EP 74: How Ancient India Ruled The World
Brown History Podcast
If you ask someone what ancient India gave to the world, most people will probably say “yoga.” But for over a thousand years, India was an intellectual, cultural, and spiritual centre of the world. From astronomy and art to literature, language, religion, and philosophy, India was a powerhouse of ideas that traveled far beyond its borders. So why don’t more people today know about this part of India’s history? On today's episode, we sit with the great historian William Dalrymple, author of his new book, , and discuss how ancient India shaped the world as we know it today. Get the book...
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EP 73: How Israel Sold ‘Homeland Security’ to India
Brown History Podcast
When we hear the phrase 'homeland security,' we usually think of the United States. But long before 9/11, Israel was already building a model —one based on occupation, surveillance, and control. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India promised it would never be caught off guard again. But instead of rebuilding from within, it became one of Israel’s biggest customers. Not just for weapons, but for surveillance technology, police training, and an entire mindset shaped by Israel’s experience of occupation. In today’s episode, we sit with Rhys Machold, author of , and unpack how homeland...
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EP 72: Deepa Mehta
Brown History Podcast
On today's episode of the Brown History Podcast, we sit with Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Her work is fearless, powerful, and deeply human. Each of her films tells a different story, in a different way—but what ties them all together is her deep and unwavering love for her people. She captures their history, their joy, and their sorrow with honesty and grace. Her films are bold. They’re visually stunning. And they don’t shy away from the hard truths. This month, the Toronto International Film Festival is honouring Deepa Mehta’s remarkable 30-year career with a special...
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EP 71: The Making of Indian-Occupied Kashmir
Brown History Podcast
When countries in the Global South gained independence from European colonial rule, they didn’t fully break away from the systems imposed by their former colonizers. While they became independent nations, they continued to follow the same ideas about borders, governance, and state power—ideas shaped by colonial rule. In other words, they removed foreign rulers but didn’t necessarily rethink the structures that defined nations and states. In today’s episode, we sit with Hafsa Kanjwal, author of the book ‘ and explore how the Indian and Kashmiri governments used development and...
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EP 70: Anglo-Indians
Brown History Podcast
During colonial rule of India, relations between British men and Indian women became regular practice, and over generations a large and growing 'mixed race' community developed. They would come to be known as Anglo-Indians and have their own distinct identity. Anglo-Indians held a unique position at the crossroads of race, color, and class. They were never fully colonizers nor colonized, but something in-between, at times playing the roles of either, neither, or both. When the British left and India was granted its independence in 1947, Anglo-Indians would face an existential dilemma. In...
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EP 69: Kani Kusruti
Brown History Podcast
Our guest today is the acclaimed actress Kani Kusruti. Kani garnered widespread recognition when she won the Best Actress award at the Kerala State Film Awards in 2020. Her recent film, All We Imagine as Light, won the prestigious Grand Prix at Cannes. This film marks the first Indian entry in competition at Cannes in nearly three decades and is set to make its Canadian debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Today, we’ll delve into Kani's journey, the making of this groundbreaking film, and what this moment means for Indian cinema. Visit our Shop: Become a patron: ...
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EP 68: Kerala and the Arab Gulf
Brown History Podcast
Kerala was once one of the poorest states in India. However, in the 1970s, the oil boom in the Gulf sparked a surge in demand for labour which was largely filled by Keralites, thus transforming the fabric of Kerala society forever. When we talk about migrant labor, we often focus on the economic side. But we forget that cities are not just built from stone and bricks. They are also built on dreams, hopes, memories, and longing, passed down from one generation to the next. On today's episode, we sit with Mohamed Shafeeq Karinkurayil, author of '' —the first ever book that studies Gulf migrant...
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EP 67: Fatima Farheen Mirza
Brown History Podcast
Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Fatima Farheen Mirza to our podcast. Fatima is the acclaimed author of the New York Times Bestseller novel, 'A Place for Us', which offers a profound and deeply insightful look into the lives of an Indian-American Muslim family navigating their cultural and personal identities in contemporary America. Her debut work has garnered praise for its richly drawn characters and its ability to capture the intricacies of family dynamics and the immigrant experience. In the latest episode, we sit down with author Fatima Farheen Mirza and dive into her creative...
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EP 66: Pakistani Hindus
Brown History Podcast
Millions of Hindus make up Pakistan's largest non Muslim minority, almost all of whom are underprivileged and live in the province of Sindh. They are treated as second-class citizens and are systematically discriminated in every aspect of life. Hindu women in Pakistan face double discrimination, most notably through forced conversions. These conversions often involve abduction, kidnapping, rape, and forceful marriages. However, many people often see forced conversion as the end goal but in fact, cases of forced conversions are rarely motivated by religious zeal and are instead a consequence of...
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EP 65: British Asians of the 1970s and 80s
Brown History Podcast
During the 1970s and 80s in Britain, South Asians came together to protest against the violent racism and injustice they were facing from the government and from rising facist groups like the National Front. These South Asians, held rallies and marches, protested, and did whatever they had to do to defend and protect themselves. It is the story of how the British Asian community had reached their breaking point and decided to stand up and fight for their right to stay and live in Britain with dignity. In the latest Brown History Podcast episode, as Channel 4 releases their new documentary...
info_outlineWe sit with Aanchal Malhotra, author of 'Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided,' and discuss the Partition of 1947.
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