and to celebrate here is a photo of her in a saree with Nayantara Sahgal and Rita Dar. Source: Vijay Prashad

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Daak

@DaakVaak

6 months

Regret is a powerful thing! In this poem, Tagore captures our small inconsiderations which come back to haunt us in our loneliest moments.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Gama Pahalwan, or the Great Gama was a wrestler born in Amritsar in 1878. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

RK Narayan with wife Rajam in Mysore - a lovely photo where they both look like characters straight out of the Malgudi Days books, don't they? Source: Wikipedia

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Daak

@DaakVaak

3 years

Living and waiting.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

5 years

A Philips ad featuring Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali.

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Daak

@DaakVaak

4 years

Did you know that the owner of MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms), one of Bangalore’s oldest and most celebrated restaurants, came up with the concept of idlis made of “rava” or “suji” because of the acute shortage in rice supplies during the WWII period? Image: Scroll

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