Unboxed - Unpacking the cultural artefacts of India

Radio APU
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Unboxed by Radio Azim Premji University is a series of engaging conversations that explore the history and culture of quintessentially Indian objects and ideas, offering diverse perspectives. From the history of the harmonium to the mango in Indian culture and folklore, we unpack them from the boxes in which they have been conveniently placed, and visit them afresh. In our first season, Sharmadip Basu, who teaches history and social science at Azim Premji University, hosts lively discussions with guests who provide rich, interdisciplinary insights. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harshit Hillol Gogoi, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar Visit our website for a comprehensive list of resources and acknowledgements: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/unboxed-harmonium-india

Episodes

  1. How Bollywood Found a Caribbean Beat | The Untold Story of Chutney Music

    10/14/2025

    How Bollywood Found a Caribbean Beat | The Untold Story of Chutney Music

    What if that catchy Bollywood song you grew up humming wasn’t Bollywood at all? In this episode of Unboxed, Amit Basole is joined by Sharmadip Basu and Kalyani K from Azim Premji University to uncover the incredible story of Chutney Music — a genre born from migration, memory, and musical remixing. It begins in 1980s Bengal, where a young Sharmadip first hears Kaise Bani Phulouri Bina Chutney Kaise Bani — thinking it’s just another filmi tune. Years later, in an Indo-Caribbean neighbourhood in New York, he realises it’s actually by Sundar Popo, the father of Chutney Music. That revelation opens up an oceanic history — from indentured labourers (Girmitiyas) who sailed from Bihar and Awadh after 1835, to the birth of a new sound that blended Bhojpuri folk with Caribbean rhythm. Together, Amit, Sharmadip, and Kalyani trace how artists like Rasika Dindial (Lazy Man) and Drupatee Ramgoonai (Roll Up de Tassa) turned this hybrid sound into a stage for self-expression — where Hindi met Creole, and women found their voice in song. Watch now to explore how a tune travelled across oceans — and came back as Chutney Music, reshaping Bollywood, diaspora identity, and the very meaning of rhythm. Acknowledgements Lazy Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nNcIYinj0Y Electric Piya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHmNHM65LRQ Kaise bani: (Sundar Popo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnMSmWgoupc Kaise bani (Dabangg): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTPVQtNT10w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWbmcCA8efQ https://archive.org/details/calypso-Disc/05+New+York+Subway.wav https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22T_K_PrhC0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLUyN1AM28&list=PL6U9Qp4XYsx48qkYAt8ZFJpHtC6YSuCc1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q5KtrfPwNU&list=PL6U9Qp4XYsx48qkYAt8ZFJpHtC6YSuCc1&index=3 #ChutneyMusic #UnboxedPodcast #AzimPremjiUniversity #SundarPopo #KaiseBani #DrupateeRamgoonai #RasikaDindial #CaribbeanMusic #BhojpuriFolk #Soca #Calypso #DiasporaMusic #BollywoodMusic #IndianDiaspora #MigrationStories #Unboxed #AmitBasole #CulturalFusion #Girmitiyas

    42 min
  2. The Lightbulb in India

    03/25/2025

    The Lightbulb in India

    In Unboxed — The Lightbulb in India, Sharmadip Basu and Proteep Mallik explore the history, science, and legacy of electric lighting in India, joined by guests Antara Das and Sunandan K.N. The electric lightbulb transformed human life, replacing natural cycles of light and darkness and extending human productivity beyond the workday. Early innovations such as Humphry Davy’s arc light (1802) and Warren de la Rue’s platinum filament bulb (1840) were impractical. In 1879, Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan developed longer-lasting carbon filament bulbs. By 1906, tungsten filaments became the standard, and later, argon gas was introduced to extend bulb life. Electric lighting arrived in India in 1879. By 1889, Kolkata had streetlights, and by 1899, its first power station. Mumbai saw electric lighting in 1882, but tungsten filament bulbs became common only by 1923. The Roy brothers helped establish India’s lighting industry with Bengal Lamps. Don’t miss Sunandan’s personal story of electricity reaching his Kerala village in the 1970’s—with an ironic twist! Heard the term social jet-lag? Antara, professor of biology at Azim Premji University, warns about the effects of prolonged exposure to artificial lighting, which disrupts circadian rhythms and affects sleep and health. Ironically, the future of light may eventually lie in darkness. Dark Sky Reserves, such as India’s Hanle Reserve in Ladakh, aim to reduce light pollution and preserve natural nightscapes. Tune in to another illuminating episode of Unboxed and don’t forget to catch up on other episodes in the series. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, Vaishnavi Ramanujam, and Velu Shankar

    37 min
  3. Mango People

    07/21/2024

    Mango People

    Did you know that Indian Yellow, the pigment with which Vincent Van Gogh painted the luminous moon in his masterpiece Starry Night, was prepared from the dried urine of cows fed exclusively on mango leaves? Or that India, despite being the world’s largest producer of mangoes, exports less than 1% because Indians can never be done eating their produce? Or that we may be throwing away the most nutritious and medically valuable part of the mango — its seed? The mango is undeniably the king of fruits, evoking passions that span literature, diplomacy, botany, agriculture, and economics. It is a fruit that unites and divides us equally, as we discover in this luscious episode of Unboxed, featuring a trio of mango aficionados who agree to disagree on their favourite variety. Social science professor Sharmadip Basu swears proudly by West Bengal's GI-tagged Himsagar. Amit Basole, an economist from Mumbai who is passionate about Urdu poetry and Indian literature, is torn between the feted Alphonso and the evergreen Langra. Biology professor Divya Uma has a soft spot for Karnataka's rosy-red Raspuri. Eavesdrop on their lively discussion about the mango's cultural significance, ranging from ancient literature and religious stories to its nutritional benefits, and the startling reason why champing on a mango peel may give you an itchy mouth-rash. Discover why the mango’s political economy unfailingly makes headlines, and learn how this delicious summer fruit remains on our tables — and in our memories — year-round through various condiments and products. Whether you call it aam, mangai, aamra, or mango, just uttering the word can evoke a plethora of sensations and emotions. Seasoned with the voices of enthusiastic mango lovers from a bustling mango mandi in Bengaluru, this slice of Unboxed is a juicy celebration of a fruit that embodies the essence of India for India’s Aam Janata – the Mango People. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar For a comprehensive list of resources for further reading and exploration, visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/unboxed-harmonium-india

    45 min
  4. Part 2 - How Indian is the Harmonium?

    02/01/2024

    Part 2 - How Indian is the Harmonium?

    In the second part of "Unboxed - The Harmonium In India," host Sharmadip Basu details how the European-origin harmonium, adapted for Indian conditions, became a favoured instrument across genres. Despite its affordability, portability, and durability, nationalists criticised its foreign origins, and purists disapproved of its inability to handle microtones (shruti). Figures like Nehru, Gandhi, Tagore, and Coomaraswamy expressed their disdain, and eventually it was banned on All India Radio. Despite this, the harmonium flourished among the masses and gained acceptance among some Carnatic and Hindustani musicians. Frustrated by the ban, harmonium players staged a satirical funeral procession burying their instruments. The harmonium later returned to Indian airwaves and became a staple in musical genres among the diaspora. Listen to the full story on Ep 2 of "Unboxed - The Harmonium in India" on Radio Azim Premji University. Don’t miss the first episode of this series. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harshit Hillol Gogoi, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar For a full list of acknowledgements and resources for further exploration, visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/unboxed-harmonium-india

    19 min
  5. Part 1 - The Harmonium in India

    01/09/2024

    Part 1 - The Harmonium in India

    Growing up in West Bengal, Sharmadip Basu believed the harmonium, a common sight in the region’s middle-class households, was an Indian instrument. However, while reading Milan Kundera’s The Joke, he stumbled upon a mention of the harmonium in Moravian folk music, prompting him to delve into its origins. His findings fascinated him even more. The harmonium had arrived in India through Christian missionaries but was then adapted and embraced by musicians across various religious groups, being used in Brahmo Samaj hymns, Sikh kirtans, ghazals, bhajans, and more. Initially transformed by a Bengali instrument-maker to suit Indian conditions and playing styles, affordable versions flooded the market, gaining popularity among folk musicians. Despite criticism from nationalists, purists, and figures like Gandhi, Nehru, and Tagore, who disparaged its sound, the harmonium remained widely loved. Despite All India Radio banning it, its popularity endured. In the first part of our two-episode series on Radio Azim Premji University, explore the tale of how the harmonium took root in India and captured the hearts of Indians. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harshit Gogoi, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

    31 min
  6. Trailer | Unboxed - The Harmonium in India with Sharmadip Basu

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Trailer | Unboxed - The Harmonium in India with Sharmadip Basu

    The harmonium. So organic and familiar is its sound that few Indians would imagine that its origins lie outside their country. Yet, packed into its compact box-like shape is a fabled history that meanders from 19th century Europe to 20th century colonial India. An instrument invented — and patented — in Europe by a Frenchman, the harmonium was reinvented in colonial Calcutta by a Bengali instrument maker to suit Indian climatic conditions, musical playing styles, and affordability. While its sound drew congregations together, it equally irked nationalists and patriots who warned of its propensity to pollute the refined musical ear of Indians. Despite the opposition, the popularity of the harmonium spread like wildfire as it accompanied folk musicians of various persuasions across the country, and thereafter into the world as a cultural export with the Indian diaspora. Unpacking this fascinating tale for Radio Azim Premji University is Sharmadip Basu, who teaches history and social science at the university. We introduce our series Unboxed with the story of The Harmonium In India in two parts. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

    1 min

Trailer

About

Unboxed by Radio Azim Premji University is a series of engaging conversations that explore the history and culture of quintessentially Indian objects and ideas, offering diverse perspectives. From the history of the harmonium to the mango in Indian culture and folklore, we unpack them from the boxes in which they have been conveniently placed, and visit them afresh. In our first season, Sharmadip Basu, who teaches history and social science at Azim Premji University, hosts lively discussions with guests who provide rich, interdisciplinary insights. Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harshit Hillol Gogoi, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar Visit our website for a comprehensive list of resources and acknowledgements: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/unboxed-harmonium-india

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