Indian History from the Inside Out

​Indian history faces a myriad of challenges. In multiple South Asian nations, historical narratives have become a contentious arena, with claims of historical truths and authenticity often serving as tools for political maneuvering. Outside of the region, scholars struggle with archival access, reductions in academic freedom, and competing diasporic claims. Amid such modern-day tensions, how do we narrate premodern Indian history? What are the implications of claiming the right to speak about the South Asian past on the basis of academic expertise versus specific identity markers? And whose history do we consider “Indian” or “South Asian” anyways? Does and should our view of South Asian history change with our own locations and positionality, whether we are in the United States, Germany, or India?

​We are thrilled to welcome renowned historian Audrey Truschke (Rutgers University), who will explore these questions drawing from her recent book, “India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent”. Through reflections on caste, religion, nation, gender, and power, ‘Indian History from the Inside Out’ offers an invitation to see history not as a battleground of myths, but as a space for evidence, empathy, and reflection — a way to think about who we are today, and what we might yet become.

​Discussants: Rasika Ajotikar, Reyazul Haque

​Save your seat through the RSVP link in our bio

​Doors: 18:30 h

​Start: 19:00 h

​Come early and have a cup of chai with us too!