PODCAST · history
Brown History Podcast
by Brown History
South Asia through the lens of South Asians
Episodes
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EP 76: The South Asian Diaspora on Indigenous Lands
North America looks the way it does today because European settlers took land that Indigenous peoples were already living on. They did this through unfair treaties, wars, forced removal, and taking land by force. Historians call this settler colonialism — when newcomers move in, push out the...
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EP 75: South Asians Are Facing A Modern Day Health Crisis
This episode could save your life! Across the world, South Asian communities are facing an alarming rise in heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and high blood pressure. And it's not just affecting older people. Young people who are fit, thin, and have no family history are showing no symptoms...
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EP 74: How Ancient India Ruled The World
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...
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EP 73: How Israel Sold 'Homeland Security' to India
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...
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EP 72: Deepa Mehta
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...
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EP 71: The Making of Indian-Occupied Kashmir
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...
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EP 70: Anglo-Indians
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...
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EP 69: Kani Kusruti
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...
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EP 68: Kerala and the Arab Gulf
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...
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EP 67: Fatima Farheen Mirza
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…
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EP 66: Pakistani Hindus
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,...
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EP 65: British Asians of the 1970s and 80s
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…
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EP 64: Afghan Refugees in Pakistan
In October, the government of Pakistan announced that it would expel all undocumented foreigners, including 1.7 million Afghans—one of the country's largest immigrant communities. This includes those who were born in, brought up, married, had children, and then they raised their families, all...
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EP 63: Sid Sriram
We sit with Indian-American musician, music producer, and songwriter Sid Sriram, who is currently one of the most popular playback singers in India and has recently released his English-language studio album, 'Sidharth'. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter:...
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EP 62: Christians of Kerala
In India, Christians account for about 2% to 3% of the population. However, in the state of Kerala, Christians make up a remarkable 18% to 19% of the total population. And among them, Syrian Christians play a significant role, representing almost half of Kerala's Christian population. Although…
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EP 61: The Rohingya
The Rohingya are widely recognized as one of the most persecuted and vulnerable communities in the world. They are a people that much of the world keeps forgetting. For centuries, they called Burma/Myanmar their home, but being victims of persecution as a result of ethnic cleansing and genocide,...
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EP 60: Asha Puthli
Asha Puthli is a living legend. A musical pioneer, fashion icon, Studio 54 star, feminist, actor, environmentalist, and friends with everyone from Andy Warhol to Mikhail Gorbachev. She is cited by the New York Times as having been an inspiration to Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder. As an actor...
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EP 59: Portuguese Goa
When we think of Goa, we usually think of beach parties, vacation, or that movie Dil Chahta Hai, but Goa was once the headquarters of the Portuguese empire in the East for 450 years. They were the first colonial powers in the subcontinent and the last ones to leave. The Portuguese brought a...
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EP 58: Saket Soni
In 2006, just after Hurrincan Katrina, hundreds of Indian workers were lured to the United States with false promises of a green card and forced to work under grueling working conditions at a shipyard in Mississippi. It would become one of the largest human trafficking schemes in U.S. history.…
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EP 57: Manoj Bajpayee
We sit with award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee, known for his roles in films like Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur, Aligarh, and the most recent, Gulmohar, as well as leading the running hit series, The Family Man. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter:...
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EP 56: Smriti Mundhra
We sit with Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra, creator of the hit Netflix series 'Indian Matchmaking' and the four part docu-series 'The Romantics.' Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron:...
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EP 55: Siddhartha Khosla
We sit with 6 time Emmy-nominated film and television composer, Siddhartha Khosla, lead singer of critically acclaimed band, Goldspot, and the man behind musical scores of hit shows like This Is Us and Only Murders in the Building, and his most recent film, Gulmohar. Visit our Shop:...
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EP 54: Israel and India
In 1948, when Israel declared itself as an independent state, it quickly sought for international recognition from other countries, including from a newly independent India. Nehru, who was Prime Minister then, was hesitant. Even Albert Einstein personally wrote to Nehru, requesting India's…
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EP 53: Caste in America
Did you know that a survey done in 2016 on caste in America revealed that one in three Dalits in the United States reported being discriminated against during their education? Did you know that same survey revealed that one out of four Dalits in America said they had faced verbal or physical...
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EP 52: Asif Kapadia
We sit with award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia, who works across both film and television, and has firmly established himself as one of the world's most popular and celebrated documentarians. His documentaries include Senna, Diego Maradona, and Amy which won Best Music Film at the Grammy Awards...
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EP 51: South India vs. North India
Take the average child born in South India and the average child born in North India; one will live a healthier, wealthier, more secure life than the other, all because of which side of the country they happened to be born and raised in. We sit with data scientist Nilakantan RS, author of 'SOUTH…
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EP 50: The Hijra under British Rule
We sit with Jessica Hinchy, author of 'Governing Gender and Sexuality in Colonial India', and discuss the Hijra community during colonial rule. When the British ruled the subcontinent, one of their preferred methods of control was classification; they grouped and categorized people, reducing them...
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EP 49: Sheila Chandra
We sit with British vocalist Sheila Chandra who first created waves in 1982 when she and her band, 'Monsoon,' reached number 12 in the UK charts with their single "Ever So Lonely." She was only around 16 years old at the time. The band split up and Chandra embarked on a solo career and released...
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EP 48: Opium and Colonialism
We sit with Thomas Manuel, author of 'Opium Inc.: How a Global Drug Trade Funded the British Empire,' and discuss the historic opium trade which unleased two wars, and ultimately shaped human history. Get the book: https://amzn.to/45AKtfX Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to...
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EP 47: Nisha Pahuja
We sit with award-winning Canadian documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja whose works include Diamond Road, The World Before Her, and her latest, To Kill A Tiger. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron:...
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EP 46: Vinay Shukla
We sit with filmmaker Vinay Shukla, director of the award-winning documentary 'An Insignificant Man', and his latest, 'While We Watched.' Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron:...
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EP 45: Nandita Das
We sit with filmmaker, actor, and social advocate Nandita Das and discuss her life, works, and her latest directorial film, 'Zwigato'. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron…
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EP 44: Blasphemy with Adeel Hussain
In today's episode, we sit with Adeel Hussain, author of 'Revenge, Politics and Blasphemy in Pakistan', and take a deep dive into the history of Blasphemy in South Asia, specifically Pakistan. We trace the history of blasphemy from colonial India to present times and look at how big of a role...
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EP 43: Descendants of Partition with Aanchal Malhotra
We sit with Aanchal Malhotra, author of 'In the Language of Remembering: The Inheritance of Partition,' and discuss how Partition is preserved and passed down through generations, and how the ramifications of Partition still spread and manifest within families, communities, and nations. Get the...
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EP 42: Satyajit Ray with Meenakshi Shedde
We sit with award-winning film critic Meenakshi Sheedi and discuss the life and works of legendary film director Satyajit Ray. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books...
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EP 41: Dur E Aziz Amna
We sit with writer Dur E Aziz Amna, author of her debut novel, 'American Fever,' and discuss her writing, her cross-cultural experiences and much more. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3RFANwc Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter…
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EP 40: Obeah and Hosay in the Caribbean with Aisha Khan
We sit with Aisha Khan, author of 'The Deepest Dye: Obeah, Hosay, and Race in the Atlantic World,' and discuss the religious practises of Obeah and Hosay in the Caribbean and dive into the concepts of identity and race. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3F0ISEa Visit our Shop:...
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EP 39: Mira Nair
We sit with world-renowned filmmaker Mira Nair. Her films include Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Mississippi Masala, and Salaam Bombay for which she was nominated for an Oscar. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a...
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EP 38: Kunal Nayyar
We sit with 'The Big Bang Theory' star Kunal Nayyar. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768
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EP 37: South Asian Ghost Stories with Azania Imtiaz Khatri-Patel
Ghost stories can reveal the fringes of our resentments and anxieties, the essence of our collective fears and hopes, and the things societies keeps repressed. On this episode, we sit with Azania Imtiaz Khatri-Patel and analzye the ghost stories from South Asia. Visit our Shop:...
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EP 36: Jinder Mahal
We sit with WWE former champion Jinder Mahal and discuss his wrestling journey as well as his recent acting debut on the TV series Big Sky. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron:...
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EP 35: Partition with Aanchal Malhotra
We sit with Aanchal Malhotra, author of 'Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided,' and discuss the Partition of 1947. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3EXVADF Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a...
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EP 34: Jai Wolf
We sit with Bangladeshi-American music producer Sajeeb Saha, known by his stage name, Jai Wolf. Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far:...
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EP 33: South Asian Storytellers with Pasha M. Khan
We sit with Pasha M. Khan, author of "The Broken Spell: Indian Storytelling and the Romance Genre in Persian and Urdu," and discuss traditional storytelling in South Asia. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3pdS7ti Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter:...
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EP 32: R.B. More with Anupama Rao
We sit with Anupama Rao, editor of "Memoirs of a Dalit Communist: The Many Worlds of R.B. More" and discuss the life and struggles of R.B. More, who was a leader in the Dalit movement, a trade unionist and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Get the book: https://amzn.to/3LC8qtx...
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EP 31: Eqbal Ahmad with Stuart Schaar
We sit with Stuart Schaar, author of "Eqbal Ahmad: Critical Outsider in a Turbulent Age," and discuss the life and works of Eqbal Ahmad. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3rHLDap Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a...
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EP 30: Muhammad Iqbal with Zirrar
We sit with Zirrar, author of "Ghazi and the Garden" and discuss the life and works of poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal. Get the book: https://zirrar.com/book/iqbal/ Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Become a patron:...
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EP 29: Kal Penn
We sit with actor Kal Penn, known for his roles in the 'Harold and Kumar' movies and 'The Namesake' and for his work as a White House staff member during the Barack Obama administration. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3PWzvvG Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our…
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EP 28: Anuk Arudpragasam
We sit with award-winning Sri Lankan Tamil novelist Anuk Arudpragasam, who was shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize for his second novel, A Passage North. Get the book: https://amzn.to/46dUaRs Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter:...
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EP 27: Race Science with Angela Saini
We sit with British science journalist Angela Saini, author of 'Superior: The Return of Race Science' and discuss the disturbing past and present of racism in science. Get the book: https://amzn.to/48ADogT Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Subscribe to our newsletter:...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Brown History Podcast have?
Brown History Podcast currently has 76 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Brown History Podcast about?
South Asia through the lens of South Asians
How often does Brown History Podcast release new episodes?
Brown History Podcast has 76 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Brown History Podcast?
You can listen to Brown History Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Brown History Podcast?
Brown History Podcast is created and hosted by Brown History.
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