In today’s episode of Masala Trails, we explore the fusion based music platform Coke Studio- its inception, significance, and reception. Coke Studio has brought a social movement in the realm of music industry by fusing the global and the local. It also appeals deeply to the emotional sensibilities of the South Asian populace.

In this episode, Dr. Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst delves into how Indian Muslims were portrayed, perceived, and essentialised after the Revolt of 1857. She argues that it is not enough to merely view the Great Rebellion through the lens of political or military history, as both its origins and impacts have been commonly explained in terms of religion. Dr. Morgenstein Fuerst explains how the Rebellion has been discursively constructed as a series of actions associated with or influenced by religion, particularly Islam, and specifically connected to the concept of jihad. She argues that this pivotal moment in Indian history continues to have an enduring influence, and despite its prominent position in historical accounts, the role of the Rebellion in facilitating the development of a categorical, racialized, and minoritized definition of Muslims, has not been adequately explored.

Join us as we embark on this captivating journey, where we bridge the gap between academia and public discourse, shedding light on the history, implications, and significance of caste in South Asia. We invite you to engage with us on social media, share your thoughts and experiences, and join the conversation. You can write to us on ⁠[email protected]⁠ . Your support is invaluable, so please consider leaving a review or feedback for us.

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Website : ⁠www.ergostudios.net⁠

Insta : @ergo_studios Twitter: @ergo_studios

Support Masala Trails: If you enjoy our podcast and would like to support us, you can buy us a virtual coffee through our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page. Your contribution directly fuels the production and growth of Ergo Studios, Join us on this intellectual journey by visiting ⁠https://bmc.link/MasalaTrails⁠ and show your support today!

Produced By Ergo Studios

Hosted By Saniya Ahmad

Production and Edited by Abhay

In this episode, we talk to Dr Uther Charlton-Stevens to discuss the themes of his book ‘Anglo India and the End of Empire’. Drawing from Uther’s expertise, the episode explores the complex identities of Anglo-Indians in colonial India, the impact of the political decisions of the British on their lives, their interaction with different phases of the nationalist movements and the social complexities of the Indian and European societies that contributed to shaping the Anglo-Indian community.

Uther Charlton-Stevens is a lecturer at the Department of History, University of Hong Kong, teaching courses on the British Empire and the Second World War. His latest book – Anglo-India and the End of Empire – is available directly from Hurst Publishers, UK, and Oxford University Press, USA, and from Amazon. A Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, Charlton-Stevens’ first book - Anglo-Indians and Minority Politics in South Asia - was published as part of the Royal Asiatic Society Books series by Routledge, UK, and is now available in paperback. Charlton-Stevens earned his doctorate from the University of Oxford, where he read Modern History as an undergraduate. Having begun his research on military technology transfers between Europe and Asia during his Master’s in Global History at the London School of Economics, his historical writing has since focused on his father's community of ‘mixed-race’ Anglo-Indians in colonial India and Burma (modern Myanmar), and similar groups of Eurasians in other former British colonies in Asia, including Singapore and his own hometown of Hong Kong.

Join us as we embark on this captivating journey, where we bridge the gap between academia and public discourse, shedding light on the history, implications, and significance of caste in South Asia. We invite you to engage with us on social media, share your thoughts and experiences, and join the conversation. You can write to us on ⁠[email protected]⁠ . Your support is invaluable, so please consider leaving a review or feedback for us.

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Website : ⁠www.ergostudios.net⁠

Insta : @ergo_studios Twitter: @ergo_studios

Support Masala Trails: If you enjoy our podcast and would like to support us, you can buy us a virtual coffee through our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page. Your contribution directly fuels the production and growth of Ergo Studios, Join us on this intellectual journey by visiting ⁠https://bmc.link/MasalaTrails⁠ and show your support today!

Produced By Ergo Studios

Hosted By Ritika Chauhan

Production and edited by Abhay

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating research of Dr. Divya, whose focus lies on the 18th-century Western Rajasthan. Join us as we explore the history of caste, its implications, and its significance in today's South Asia. Dr. Divya's research takes us on a journey through time, exploring the reconstitution of Hindu identity in relation to caste terms and practices of untouchability. Her study reveals the significant role played by merchants in reshaping Hindu identity and imposing caste ideals as universal markers. We delve into the segregation of spaces, such as access to water and temple spaces, which further solidified caste divisions. Dr. Divya's research also sheds light on the inclusion of Muslims and untouchables in historical records, offering valuable insights into the complexities of caste dynamics. Beyond its historical significance, caste continues to be a central force that shapes society and creates divisions in present-day India. Dr. Divya's research holds contemporary relevance, helping us understand the ongoing issues surrounding caste and its impact on society.

You can find Dr Cherian here : ⁠https://history.princeton.edu/people/divya-cherian⁠

and her book here : ⁠https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520390058/merchants-of-virtue⁠

Recommended Readings :

1) Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion: 1770–1870 By C A Bayly

2) Community and Public Culture: The Marwaris in Calcutta, C. 1897-1997 By ⁠Anne Hardgrov⁠

3) Pogrom in Gujarat: Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Violence in India : By ⁠Parvis Ghassem-Fachandi⁠

4) Caste Matters : By ⁠Suraj Yengde⁠

Join us as we embark on this captivating journey, where we bridge the gap between academia and public discourse, shedding light on the history, implications, and significance of caste in South Asia. We invite you to engage with us on social media, share your thoughts and experiences, and join the conversation. You can write to us on ⁠[email protected]⁠ Your support is invaluable, so please consider leaving a review or feedback for us.

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Website : ⁠www.ergostudios.net⁠

Insta : @ergo_studios Twitter: @ergo_studios

Support Masala Trails: If you enjoy our podcast and would like to support us, you can buy us a virtual coffee through our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page. Your contribution directly fuels the production and growth of Ergo Studios, Join us on this intellectual journey by visiting ⁠https://bmc.link/MasalaTrails⁠ and show your support today!

Produced By Ergo Studios

Hosted By Omer Haq

Production and edited by Abhay