Trapped History trappedhistory

With its long tufted ears – sometimes mistaken for horns – the caracal is a precious animal. So precious in fact, that one particular animal was gifted to George II in 1759.
Ahead of next week's episode, Mishka Sinha, curator of the Untold Lives exhibition at Kensington Palace, gives Oswin and Carla an exclusive insight into the powers behind the throne.
So listen to this special bonus all about that very cat – confusingly named 'The Shah Goest' – and its keeper, Abdullah. And find out how the seemingly simple act of 'gifting' can have deep and far-reaching meanings.

We ask all our guests to nominate someone for the Trapped History Hall of Fame. Someone we've not heard of but should have.
In this Season Four opener, please meet Mishal Husain's nominee: Fatima Jinnah, known as Madr-e-Millat or 'Mother of the Nation', a woman who broke the rules and the barriers as Pakistan emerged from the chaos of Partition. She became the conscience of Pakistan, who as opposition leader and presidential candidate, constantly reminded people about the founding principles of the new nation.
It's a great introduction to our new season.

In an exclusive bonus, Mishal Husain tells us about the chance discovery of her grandfather Shahid's passport.
It may seem a small, insignificant thing, a old irrelevant document from another age. But Shahid's passport tells us so much more – about the past but also about the present and perhaps even the future. Because it declared this man born in Lucknow who had lived all his life in British India to be a 'British Subject By Birth'. So when he travelled to England in the 1930s, it was not as a tourist. Not as a foreigner. Not as an immigrant. But as a British man.
This was also the route taken by so many from the Caribbean in the 1940s and 1950s. They were coming 'home' as part of the so-called Windrush Generation and had no more need to prove their status than someone who lived in Tunbridge Wells or Greenock.
It's a fascinating listen – and if you've not had the chance to hear the full episode, head over to trappedhistory.com for more.

Mishal Husain joins Oswin and Carla for a truly special Season 4 opener, telling the tale of her family's journey through the stormy waters of Indian and Pakistani independence. It's a story of joy and freedom, but also one of fear, loss and terror.
Shahid, Tahirah, Mumtaz and Mary live through Empire, world war, independence and partition. They meet the people who will shape their future, men like Mountbatten and Jinnah - but they also find themselves unable to meet the people who really matter to them, the friends and family they grew up with but who end up on the other side of an embattled border.
It is a truly powerful episode, reminding us that we all have 'history' big and small within our grasp, within our family.

With Jeremy Corbyn announcing that he’s standing as an independent in the upcoming general election, we thought we should revisit his time in the Trapped History studio.
This all-new ‘director’s cut’ contains golden nuggets on the French and American Revolutions and on Charlotte’s campaigning for animal rights. It’s a real treat!
On top of that, the former leader of the Labour Party was really excited to be part of this episode – Charlotte is one of his all-time greats – and he tells us a thing or two about finding and losing tribes, how injustice can move people to great deeds, and how we all need a Charlotte to inspire us.
It’s a fascinating story so please join us for this wonderful repeat.

Guitars, light shows, psychedelia . . . Any idea who might unexpectedly be making their way into the Hall of Fame?
Tune in to hear Martin Gutmann's nominee. We guarantee you'll have heard of them before but not necessarily for Martin's reasons. It's a truly fascinating listen which might change the way you think about bands, friends and music.