Jaya Basera

[Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories]

Charles II in Armour (Carlos II con armadura) painted by Juan Carreño de Miranda in 1681, which hangs in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid...

X-ray and technical scans of the canvas show that Carreño de Miranda painted directly over an earlier portrait of King Charles II. The hidden layer underneath depicts Charles II at a much younger age rather than a child hiding inside him.

. . .

Behind the velvet drapes of the Prado Museum’s conservation lab, young Lucas carefully lifted Diego Velázquez’s renowned portrait of King Charles II of Spain from its gilded frame. Tasked with examining the centuries-old canvas for signs of micro-cracking, his magnifying visor caught a slight, unnatural bulge near the bottom edge of the backing paper. With steady hands and fine tweezers, he coaxed open a hidden seam beneath the royal insignia, expecting to find an archivist’s note or a forgotten sketch. Instead, a small, black-and-white photograph slipped out onto the velvet felt—an impossibly crisp, 20th-century snapshot of a young boy with expressive eyes, wearing a knitted wool sweater and holding a wooden toy sailboat.

Lucas stared at the image in disbelief, bewildered by the impossible collision of eras. Charles II had died in 1700, yet the silver-halide photograph clearly predated any modern digital tampering, showing authentic signs of mid-century wear and age. Turning the fragile photograph over, he discovered a faded blue ink inscription dated October 1937: "Keep him safe until the war ends." Lucas realized that during the chaos of the Spanish Civil War, when priceless royal masterpieces were hastily evacuated and hidden from bombardment, a terrified parent working on the protection effort must have slipped their son’s picture into the safest place they knew, sheltered behind the Habsburg king for nearly a century, waiting to be found.

It was common practice for court painters to reuse or paint over older canvases of the monarch rather than discarding them when a new updated official portrait was commissioned.

#archaeohistories

[Jaya Basera @JayaBasera]

@dtptraffic Can you please upload a higher resolution photo of this?

[Pooja Shali @PoojaShali]

"My first husband stripped me naked and threw me and my daughters out of the house. Neighbours wrapped me in a quilt and my parents took us away. As I hold this gold medal in Glasgow, my message to every woman in India is to fight back against abuse."

https://t.co/LDRr8meTC1

[The Better India @thebetterindia]

Ever seen a train named after a war hero?

Indian Railways has been naming its locomotive engines after our bravest national heroes — turning steel giants into moving tributes that carry stories of courage and sacrifice.

From valiant soldiers awarded the Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, and Maha Vir Chakra, to legendary freedom fighters — their names now power the very engines that connect our nation.

"By inscribing the names of national heroes on the locomotives, the division is paying tribute to celebrate their heroic tales and remember their invaluable contributions and sacrifices," Sachindra Mohan Sharma, DRM Lucknow, told TOI.
These aren’t just trains.

They’re stories of India — running on tracks, etched in steel, and fueled by pride.🚂🇮🇳

#IndianArmyDay #IndianRailways #RealHeroesOfIndia #GallantryAwards #FreedomFighters

[Indian Army Day, Indian Railways, tribute to martyrs, locomotives, Heroes of India]

[A. @abadjate]

A piece of advice to all travellers to Mumbai.

Do NOT take an incoming flight to Navi Mumbai Intl Airport under ANY circumstances for the next several months.

It's a complete disaster here. Zero network, No proper arrangements for taxis. Pax struggling to get cabs

1/2

[Mumbai Rains @rushikesh_agre_]

MUMBAI!

[Aditya Raj Kaul @AdityaRajKaul]

#BREAKING: India has issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing temporary closure of 32 airports
across northern & western India for all civil flight Ops, effective from 9th to 14th May 2025 (which corresponds to 0529IST on 15th May 2025) due to operational reasons.

[ratnendu ray @ratnenduray]

My harrowing tale with @IndiGo6E , so that others can be careful. 1/n

On Aug 14 early morning I landed in Delhi's T2 on an Indigo flight from Chennai. As is most common with them, no aerobridge was given, and instead they asked everyone to deboard using their ramps.

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

Tiger population comparison by country

[Sachin Tendulkar @sachin_rt]

The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player.

I couldn’t be happier that an Indian broke my record. And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup Semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake.

#INDvNZ

[Delhi Traffic Police @dtptraffic]

Traffic Advisory

In view of the #P20Summit to be held at Yashobhoomi (IICEC), Sector-25, Dwarka from October 12-14, 2023, traffic regulations will be effective.

Kindly follow the advisory.

#DPTrafficAdvisory

[ISRO @isro]

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
'India🇮🇳,
I reached my destination
and you too!'
: Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully
soft-landed on the moon 🌖!.

Congratulations, India🇮🇳!

#Chandrayaan_3
#Ch3

[Delhi Traffic Police @dtptraffic]

Traffic Advisory

Due to rise in water level of Yamuna and consequent inundation of low lying areas, traffic movement is diverted on some roads. Please follow the advisory to avoid any inconvenience.

#DPTrafficAdvisory

[Delhi Traffic Police @dtptraffic]

Traffic Alert
Movement of traffic is restricted at Pragati Maidan tunnel due to waterlogging. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly.

[Taronish Mullan @MullanTaronish]

@MTPHereToHelp All crossings near Villa Theresa School , Kemps Corner have been closed. Very disappointing not to consider how young children will cross the road and give more importance to VIP movement on that road. Open one crossing and start the signal to help them cross.

[Jaya Basera @JayaBasera]

It was absolutely brilliant having you with us today! 😊

[Ira Mukhoty @mukhoty]

The Alai Darwaza, part of the Qutab complex, dramatically lit
Thanks to Delhi Darshan walks for a memorable walk @ratnenduray @JayaBasera

[Barbara Horejs @BarbaraHorejs]

We are looking for an expert in palaeolithic archaeology & offer a postdoc position for 6 years in our Prehistory Department in Vienna @oeai_oeaw @oeaw Please share widely & spread the word! Call open until 15.6.2022
https://t.co/agqfZqY4Yc
(photo credits: orf)

[Jaya Basera @JayaBasera]

This is just so sad!

[Dr Andrew Fleming 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @Andrew007Uk]

1878: Historic main building of the Secunderabad Club which was tragically gutted by fire earlier today. It is one of the 5 oldest such clubs in India with Bengal Club of Calcutta the oldest.

cc. @IndiaHistorypic

[Jaya Basera @JayaBasera]

@Andrew007Uk @IndiaHistorypic @ArchaeoNomad @HiHyderabad @HydrarDeeGyrum