Unboxed — Unwrapping India’s Cultural Artefacts
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Kaise Bani re Kaise bani | The Story of Chutney Music
In this episode of Unboxed, Amit Basole speaks with Sharmadip Basu and Kalyani K, professors of social science at Azim Premji University, about a sound that crossed oceans and came back home — Chutney Music.
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Lightbulb Moment — The Dazzling Story Of Electric Lighting In India
In Unboxed — The Lightbulb in India, Sharmadip Basu and Proteep Mallik explore the story of electric lighting in India through the lenses of history, science, popular culture, and more. They are joined by guests Antara Das and Sunandan K.N. for an enriching and enlightening conversation. Listen to the episode on Radio Azim Premji University.
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Mango People — How The King Of Fruits Unites And Divides India’s Aam Janata!
The proverbial King Of Fruits unites and divides Indians equally. Whether you call it aam, mangai, aamra, or mango, just uttering the word can evoke a plethora of sensations and emotions. Presented by three die-hard mango aficionados, this slice of Unboxed is a juicy celebration of a fruit that embodies the essence of Indianness for the Aam Janata – the Mango People.
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The Harmonium In India | Part 2 — Equally Loved And Hated
Unboxing the second part of the story, Sharmadip Basu explains why some Indians hated the harmonium while many others loved it, why some banned it, and others patronised it. Listen to the second episode of our series, Unboxed.
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The Harmonium In India | Part 1 — Is It Really Indian?
Once scorned by purists as ‘harm-omnium’ and criticized by nationalists as an assault on the Indian musical ear, the harmonium has firmly entrenched itself in India’s musical landscape. Sharmadip Basu presents the first episode of an engaging two-part story of the harmonium’s journey in India. Listen to Unboxed, our series on the history and culture of quintessentially Indian objects and ideas.