In August 1947, as India took the final steps towards becoming an independent nation, numerous actors thronged the chessboard in the northeast of the country, contemplating their moves. Among them was the Governor of Assam, Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari, who initiated talks with the respective princely states and ethnic dominions of the northeast, including the Naga Hills, Khasi Hills and Mizo Hills. Tracing various documents and correspondences, reporter and author Josy Joseph reconstructs the history of how the northeast states — present-day Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur — were stitched into the fabric of the new nation. 

Listen to Ep 5 - The Northeast on The India Project with Josy Joseph

Acknowledgements-

Thanks to Confluence Media for the Letters in this episode.

Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari Letter to Pt. Nehru performed by Ranvijay Pratap Singh

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech - Tryst with Destiny

Tryst with Destiny | Jawaharlal Nehru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrEkYscgbqE&t=58s

Audios used from:

https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/IGRMS-MINI_DV_1081-MDV/Nagaland-Tour-(Vol.-X)

https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/CVI-SUR_R_4470-UMLB/Bamboo-Dance-of-Mizoram

https://ncaa.gov.in/repository/search/displaySearchRecordPreview/CVI-SUR_R_1489-UMHB/Lifestyle-of-Khasi-Community-(Vol.-V)

Tripura folk song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVDCrEIRIk

Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Beej, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

The India Project With Josy Joseph - North East (EP 5) 18th May 2023

From Rama, the Marayada Purushottama- as characterized in classical texts, to the popularization of Krishna as the boy next door, the Bhakti movement in the early modern Deccan marked a remarkable shift in the realm of worship and the expression of devotion. Such a paradigmatic shift reflected itself, particularly in the perception of divinity and its relationship to earthly rulers. Earlier, the God was treated as a king; now, the king became God, only too human- as a friend, a lover, and a customer. As the boundaries between the earthly and divine realms blur, this podcast engages with the works of Kshetrayya and other Bhakti poets, to reinterpret the divine.  Come, and explore the rich tapestry of emotions as we delve into the worlds of Shringara and Bhakti.

By: Siri N Jois
Course: HIST 235 Arts of the Deccan

The Boy Next Door: Reinterpreting the Divine and the Earthly through Bhakti Shringara

Cohost Seetal joins expert Josy Joseph in conversation in this penultimate episode of The India Project. As they unravel the story so far, they bring on stage the key characters for a curtain call. 

What became of Travancore Diwan Sir C P ’s machinations in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on him? What were the moves being planned by the Nizam of Hyderabad? In the wake of the Japanese Army’s advance on the northeast, what were Governor Hydari’s options?

As they tie up the loose ends, the clock races towards the final days preceding Independence. A nation awaits its tryst with destiny. 

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Confluence Media for the letters featured in this episode

YouTube | The Quint: The Battle of Imphal: When World War II was fought in India 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3kV5cOsSM 

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer’s letter read by Narayan Krishnaswamy 

AI voice - Murf.ai

Credits: 
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

The India Project With Josy Joseph And Seetal - The Road To Destiny (EP 6) 1st June 2023

What is the mood in the streets of India on August 14, 1947? If you expected cheering crowds and processions of jubilation on the eve of Independence, here’s the sobering truth: not everyone is celebrating. For some princely states, accession to the Indian Union is not a natural choice. Punjab, Sind and Bengal, cloven by Partition, witness scenes of horrific violence and the displacement of millions. The birth of our nation, as the facts reveal, is not without its share of labour pangs. 

In the season finale of The India Project with Josy Joseph, we observe the awakening of India as an unstoppable idea whose time has come. With memorable sound-bites from the leaders of a newly free nation, we end Season 1 on a note of nostalgic introspection.

Thank you for joining us on the journey so far. Stay tuned for Season 2 of The India Project. 

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Confluence Media for the letters in this episode:

Letter from CP Ramaswami Iyer replying to Indore’s invitation to be the Prime minister performed by Narayan Krishnaswamy
Letter from Mir Osman Ali, Nizam of Hyderabad, performed by Ranvijay Pratap Singh
Letter from Hamidullah Khan, Nawab of Bhopal, to Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, performed by Kafeel Jafri

Credits: 
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar 

Audio excerpts:
YouTube | MyGov India: Sucheta Kripalani, Indian freedom fighter and later first woman chief minister of an Indian state, leads the singing of Saare Jahan Se Achcha 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTLgWzpxOY&t=25s

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: First President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad's Constituent Assembly speech on Aug 14, 1947
https://youtu.be/owDZcbIuZ1A 

YouTube | Akashvani AIR: Bande Mataram :The Song that Became a Mantra
https://youtu.be/uPtXdJOWUsQ?t=131

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: 1947 - First House Adjournment by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in Constituent Assembly
https://youtu.be/65YKKEXOZYI

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: The Moment of Freedom at midnight on August 15, 1947
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjIpHDR2CFc

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: 1947 - Hansa Mehta's Constituent Assembly Speech on August 15, 1947
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFC6_5yqM-U

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: 1947 - Jawaharlal Nehru takes oath as Prime Minister of India
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF-2S6Q6Dxk

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: 1947 - Lord Mountbatten takes oath as Governor General of India
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o_3_5wE0NE

YouTube | Films Division: India Wins Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vepQwxc0ekk

YouTube | PIB India: Mahatma Gandhi’s Discourse on Ahimsa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvEixJd2CPY

YouTube | Prasar Bharati Archives: 1947 - Dr. Rajendra Prasad's Constituent Assembly Speech | Hindi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z-nbysVUJk

YouTube | MyGov India: President Dr Rajendra Prasad administers the pledge to members of the Constituent Assembly, August 15, 1947
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juEhZGccukg

The India Project With Josy Joseph And Seetal - Birth Of The Nation (EP 7) 27th June 2023

Emerging in 12th-century Karnataka, Vachana Sahitya gave voice to the Sharana movement. The Sharanas were ardent devotees of Shiva, spreading their message through vachanas, verses composed and sung in simple Kannada, which were infused with profound thought. They advocated social equality and rejected caste, challenging Sanskrit dominance and the prevailing literary and social norms. Many of the Sharana poets came from marginalised groups. Their vachanas criticised rituals and hierarchies, emphasising a personal connection with the divine. 
While saints like Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, and Akka Mahadevi are the most prominent names of the movement, the tradition was equally enriched by the contributions of about 240 sharanas, including thirty or more women. Their simple lyrics championed social equality and resonated with the common people. As the vachanakaras challenged not just established religious practices but the very fabric of caste and hierarchy, they left an indelible mark on Kannada culture. Their thought and teaching became the foundation of a revolutionary literary and social movement.

As Amit Basole elucidates in this episode of Bhakti Republic, the core tenets of the movement find resonance with the values enshrined in the Constitution of India. The title of this episode, Kayakave Kailasa, is a key concept in the thought of poets from artisanal backgrounds. It translates loosely to “Work Is Worship”, but carries a deeper meaning. The sharanas believed that the body is the temple of Shiva, and that every act of it, conducted selflessly and honestly, is a path to the divine. 

This episode is enriched by vachanas performed in Kannada by singer M. D. Pallavi and accompanied by Bruce Lee Mani on guitar. You can enjoy the soundtrack in a special music playlist released by Radio Azim Premji University.

Bhakti Republic With Amit Basole | EP3 - Kayakave Kailasa

The novelist Amitava Kumar on history, fiction, India, and ordinary lives.

An Indian Historian's Ordinary Life

In Unboxed — The Lightbulb in India, Sharmadip Basu and Proteep Mallik explore the history, science, and legacy of electric lighting in India, joined by guests Antara Das and Sunandan K.N.
The electric lightbulb transformed human life, replacing natural cycles of light and darkness and extending human productivity beyond the workday. Early innovations such as Humphry Davy’s arc light (1802) and Warren de la Rue’s platinum filament bulb (1840) were impractical. In 1879, Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan developed longer-lasting carbon filament bulbs. By 1906, tungsten filaments became the standard, and later, argon gas was introduced to extend bulb life.
Electric lighting arrived in India in 1879. By 1889, Kolkata had streetlights, and by 1899, its first power station. Mumbai saw electric lighting in 1882, but tungsten filament bulbs became common only by 1923. The Roy brothers helped establish India’s lighting industry with Bengal Lamps. 
Don’t miss Sunandan’s personal story of electricity reaching his Kerala village in the 1970’s—with an ironic twist!
Heard the term social jet-lag? Antara, professor of biology at Azim Premji University, warns about the effects of prolonged exposure to artificial lighting, which disrupts circadian rhythms and affects sleep and health. Ironically, the future of light may eventually lie in darkness. Dark Sky Reserves, such as India’s Hanle Reserve in Ladakh, aim to reduce light pollution and preserve natural nightscapes. 
Tune in to another illuminating episode of Unboxed and don’t forget to catch up on other episodes in the series.
Credits: 
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, Vaishnavi Ramanujam, and Velu Shankar

Unboxed - The Lightbulb In India with Sharmadip Basu and Proteep Mallik

Past Imperfect Episode 22 features Dinyar Patel, Associate Professor of History at SPJIMR, in conversation with Srinath Raghavan, Professor of International Relations and History at Ashoka University and the author of Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India.

Indira Gandhi has been one of modern India’s most controversial leaders, a savior to some, a power-hungry autocrat to many others. Above all, she was deeply consequential in shaping so much of today’s political and economic landscape. Raghavan examines Gandhi’s prime ministership during what he calls the long 1970s, a period of profound crisis for Indian democracy, one which was joined at the hip to global events. While the Emergency remains the most infamous chapter in Gandhi’s rule, it was only one part of a longer story of steady centralization of power, recalibrations of economic policy, breakdowns in political norms, constitutional crises, anti-democratic tendencies, and violent insurgency.

SPJIMR Srinath Podcast

You are listening to Radio Azim Premji University, our campus radio station. Azim Premji University was founded in 2010 with the vision to contribute to the realisation of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. On our channel, you can tune in to a variety of engrossing shows on themes ranging from democracy and culture, science and mathematics, and more. You can also experience a slice of campus life. If you are a seeking student, an arts aficionado, curious about science, or just passionate about India, subscribe and start listening.

Credits:
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

The Early Modern Period (16th century onwards) in the Deccan (South India) regions is most interesting In understanding the history of Indian arts, its place and role, in shaping the society, culture and politics we have inherited. 
The presenters are all students of ARTS229/HIST235/LITT235- Arts of Deccan (Early Modern Epoch) at Krea Univ. Instructed by Prof Swarnamalya

A Mushaira is a gathering of like minded people where poetry, music, dance and other arts, along with sumptuous food and wine will over flow! These soirees epitomise cultural finesse and interpersonal etiquitette- Adaab. The Modern Mushaira will take you thorough tasteful aspects of Deccani culture and history, make you reflect on the totalising misnomer of the religious strife between Hindus and Muslims as the inherited consciousness of modern India and share the delights of a sociability that is probably bygone.

Listen to leading scholars, activists and writers talk about the practice of history and reflect on the social forces that are changing our world.

SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) is a constituent of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and is ranked among the top ten business schools in India. It is in the top 50 ranks in the Financial Times (FT) 2020 business school rankings and is placed 3rd in India and 36th in the world. As a premier school of management, SPJIMR is noted for pedagogic innovations and pioneering programmes, which have helped the Institute stand out for its unique and distinctive path in management education. SPJIMR's mission is to 'influence practice' and 'promote value-based growth'. The Institute currently operates from its 45-acre campus in Andheri, Mumbai, and a campus in New Delhi.  

Taking forward the SPJIMR motto of thought leadership, SPJIMR Thoughtcast showcases the 'influencing practice' principle of the institute and features an expert SPJIMR faculty in a reflective conversation with a senior industry leader on management and business.

New tracks tagged #Indian history