Historian Eric Hobsbawm was longtailed by the British Secret Service MI5. He was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), which the secret service saw as a threat to the nation. The MI5 files on Hobsbawm were finally declassified in 2014, two years after his death in 2012. HistoryChatter looks into the contents of these files in two episodes. In addition, these episodes include details on hazards of working with secret service files, the attitude of the British state to the communists, and the operational style of the secret services officers. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay  Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diwali often appears to be a common Indian festival. In reality, Indians of various religions observe anniversaries of distinct events on the same day. Kali Puja, which is celebrated most widely in Bengal, and often falls on the same day or time around Diwali, also has a number of origin stories. It is observed in various forms by various communities and places. This episode of HistoryChatter looks into these multiple origins, encouraging the claim that real India thrives inside its diversities. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay  Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falafel is now considered a typical middle eastern delicacy. Many countries, including Israel, Palestine, and Yemen claim to be their birthplace. Yet, it was probably invented in Egypt and inspired by the humble Indian Vada or Fulawri. This episode of HistoryChatter explores the appearance,  circulation, and contested nationalisation of Falafel in the Middle East and later migration to Europe and America.   Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay  Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that many children were eligible to vote in the early twentieth century England? An anomaly in voting laws in England made it possible. This episode of HistoryChatter takes up why it happened and how eventually it was set right. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago University Professor Wendy Doniger, a living legend studying Hinduism and India over the last sixth years, speaks in this special episode of HistoryChatter about her early career choices, history and myth, her new book on horses in Indian history and mythology and on distinctive approach to studying India, Hinduism, Sanskrit and texts. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second episode on the many histories of Qutb Minar carries shows how a good historian reads various sources of the past. It considers the ways in which Prof. Sunil Kumar had studied and interpreted the various sources which offer details about the Qutb complex. He shows, for instance, how the Hindu god Vishwakarma is present in these accounts or how the history of Qutb offers clues to the changing career of various Sufi shrines in Delhi. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, is often remembered only for his successful premiership during the 1965 Indo-Pak war and for his mysterious death while in the office soon after. This episode of HistoryChatter provides an account of his early life and political career instead. In recalling his family background, boyhood experiences, student life, and early life in politics, it explores how he had picked up the enduring values and political orientations which would characterize his leadership later in time. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do description of heritage monuments influence our sense of what is good or bad, or likable or avoidable, about various religious communities? This episode of HistoryChatter pays tribute to the scholarship of Sunil Kumar, who wrote at length about the many ways in which our present concerns influence our understanding of heritage monuments. Typically, as we shall see, all heritage monuments bear many histories, and yet at the present, we appear to celebrate only one of those histories. This episode offers a case study of this process, based on Kumar’s pioneering work on the Qutub Minar. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second episode of HistoryChatter Quick takes is about the lighter sides of the Second World War in India. It also highlights the ways in which plenty of public money would be wasted in paying for politician's whims and addictions. Sometimes, men would receive fully paid government jobs to make sure that major figures thousand of miles away were supplied with their favourite poison. Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What were the concerns before the founding fathers of the Indian constitution with regard to the question of the national language? Why does the language question in India open up a deeply felt divide between north and south India? What are the ways in which language and religion get mixed up in India?   The Hindi Diwas special edition of HistoryChatter asks these and several other questions related to the politics and policies around language in modern and contemporary India.   Hosted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay    Don't miss out on the latest time travel stories! Subscribe now to Historychatter to receive updates about the latest episodes.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at [email protected]. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization. The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state. Further, the show is not meant to defame/denigrate any person, community, organisation, institution, political party, politician, or any class of persons, gender, caste or religion, in any manner. The subject matter of this show may be sensitive in nature and hence listeners are advised to exercise discretion as appropriate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.