Sisu is a Finnish word that means stoic determination, tenacity of purpose and resilience, and Finns regard it as part of their national character. English has no single word for it, although grit and resilience come close without the sense of quiet endurance under hardship. In recent years, sociologists and psychologists have tried to measure sisu and study its effects on individuals and whole populations. The research looks at both its benefits, such as persistence through adversity, and its costs, such as reluctance to ask for help.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.