(www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week, set sail across the ocean with Indian merchants. We follow the Chinese monk Faxian as he crosses Gupta North India. We see the rituals of sea travelers, sample the sights and sounds of the great port of ancient East India, see the biggest and smallest of Indian ships, endure wrecks, strandings, and many more trials. Not all of our fellow travelers will come out alive. But Faxian will eventually make it back to China. Listen, and hear his the end of his story. [Special credit to musicians and singers to follow in next episode].

3.T By sea

A light weekly podcast covering the history of India, from 6th century B.C.  Enjoying the podcast? Please consider donating to the Snehal Sidhu Memorial Fund (http://tinyurl.com/prkvwll)

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

The Pallava Empire is sliding into anarchy. All its hopes are pinned on a twelve year old boy from Cambodia. We follow his winding path to power. Also in this episode: the origin story of a poet-saint, some brutal medieval punishment, and an elephant hat. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh

6.2 Tale of two princes: Dantidurga and Nandivarman

A young prince rises to found an empire. We tell the story of his rise in three ritual baths. Also in this episode: how running a medieval Indian court is like writing an essay, the most imperial of all imperial banners, and death himself dies. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh

6.1 Ascending the peak: Dantidurga and the founding of the Rashtrakuta empire

What was life like in the heart of the Chaulkiya empire? How did they survive in such a dry environment? How was the city defended? In this episode, we chat with Dr Hemanth Kadambi about stone horse hurdles, his youthful misadventures, must-see places if you visit Badami, and how the sacred survives the test of time.

5.E By the dry heart of empire

**Special episode on the current crisis** People are stranded all across India. They left to find work. Now the lockdown has come, they are out of work, out of money and out of food. We get to talk to Anushka and Nithya who are chatting to these workers every day, and hear some of their stories. They work for SWAN - the stranded workers action network. They can help you give money to stranded workers directly here:  You can get more facts and figures here:  or search twitter for @strandedworkers History returns in the next episode.

5.D Workers stranded by the lockdown

(www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week we chat to comic book author, novelist and fellow fan of the Chaulkiya period Dr. Shalini Srinivasan about the book she's been writing set in the Chaulkiyan empire. She tells us about how comic books get made, we share our favourite parts of the ruins, and I learn about how and why she writes. [Patchy audio quality in places]

3.T By sea

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