Podcast
The History of India Podcast
Hosted by Kit Patrick · EN
A light weekly podcast covering the history of India, from 6th century B.C. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider donating to the Snehal Sidhu Memorial Fund (http://tinyurl.com/prkvwll)
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
6.2 Tale of two princes: Dantidurga and Nandivarman
Dec 8, 202300:49:47Tap to summarizeThe Pallava Empire is sliding into anarchy. All its hopes are pinned on a twelve year old boy from Cambodia. We follow his winding path to power. Also in this episode: the origin story of a poet-saint, some brutal medieval punishment, and an elephant hat. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh
Transcribe →6.1 Ascending the peak: Dantidurga and the founding of the Rashtrakuta empire
Dec 1, 202300:56:31Tap to summarizeA young prince rises to found an empire. We tell the story of his rise in three ritual baths. Also in this episode: how running a medieval Indian court is like writing an essay, the most imperial of all imperial banners, and death himself dies. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh
Transcribe →5.E By the dry heart of empire
Jan 13, 202100:57:03Tap to summarizeWhat was life like in the heart of the Chaulkiya empire? How did they survive in such a dry environment? How was the city defended? In this episode, we chat with Dr Hemanth Kadambi about stone horse hurdles, his youthful misadventures, must-see places if you visit Badami, and how the sacred survives the test of time.
Transcribe →5.D Workers stranded by the lockdown
May 1, 202000:48:55Tap to summarize**Special episode on the current crisis** People are stranded all across India. They left to find work. Now the lockdown has come, they are out of work, out of money and out of food. We get to talk to Anushka and Nithya who are chatting to these workers every day, and hear some of their stories. They work for SWAN - the stranded workers action network. They can help you give money to stranded workers directly here: bit.ly/3euYfGF You can get more facts and figures here: https://tinyurl.com/ydbgmpsa or search twitter for @strandedworkers History returns in the next episode.
Transcribe →5.C Chalukyas by the book
Apr 26, 202000:49:07Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week we chat to comic book author, novelist and fellow fan of the Chaulkiya period Dr. Shalini Srinivasan about the book she's been writing set in the Chaulkiyan empire. She tells us about how comic books get made, we share our favourite parts of the ruins, and I learn about how and why she writes. [Patchy audio quality in places]
Transcribe →5.B By the whim of the master (part 2)
Apr 18, 202001:04:22Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) ***Warning: contains upsetting details.*** The second special episode on slavery. This week, we hear about the lives of female slaves. We meet slaves in Buddhist monasteries. And we meet a young woman being sold into slavery. Also in this episode: how to construct a Buddhist cave, a boy survives seven attempted murders, and a vengeful woman crosses the ocean.
Transcribe →5.A By the whim of the master
Apr 11, 202000:59:03Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) ***Warning: contains upsetting details.*** This week, we learn a little about what life was like for slaves in ancient and early medieval India, from becoming a slave to being free. India might have been the best place in the ancient world to be a slave, but slave life was often still brutal. In this episode: four ways you might become a slave, bad food sends a slave running for freedom, another annoying rant about academia, and an ancient Indian slave talks about cold baths and Buddhism with her master.
Transcribe →5.23 Overtaken by the bogeyman
Apr 4, 202000:43:56Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, we meet some of the bogeymen of ancient India; a group among the most feared of the Barbarians. The mighty Kamboja horsemasters. And yet, these are real people. In this episode we hear the tales told about them, but we also get to know a bit about how they really lived, and even them described in their own words. Also in this episode: the moon kings rise, an ocean gets drunk up, I get lost in a rant about pacifist kings, and why you should try some dynastic identity theft. Last week of the regular episodes of season 5; special episodes start next week.
Transcribe →5.22 By the back of the five great kings
Mar 26, 202000:44:39Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This is the week of small kings. The Pratihara empire has ruled for as long as anyone can remember. But a small king from the south will destroy the emperor's army and send him fleeing. And a small king from the north will restore him to his throne. Also in this episode: book reading in Baghdad, a rant about early medieval boasting, and our first glimpse of the world famous Khajuraho temples.
Transcribe →5.21 By half a metre
Dec 14, 201900:49:23Tap to summarize(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, Mahendrapala extends his empire downstream, towards the sea. But nothing is what it seems: not the emperor, nor his empire, nor his conquest. All will be revealed only half a meter down. Also in this episode: how to tell whether you are living on top of a monastery, more than twenty early medieval Indian insults, and how to call someone beautiful and aggressive at the same time.
Transcribe →