Manu Pillai on The Many Histories of India and The Ideas That Shaped Us | SparX by Mukesh Bansal

In our own subjectivities, we forget that India has never been a cohesive idea, always ebbing and flowing through changing politics, fallen rulers, and mobile territories. So, how did India, in all its diversities, amalgamations, and differences, become what it is today?

This month, we dive into India’s history. In a four-part Series, we immerse ourselves in the complex net of human experiences that has shaped our world today. Manu Pillai, a best selling writer and one of India’s leading voices on historical academia, joins us for an intimate and thought provoking conversation. For every history buff out there, you don't want to miss out on this!

00:00:00 - 00:01:03 Intro
00:01:04 - 00:08:33 Manu’s interest in history turning into a profession
00:08:34 - 00:13:24 Truth about History
00:13:25 - 00:22:12 Importance of knowing your history
00:22:13 - 00:32:20 Understanding historical figures
00:32:21 - 00:42:26 Credibility in academia
00:42:27 - 00:54:37 Indian diversity
00:54:38 - 01:07:36 Rise of cultural nationalism
01:07:37 - 01:14:50 Key historical figures in India
01:14:51 - 01:21:18 Princely states during the British rule
01:21:19 - 01:32:21 Ideas that shaped India
01:32:22 - 01:33:07 Closing

About SparX by Mukesh Bansal

SparX is a podcast where we delve into the cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth.
We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us.

This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you.

Follow us on Instagram: @sparxbymukeshbansal
You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms

[vidyacherian]

Listening to Manu is like listening to an Audio book.He adds so many anecdotes which makes it so interesting!!!

[minerva]

Huge fan of Manu. I can keep hearing his wisdom, casually he gives so many fascinating facts

[vishnupaladugu]

Good to hear Manu on the various aspects.
It is the Earth's own consciousness which drives human nature & their evolution.
Human beings acquire love & pride from Earth wherever born & grow.Thus we see the fierce attachment to his land & self esteem displayed across the World, be it an Eskimo or Zulu or a Mizo.
Any hegemony trying to build largeness or empire of choice by bundling can only brood sorrow for most humans involved.
The geological wealth underlying geography is under pursuit today by the vested.

[KrishnaKumarGreenPepper]

5 things from the video:

History is not static, but constantly changing.
Our present is shaped by the choices made in the past.
Studying history can help us understand ourselves and our place in the world.
There are challenges to studying and writing history in India, but it is still an important subject.
Young people should be curious about history and ask questions about the past.

[tajank]

Hi Mukesh Bansal: The discussions and conversations with Manu Pillai on India's past history and the impact of decisions made on the present and future have been very interesting, engaging and insightful. It would be wonderful to document some of the key learnings, recommendations and suggestions that have come out of the interactions for sharing with your listeners. They could then internalize them or socialize them to influence change. This is Tajan Kenkre. I worked with you at Newscale many years ago.

[sruthimurali]

I did not want the podcast to stop. Amazing content! Thank you for having this conversation with my favourite author! ❤

[vidurrajwat-owcdiiu]

This is wonderful quite different perspective !!

[jijibj]

Wow.. what an amazing conversation. It’s so easy to read and listen to Manu. Thankyou

[sreejar]

Thank you for a wonderful conversation. Learned so much from it. Its always amazing to listen to Manu. Very rarely you find someone with such knowledge and articulation skills. The way he gives examples to explain a point and the promptness with which he answers the questions is simply awesome.

[EldhoseJoseph]

Amazing conversation. I was good at history in my school (though my primary interest is science and have career in science), and what made me like history is the story narrative of past and it's relevance to the world of today, and not just listical of events and dates.. Even though school education was focused on latter...
I could visualize the history as story and study it as a movie rolling with characters, fights, discoveries, trade, kingdom and empires rise and fall and the global impact.

And good thing was smart classes were started to be introduced in our schools, so we were shown chapter videos as an animated story videos. So it added to my visualization....

And history is very lucrative if one position it right in economics. Example history of science can help immensely understand the common trajectory of what works and what doesn't, what's the fundamental assumption etc....


I believe every subject if taught correctly with relevance to present and future, it will entice many students to enter into this subject and will help the humanity as a whole with implications on whole world.

Also, as a fellow malayali, ❤to see a malayali making a mark in history... Good regards 👍

[OmPaik-bc]

I agree on. Southern india being dakhan but you said punjab and bangal and other places were something else but not hindustan....and this I don't agree.... So let's take an example of punjab.... Guru nanak was from Punjab and there was no name like punjab at the time of mr guru nanak... And guru nanak and babar were from same time... So when babar come he even specially written that hindustan starts from indus river... And that times many places were called Hindustan which yoh mention as non..

[ankitgupta]

Sir please let us know if there is a public way to help and contribute towards historic data digitisation as india is moving towards this if this can be taken care it will be a great initiative. ❤

[ayushmishra]

Your each episode is equivalent to a book
Thanks for providing us a quality content in the era where cringe content is on the top.

[vijaygopal]

Interviewer has great sensibility and good language but the most strange accent I have heard 🤔😀( you know)...Manu S Pillai, I can go on and on listening...

[adamayatomar]

amazing conversation! loved the nuances of remembering historical figures brought up by Manu

[sureshlaxman]

Amazing insightful conversation...thanks

[sankarankarakad]

History can mislead people but historian can rewrite his story.

[AlokBahuguna-gh]

At last a rational historian.The others were getting us off history as they have managed with religion.

[Aashwindeka]

Great content and great conversation! Learned a ton!

[FunkySeargent]

I wish there was a list of books mentioned throughout the podcast... like in the pinned comment or perhaps in the description, would be really helpful. Great video though..
Thank you
( ＾ω＾ )