The Indian Podcast The Indian Podcast

Mark Twain once said, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." Banaras which is called by different names such as Kashi and Varanasi is said to be a timeless city. It is also called Avimuktaka, the sacred space never to be forsaken by Shiva. It is believed to be the original ground created by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Those who die here are guaranteed liberation from the repeated cycle of birth and death. Manikarnika which is the chief burning ghat on the Ganges bank in Banaras is never to be without a body burning on the pyre. It is said to be every Hindu’s duty to make sure Manikarnika never goes idle! Considered to be one the holiest Hindu cities, this town breathes divine bliss. And today on the Indian Podcast, we will be talking about the living history of Banaras which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world with Ms. Pooja Sodhi, who is a seasoned marketing professional and a blogger. She has been studying Indian traditions and is a culture enthusiast and writes about them on her blog poojasodhi.com

I’m sure most of you must have heard of Zardozi embroidery. Today this craft has become a mainstay in couture and bridal costumery and can be afforded by many. But there was a time when only the kings and the royals could adorn garments embroidered in Zardozi as it was made using fine gold, silver and precious stones. This magnificent art of metallic embellishment on fabrics added glitter, glamour, opulence and power to their wardrobe. Though this craft was prevalent in India even in ancient times but Zardoz as a class of artisans along with other artisans came to India only in the twelfth century along with the sultanate conquerors. And by the Mughal period, this craft reached its zenith. There were many times this craft lost its patronage and that led to its decline but it always found patronage somewhere else and again became popular. In this episode, listen to Dr. Charu Smita Gupta talking about the historical development of Zardozi in India and how it’s material was transformed over time to make it affordable for the common man. Dr. Charu Smita Gupta is an anthropologist and museologist with a diverse professional experience in the field of cultural traditions of India. She has also written several books including one on our todays topic - 'Zardozi Glittering Gold Embroidery'.

The Harappan Civilization is a culture wrapped in a shroud of mystery.
Who were the Harappans? What language did they speak? How urbanised was the Harappan civilization? How did it decline? In this episode, listen to Prof. I.S. Marwah talking about the marvels and mysteries of the Indus Valley Civilization. He is a social anthropologist who has a vast experience of almost 5 decades in studying a number of tribal and agrarian communities in India and abroad. He has taught at the University of Delhi in the Department of Anthropology. He is also interested in studying ancient civilizations such as the Mayan civilization in Mexico and the Harappan Civilization in India.

India’s fascination with the Rolls Royce goes back to the days of the Maharajas. Did you know the very first Rolls Royce bought by an Indian Maharaja was the ‘Pearl of the East? It was bought by the Maharaja of Mysore after he saw the car in the Bombay-Kolhapur Motor Trial in 1908. Why was India such an important market for Rolls Royce? What kind of specific body styles people in India asked for when they bought a Rolls Royce? Was it ever used as a garbage collection vehicle in India by a Maharaja? Also why in the post independent era, hardly any Rolls Royce were bought and imported in India? To answer these and many more questions, listen to Mr. Gautam Sen who is a leading automotive consultant and an authority of historic vehicles. He has written several books including a book chronicling the life of a very special Rolls - 17EX.