Indian History & Deep Dives | Homegrown India

History (Homegrown Voices)

From 'Barsaat Ki Raat' to 'Delhi-6' and 'Mulk', the filmi qawwali has evolved from the dargah to the big screen, blending faith with popular culture and reflecting India’s composite identity.

How The Qawwali Became Indian Cinema’s Most Enduring Ode To A Secular Nation

14 Nov 2025

4 min read

Mr. Mamdani — the son of an Indian mother and a Ugandan-Indian father — eating biryani with, wait for it, his hands. No spoon, no fork — just diving into the rice hand-first.

How The Longest Colonial Hangover Ever Made Hand-Eating ‘Uncivilised’

12 Nov 2025

3 min read

Western counterculture, colonial legacies, and local realities shaped the music, myth, and meaning of India’s most iconic rave scene.

Goa Trance And The Afterlife Of Empire: A Post-Colonial History

Anahita Ahluwalia

08 Nov 2025

6 min read

What The Taj Mahal Tells Us About The Politics Of Built Heritage In India

What The Taj Mahal Tells Us About The Politics Of Built Heritage In India

24 Oct 2025

4 min read

Auto Shankar: The Bone-Crawling Saga of India’s Ted Bundy

Auto Shankar: The Bone-Crawling Saga of India’s Ted Bundy

08 Jun 2021

10 min read

Muslims in India celebrating Diwali

Indian Muslims & Their Long-Standing Connection To Diwali

04 Nov 2021

4 min read

Farooq Abdul Majid Sitarmaker’s family has been fashioning musical instruments like the tanpura and sitar for an astonishing span of seven generations.

Meet The Indian Family Who’ve Been Crafting Tanpuras For Seven Generations

28 Jun 2023

7 min read

Ravindra Kaushik was born on April 11, 1952, in Sriganganagar, a Rajasthani town adjacent to the Indo-Pakistan border. His childhood was set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971.

The Black Tiger: How Legendary Spy Ravindra Kaushik Infiltrated The Pakistani Military

24 Mar 2023

5 min read

Representational images of idli

The Origins Of Idli: How A Neighbouring Country Gave India Its Breakfast Staple

20 Dec 2022

3 min read

Images of Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan: The Immortal Legacy Of South Asia’s Queen Of Pop

13 Apr 2023

4 min read

Left image: a man with gold jewellery Right image: portrait of Nana Fadnavis

Symbolism, Masculinity, & Identity: Tracing The Evolution Of Men's Jewellery In India

21 May 2024

4 min read

A still created by the Desi Crime Podcast

Murder, Memory, & Reincarnation: The Curious Case Of Titu Singh Toran

18 Jun 2024

4 min read

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