Misrepresented: Recent Episodes
Kahaani
MISREPRESENTED tells stories that challenge the way we think about South Asia’s role in world history. Each episode begins with a story about a person, place, or thing that isn’t remembered correctly today. But we also tell the story of why that history got twisted or erased. So meta! So fun! Subscribe? Sublime!
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a project to put the world back in world history. Learn more at www.kahaani.io
It's the season finale, y'all! So it's time to investigate the history of the Desi diaspora's favorite symbol. Warning, it's not a warm, cozy story.
VISUALS
- The BBC investigation of an Assam plantation that you hear at the very end of the episode
- A map of Assam
GLOSSARY
- Pashmina: a Kashmiri shawl made of spun cashmere from the Changthangi goat
- Canton: known today as Guangzhou, Canton is a huge port city in China on the eastern bank of the Pearl River.
- Sharbat: a sweet cordial made from fruits or flowers, served cold.
MUSIC CREDITS
Wasn’t this episode a bop!? Check out the incredible artists:
- Charanjit Singh | Raga Bhairav
- Brain Drop I Brain Drop vs. Silent Horror
- FINGERGAP I 恭喜你
- Codec I Trap Bach
- Jamblu I Hypocrite Pt 1
- Aloo Gobi I Spicy
- Lifeform I Inert AI
DIG DEEPER
This episode covers 300 years, 3 commodities and 3 countries, so very understandable you wanna learn more. Here’s where to start:
- Andy Liu’s new book Tea War and Rolf Bauer’s new(ish) publication were in many ways the backbone of our research
- This NPR excerpt from Sarah Rose’s book on Robert Fortune’s tea theft is wild, captivating, and delicious
- Jayeeta Sharma provided a stunning analysis of how and why the British built a migrant workforce on the tea plantations of Assam in her paper “Lazy Natives”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- See the annotated transcript with citations and timestamps.
- Visit www.kahaani.io/misrepresented for free curriculum to help you use this podcast in your classroom.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
- Give $15 on our website or via Venmo (@kahaani)
- Follow us on INSTAGRAM or TWITTER !
- Sign up for our newsletter
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
A conversation with writer Manu Pillai about Episode 3, The Last* Hindu Empire. Topics covered include the similarities between Ukraine, Russia, and the Deccan Sultanates.
ABOUT MANU PILLAI
Manu S Pillai is the author of The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore, for which he won the 2016 Tata Lit Live Prize for best first work of non-fiction and the 2017 Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar.
He has written three other books since: Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji, The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin: Tales from Indian History, and most recently, False Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma.
Formerly Chief of Staff to Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, Manu has also worked at the House of Lords in Britain, with Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL, and with the BBC on their Incarnations history series.
Manu is an alumnus of Fergusson College, Pune, and is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate at King’s College London.
Follow him on Twitter @UnamPillai and on Instagram @WaatCoconut
VISUALS
- The painting Manu references
- A map showing the four states in discussion: Vijayanagara, Deccan Sultanates, Mughal Empire, and Persian (Safavid) Empire
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPT
Visit www.kahaani.io/hampi-footnotes for a transcript with timestamps.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Visit www.kahaani.io/misrepresented for free curriculum to help you use the MISREPRESENTED podcast in your classroom.
MUSIC CREDITS
- Arun Ramamurthy | Conception
- Drum ani Bass | King of Good Times
- pelle | Lizard Lunch
- Subh Saran | Slip
- Dolorblind | QQ
ABOUT THE PODCAST
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
How did a wealthy, cosmopolitan empire go from thriving to collapsing in a matter of days? This episode explores the many histories of the fall of the last Hindu Empire in South India.
VISUALS
- The Hampi bazaar that blew Niki’s mind
- A painting depicting the very moment that Rama Raya is beheaded!
- A map of the Vijayanagara and Deccan Sultanate territories
GLOSSARY
Deccan
The Deccan plateau is one of the most fertile regions in South Asia and has produced many major empires including the Pallavas, Chalukyas, and, later, the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Sultanate
An Islamic state or kingdom governed by a sultan, i.e., a king
Paan
A treat made out of areca nut and betel leaf
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPT
Visit www.kahaani.io/hampi to get an annotated transcript with citations and timestamps.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Visit www.kahaani.io/misrepresented for free curriculum to help you use this podcast in your classroom.
DIG DEEPER
This episode goes all into the micro. Read these sources to get a better understanding of the macro forces behind the fall of Hampi and the Vijayanagara Empire:
- Manu Pillai’s new book False Allies has a juicy chapter called Rebel Sultans that is a very quick, but very excellent read
- Richard Eaton’s India in the Persianate Age provides a thorough exploration of the social and political history of the Deccan
- Kathleen D Morrison and Mark T Lycett’s paper The Fall of Vijayanagara Reconsidered does exactly what you’d expect from its title.
MUSIC CREDITS
- Arun Ramamurthy | Conception
- Drum ani Bass | King of Good Times
- Sanjay Subrahmanyan | Carnatic Vocalizing
- pelle | Lizard Lunch
- Jayanthi Kumaresh | Carnatic Raga
- Subh Saran | Slip
- Dolorblind | QQ
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to Pradeep Aggarwal and Sarbajit Mitra for script review.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
Niki speaks with author John Zubrzycki about the Jaipur royal family and Jai Singh’s penchant for astronomy. We also share a cut scene detailing a Maharaja’s secret affair with the British.
This is an addendum to episode 2, The Myth of the Pink City.
Visit our website for an annotated transcript
GLOSSARY
- Marathas: The Marathas were an amalgamation of clans all originating from modern day Maharashtra. They gained prominence during the decline of the Mughal Empire, and eventually carved out the Maratha Confederacy, becoming one of the last major native powers before British colonialism.
- Vakeel: Originally an agent or representative with political and/or legal power, the term Vakeel is used in modern parlance to refer to an official pleader in a court of justice in South Asia. The term originates from Persian.
PODCASTS MENTIONED
- Sufficiently Black
- Many Roads Travelled
MUSIC CREDITS
- MALFNKTN | Roaches
- Mausam Poorvanuman | Bardte Kram Mein and Jal Prapaat
- Rajastani Jagalbandi | https://www.natyasutraonline.com/music/folk/invis/rajasthani-jugalbandhi
- Mozart | Marriage of Figaro
DIG DEEPER
- Learn about how Diya Kumari recently leveraged the myth of royal lineage in this Indian Express article.
- Listen to Jon Wilson’s full talk about his book The Chaos of Empire, which cuts through all the heavy colonial nostalgia and Kipling-isms to bring out a true portrait of British rule in India.
- Read John Zubrzycki’s book The House of Jaipur for a modern history of the Jaipur Royals.
- Look at the Vrihat Samrat Yantra, the largest gnomon sundial in the world, at the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.
SPECIAL THANKS
- John Zubrzycki
- Shitiga Rajan
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
In order to make more episodes, we need your friends, your time and/or your money. Go to www.kahaani.io/misrepresented to help us out!
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
Niki speaks with historian Manu Bhagavan about Sayajirao Gaekwar III and the Durbar Incident.
PS This is an addendum to episode one, so be sure to listen to "The Durbar Incident" first.
PPS Manu Bhagavan's name is pronounced Muh-noo Bug-uh-vun
VISUALS
- The Gaumont Company’s clip in which the Maharaja of Mysore is wrongly identified as the Gaekwar of Baroda. (2:28 onwards)
- A colorized version of a clip which shows Sayajirao paying his respects to the British monarchs.
GLOSSARY
- Secretary of State for India - A British cabinet rank position, the Secretary of State for India was the political head of the India Office and was responsible for the governance of British India. The position was established after the East India Company transferred its governing rights to the British government in 1858.
- India House (England) - A student residence established to house Indian students in London, India House soon became a hotbed for revolutionary politics and actively promoted nationalistic views amongst Indian students in Britain. In 1909 the activities of the house were suppressed after a member of the house, Madan Lal Dhingra, assassinated Sir WH Wyllie.
- British Resident - Appointed by the British Government, the Resident was the chief political and diplomatic representative of Britain in a princely state/group of princely states. The amount of influence they wielded varied depending on the local circumstances; at times they would even become the de facto political dispensation.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
High school and middle school history teachers can visit Kahaani’s website for a free teacher’s guide related to the Durbar Incident episode. Included are a quiz, discussion questions, and answer keys.
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
A story about how fiction becomes fact involving scheming poets, an enterprising beauty queen, and a Guinness World Record. Plus, a conspiracy theory about a powerful dynasty!
VISUALS
- Definitive proof that the city was pink long before British arrival, i.e., a painting from the 18th century
- A painting depicting a procession with the Maharaja of Jaipur and Prince of Wales in 1876
- A clip of Gayatri Devi sharing her sharp opinions on Indira Gandhi during her 1967 campaign.
GLOSSARY
- Prince of Wales: A title usually granted to the heir apparent of the British throne. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the Prince of Wales was Albert Edward—the future Edward VII— who visited India in 1875-76.
- Treaty of Alliance (Subsidiary Alliance): An agreement undertaken between native India states and the East India Company/British Government. The alliance would usually entail surrendering the control of their defence and foreign policy to the British in return for protection...and their guaranteed existence.
- Sepoy: A term used for native soldiers serving in the British East India Company (and then British Empire). The term is Persian in origin, and it was initially used by the Mughal Empire to refer to all infantry soldiers.
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPT
Visit www.kahaani.io/pink-city to get an annotated transcript with citations and timestamps.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Download a free teacher’s guide with activities and rubrics designed for high school history classes at
DIG DEEPER
Still reeling from the rich, colorful, and controversial history of Jaipur and its royals? Here are a few sources to pull you further down the Jaipur rabbit hole:
- Giles Tilotson’s Jaipur Nama weaves a deft narrative about the city’s history, culture, and the quirky characters that have populated its many periods.
- Gayatri Devi’s autobiography “A Princess Remembers” to get a first-person account of the transition from a princely India to a republic. This is where we found all of her juicy quotes about the private plane and such.
- John Zubrzykcki’s book The House of Jaipur to dive deeper into the modern history of the Jaipur Royals.
MUSIC CREDITS
- MALFNKTN | Roaches
- Yasuke Mazda | Tabla With 8-Bit
- Nickodemus & Maharaj Trio | Southern Magnolia
- Rajastani Jagalbandi | https://www.natyasutraonline.com/music/folk/invis/rajasthani-jugalbandhi
- Victor Orchestra | Hearts and Flowers
- Mausam Poorvanuman | Bardte Kram Mein and Jal Prapaat
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to Namrata Kolachalam and Meghna Rao for script review, and our voice actors Ashiq Rahiman and Shruti. And finally our lovely listeners who jumped on a call to tell us just how pink the Pink City is:
- Tanya George
- Sumit Vaswani
- Aditi Koomar
- Niteesha Tolani
- Kavita K. D.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
In order to make more episodes, we need your friends, your time and/or your money. Go to www.kahaani.io/misrepresented to help us out!
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
In 1911, the British Raj hosted a party that became the site of a huge international scandal. The premiere episode of MISREPRESENTED investigates: was the incident an act of resistance…or a simple mistake?
MUSIC CREDITS (in order of appearance)
- Slow Down by Akrti
- Without You by Kumail
- Gotta Be by Sickflip
- Class Sikh Maut Vol II by Prabhe Deep, Seedhe Maut & Sez on the Beat
- Dilli Darshan by GHZI PUR
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPT
Visit www.kahaani.io/durbar-incident to view an annotated transcript with timestamps.
VISUALS
- A photo of the sparkly, sparkly crown
- Footage from the 1911 Delhi Durbar
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Are you a teacher that wants to use this episode in your history classroom? Go to www.kahaani.io/durbar-incident to download a free teacher’s guide with discussion questions and extension activities.
LEARN MORE
We get it, you are now fascinated by all things Delhi Durbar and deconstructing Empire. Here is where you should start:
- Julie Codell’s essay “On the Delhi Coronation Durbars, 1877, 1903, 1911.”
- Chapter 4 in Manu Pillai’s latest book False Allies: India’s Maharajas in the Age of Raja Ravi Verma
- Manu Bhagavan’s article “Demystifying the Ideal Progreassive: Resistance through Mimicked Modernity”
SPECIAL THANKS
- Diane Bouis
- Harry Giffin
- Meghna Rao
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
MISREPRESENTED is produced by Kahaani, a media organization that tells stories to widen the historical narrative.
In order to make more episodes, we need your friends, your time and/or your money. Click here to help us out.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
Why a group of Americans made a podcast about South Asian history.
First episode drops November 18 - subscribe so that you can listen as soon as it's out
For more information, visit www.kahaani.io/misrepresented