Reimagining history: Rejecting a homogeneous past with Prof Manan Ahmed Asif, Prof. Chinnaiah Jangam and Archana Garodia Gupta.
In this episode, we will hear our guests view history through different lenses and surface common truths as well as rich differences in our past. In the first segment, we will hear them exchange reflections about the multiplicity of historical narratives, the need to look to our past and the value of searching beyond mainstream sources. In the next segment, Prof. Ahmed recounts the formation of the “outsider” image relegated to Southasian Muslims and expands on his call for post colonised historians. Prof. Jangam sheds light on the dominance of Hindu Brahmanical hold over history keeping and advocates viewing the past through marginalised voices. Archana argues against putting women icons on pedestals, letting them commit follies as their male counterparts and ends with some advice to those who plan on writing inclusive historical texts.
Guests:
Prominent scholar Prof Manan Ahmed Asif has written extensively on South Asian history and currently teaches history at Columbia University. His books include, A Book of Conquest and The Loss of Hindustan: The Invention of India.
Prof. Chinnaiah Jangam's research focuses on the social and intellectual history of Dalits in modern South Asia. He is currently an Associate professor at Carleton University. He is the author of much acclaimed, Dalits and the Making of Modern India.
A leading national quizzer, Archana Garodia Gupta has won the 'Champion of Champions' title from BBC's Mastermind India. She has written the popular historical anthology The Women Who Ruled India: Leaders. Warriors. Icons. and co-wrote The History of India for Children series for Hachette.
This is the second of the six episodes of the Reimaginings series. Keep a lookout for more episodes in the coming months.