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History

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The undergraduate programme in History at Azim Premji University brings together a committed and critical engagement with the myriad pasts of the peoples of the Indian subcontinent alongside a vision of transformative social change via education. The approach to studying history within such a framework cannot be top down. It is something that can only be achieved in and through inclusive collaboration. Hence, the History programme seeks to work with a socioeconomically and culturally diverse student body, one that bears rich potential for doing history collaboratively and meaningfully, in a manner that contributes towards the building of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society

The History curriculum aims to develop certain core, discipline-specific competencies as well as advance foundational skills and capacities in our students. The former includes gaining familiarity with different kinds of archives and primary sources; engagement with social and collective memory; understanding the nature of the relationship between the present and the past; exposure to different fields of enquiry within the discipline, as well as to other kindred disciplines; and, opportunities for practicing history through a variety of methods — from archaeology to oral history. Overall, the History programme aims to engender an understanding of the past that is not fettered by competitive civilisational claims. Instead, we seek to foster in our students a deep understanding and appreciation of macro- and micro-historical processes that shape peoples’ lives in concrete social contexts over time. 

Complementing this is the Common Curriculum that History shares with all other undergraduate programmes in the university. Besides exposing students to a wide-ranging engagement with India’s present, pasts, and possible futures from an interdisciplinary perspective, this aspect of the curriculum bolsters the aims of the History programme by enhancing students’ abilities to read texts and contexts carefully, critically, and imaginatively; write cogently in different genres and across different platforms, including digital ones; and, reason and dialogue publicly and civilly, while engaging with a multiplicity of viewpoints. We believe that such a broad-based approach to undergraduate education will enable our students to not only pursue higher education in History and allied humanities and social science disciplines, but also equip them to explore a range of employment opportunities. 

We invite interested high-school students from all over India to apply to our programme. We especially encourage applications from students belonging to historically marginalised and economically disadvantaged social groups and communities.

Activities and Events

2025 – 2026

  • Film Haider

    On 13 August 2025, ​“Haider,” a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, was screened by the History Club. An adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set in 1990s Kashmir, the film follows a story of family, loss, and difficult choices, inviting viewers to reflect on what freedom can mean in everyday life — not only for a nation, but for individuals navigating complex personal and moral situations. 

  • Film The Indigo Factory

    The History Club hosted a screening of The Indigo Factory by Sashi Sivramkrishna on 3 September 2025, followed by a short Q&A session with the director. The film traces the history of indigo-making in India, moving from artisanal practices to its transformation under colonial rule into factory-based production. By exploring the craft, labour, and historical shifts surrounding indigo, the screening highlighted the enduring legacy of a dye that has shaped both industry and everyday life. 

  • Heritage Walk Bhoganandishwara Temple

    The History Club conducted a Heritage Walk on 21 February, beginning with an early morning departure from the Main Gate and travelling to Bhoganandishwara Temple. Led by Professor Sarada Natarajan along with student coordinators Aadya Indira and Pranathi Paidimarry, and joined by faculty members, the walk offered participants an immersive exploration of the site’s historical and architectural features. The day-long programme included guided discussions and a shared lunch, with the group returning by evening after completing the walk. 

  • Talk Kalpana Karunakaran

    The History Club hosted a book talk by Kalpana Karunakaran on her work, A Woman of No Consequence: Memory, Letters and Resistance in Madras, on 8th April 2026. Drawing on letters, semi-autobiographical stories, and a long-running autobiography, the talk highlighted themes of intimacy, intellectual aspiration, and quiet resistance, situating one woman’s life within the broader social and historical shifts of a newly independent nation. 

  • On 16th August 2024, the History Club hosted a discussion with V. Selvakumar, Head of the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology at Tamil University. The session offered participants an accessible introduction to the work of archaeologists, with insights into methods, field practices, and the study of maritime pasts, providing a closer look at how archaeological research brings history to light. 
     
  •  As part of its Labour History film screening series, the History Club hosted a screening of The Salt of the Earth on 23 September 2024, directed by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. The documentary follows the life and work of Sebastião Salgado, tracing his journeys across the world and his engagement with marginalized communities, while reflecting on themes of labour, displacement, and survival. 
     
  • Marking 30 September 2024, the History Club held a talk by Sharmadip Basu, ​“Remembering Bhagat Singh,” which revisited the life and ideas of Bhagat Singh beyond his role as a martyr. The session focused on his intellectual and philosophical reflections during his prison years, with particular attention to Why I Am an Atheist, encouraging participants to engage with his writings on religion, rationality, and the meaning of life. 
     
  • As part of its Labour History film screening series, the History Club hosted a screening of Kaala Patthar on 7 November 2024, directed by Yash Chopra. Featuring Amitabh Bachchan as a coal miner, the film extends his ​“angry young man” persona and working-class hero image, foregrounding themes of labour, risk, and solidarity within the idiom of popular Hindi cinema. 
     
  • On 23 February 2025, the History Club conducted ​“Labyrinths of Lalbagh: Exploring the Past,” its first heritage walk at Lalbagh Botanical Garden. The walk explored the cultural, historical, and architectural layers of the garden, tracing its origins under Hyder Ali in the eighteenth century and examining questions around its name and design. Participants engaged with lesser-known architectural features while reflecting on its connections to the Charbagh, opening up broader discussions on landscape, symbolism, and memory. 
     
  • Focusing on questions of memory and urban history, the History Club hosted a screening of In a Shadowless Town by Gouri Patwardhan on 13 March 2025. The film examines dominant narratives of Pune that foreground Brahmin sites and actors while overlooking non-Brahmin, especially Dalit, contributions to the city’s history, prompting discussion on how subaltern perspectives reshape established accounts. 
     
  • In collaboration with the Celluloid Film Club, the History Club hosted a screening of Ek Inquilab Aur Aaya by Uma Chakravarti on 24 March 2025, followed by a discussion with the director. The documentary explores the lives, ambitions, and constraints of women in an orthodox Muslim household in early twentieth-century Lucknow. 
     
  • A talk by Anne Murphy of University of British Columbia on ​“Historicizing Caste in Eighteenth-Century Punjab” was hosted by the History Club. Focusing on Heer by Waris Shah, the session explored how ideas of caste and social hierarchy are represented and questioned within the context of eighteenth-century Punjab. 
  • The Celluloid Film Club and the History Club hosted a screening of Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa on 20 September 2023. Set in Heian-era Japan, the film presents four conflicting yet plausible accounts of a samurai’s murder, prompting discussion on perspective, memory, and the nature of truth. 
     
  • To mark the 104th anniversary of World War I, the History Club hosted a screening of All Quiet on the Western Front on 11 November 2023, adapted from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque. The film offered a stark portrayal of the experiences of soldiers during the war, prompting reflection on conflict, memory, and its human consequences. 
     
  • The History Club conducted a History Lab on 22 January 2024, coinciding with the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The session examined multiple perspectives on the temple, including the historical conflict, the legal judgement, and varied interpretations of the Ramayana, creating space for informed discussion on history, representation, and memory. 
     
  • The History Club organized Hoysala Week from 5 – 9 February 2024, a series of events introducing participants to the history and legacy of the Hoysala dynasty. The programme included a photo exhibition highlighting lesser-known Hoysala stories, student-led talks, and a screening of Amarashilpi Jakkanachari. Guest lectures by Professor Sarada Natarajan and Meera Iyer from INTACH further enriched discussions on art, architecture, and historical interpretation. 
     
  • The History Club hosted a talk by Chaman Lal on 14 March 2024, titled ​“Bhagat Singh on Religion and His Relevance Today.” The session examined Bhagat Singh’s views on religion and their continued significance, drawing on Dr. Lal’s extensive work on revolutionary movements and Hindi literature. A key contributor to the Bhagat Singh Archives and Resource Centre, he brought insights from his research and publications on Bhagat Singh’s life and thought.
     
  • The History Club hosted an informal interaction with Thamarai Selvan on 26 March 2024, where students engaged with themes of craft histories, ethnographic research, and Science and Technology Studies. The session also included a discussion on academic pathways and research opportunities in Germany. 
  • The History Club organized a day trip to Bhoganandishwara Temple on 1 November 2022, led by Professor Sarada Natarajan. The visit guided participants through the art and architecture of the temple complex, offering a closer engagement with its historical and aesthetic features. 
     
  • The History Club hosted ​“Notes from the Field,” a panel discussion on archaeology on 19 January 2023, featuring Jaya Menon, Supriya Varma, Namita Sugandhi, and Uthara Suvrathan. The speakers shared their experiences of fieldwork, excavations, and research practices, offering insights into the methods and challenges of archaeological work. 
     
  • The History Club hosted a talk by Mark Hauser of Northwestern University on 23 March 2023, titled ​“Archaeology of the Global Indies: A View from Tharangambadi.” The session explored archaeological approaches to global connections and colonial encounters, using Tharangambadi as a key site of analysis.