Chippin' Away

Catch the uncut and unabridged edition of our conversation with Dr. Shilpa Dahake on all things rivers, riverscapes and people! Sections from this interview formed the basis of episodes S02E08 and S02E09, A Bridge over Troubled Waters! As always, keep the budding conversation going, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @ChippinAwayIND Or send us an email with your thoughts and inputs to chippin...

Let us continue our conversation with Dr. Shilpa Dahake, as we discuss rivers, riverscapes and sacred landscapes associated with water bodies.  This deep dive into the human-river interaction opens more exciting avenues of discussion!  If you haven't already, catch Part 1 of this episode first! As always, keep the budding conversation going, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ChippinAway...

In this episode, part one of two, we continue investigating our relationship with the various natural elements - water! We look at how water, in particular rivers, have contributed to human culture and civilisation. Join us in discussion with Dr. Shilpa Dahake as we investigate how rivers have shaped our human world and how we, as agents of change, have shaped (and continue to shape) rivers.  Keep...

How does the history of art contribute to archaeology?  This episode explores a case study of sculptural art in South Asia with Kanika Gupta.  We also discuss her new coauthored book "Lupadakhe", which explores the movements of sculptors and their work at various ancient sites in Western India.  Ready to pick up the metaphorical chisel and get chippin' away?  Keep the conversation g...

In this, the second episode of 'Elementals',  we look at Earth. How can we use the Earth itself to help us date the past? And how have humans modified Earthly processes?  Join us, as we converse with Dr. Aayush Srivastava on how he uses sand grains to date the archaeological record (luminescence dating) and what his research into the Thar tells us about the ebb and flow of the sands of t...

On 30th May 1863, the Father of Indian Prehistory, Robert Bruce Foote discovered a handaxe (prehistoric tool) at Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu (India). This discovery put South Asia on the map for the conversations on prehistory and early human activity.  Team Chippin' Away marks this day with Prof. Shanti Pappu who continues to work on the prehistory of South Asia and has dedicated years of study...

We're back with another Museum Day Special!  We discuss a one-of-its-kind museum in India with our guest speaker Miss Sanjana Rangan in this episode.  Let's dive in!  And don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @chippinawayind and send us a line at chippinawayind@gmail.com Support the Show. Send your comments and inputs to us at chippinawayind@gmail.com and keep the conve...

...because we're talking about Fire!  First in the series "Elementals", we discuss the role of fire. From cooking to protection, and influencing iron-clad habits and modus operandi for humans, fire has influenced all walks of life.  Let us know what you think of the power of fire!  Twitter and Instagram @chippinawayind And send us a line at chippinawayind@gmail.com Support us at: ht...

And the story of women in the past continues! In this episode, we explore more data on women in archaeology and the history of South Asia.  We discuss the theory from genetics, analyze how some of the stereotypes and first impressions can be misleading, and propose peering beyond the binary of genders in the study of the past to understand the present.  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @chippina...

Hello! We're back with Season 2, right after Women's History Month (March). Your podcast hosts Akash and Durga discuss the representation of women in archaeological, historical, and social contexts as we journey along with the cultural pasts of South Asia.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @chippinawayind And send us a line with comments, inputs, themes that you wo...

In the Season Finale for Season One, we journey into the present which holds the key to understanding and unlocking hidden facets of the past, through the lens of ethnography and its archaeological avatar, ethnoarchaeology. We are also treated to an insight into Durga's research work which incorporates ethnography in practice to study the past of Western India. So jump on as we don't hav...

Getting the rock game on for this episode, your hosts Akash and Durga discuss bits and pieces (or shall we say rocks and pebbles?) of the Stone Age in South Asia. In this penultimate episode for the season, join us on our journey going back a few million years!  There is so much more to discuss, and this is just a tiny sliver of our discussions on rocks, stones, and the riveting lives the ancient...

The jingle of coins in your pocket is a rare occurrence - now that we have moved to plastic money and e-currency. But coins hold a special place for the study of the past, and also for our nostalgia!  Let's invest in the introduction of numismatics - the field of study of coins, with examples from India and Sri Lanka.  We have with us Chitramala Tharangini, who is a numismatician, to discuss...

"The narratives that reached South Asia with the Portuguese sailing on the high seas, continue to influence the quotidian life to this day". - We don't want to get wrapped up in jargon! So let's board the metaphorical boat again, for a plunge into the Portuguese influence along the West coast of India. We continue our journey with part three of the series "Boats, Banners a...

All hands on deck? Let's sail to South Asia of the 1500s to explore the vicissitudes of colonial powers in South Asia. We hear/read/discuss British Colonialism, and let's shift our focus to peel the layers of the Portuguese presence in South Asia.  The boats reached ashore, and a firm banner of Portuguese rule is planted over Indian soil. What next...? Give this episode a listen, and get...

Pakistan and India celebrate the days of independence on August 14th and 15th respectively. Independence from European powers and freeing away from the yoke of colonial power is the reason to celebrate - indeed! But let us step beyond the precipice to discuss what is colonialism as seen through various colonialisms in the South Asian subcontinent.  We launch into a multi-part discussion on colonia...

We are not talking about inscriptions and alphabet etched on stone! But about the narratives that are a part of intangible culture, expressed in tangible form. Too much jargon!?  Fear not, just tune into the episode to learn about embedded myths in landscape and geology as a part and parcel of archaeology...  Send us more myths and narratives that you want to see featured in our later episodes, an...

We speak of knowledge as a Public domain and when it comes to culture, heritage, and the study of the past, it becomes a public endeavour. History, Archaeology, and Anthropology cannot be fully understood from individual ivory towers. This is what Latha, the Founder of Chai With History, discusses with us in this episode.  Join us, to know more about Public Archaeology in the pursuit of knowing ou...

Dogs have been our best friends and companions for over 20,000 years at least, and in this episode, we trace the journey of this relationship - from how a humble grey wolf became everybody's good girl/boy! :) Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@ChippinAwayIND) and do email us (chippingawayind@gmail.com) to keep the conversation going! Support the Show. Send your comments and inputs to us at...

Instead of chippin' away today, let's stack some stones! ;) What does the Iron Age in South Asia look like? What do we collectively know about the ancient cultures that built imposing monuments with big rocks and boulders? Let's journey into the iron age of South Asia, and the megalith culture of the subcontinent.   We are joined by Dr. Oishi Roy who studied the megalithic culture o...

The past necessitates a point of reference, which we experience as time. In this episode, your hosts Durga and Akash take you on a journey of time itself (time travel, if you will), through the ways we measured time in the past, as well as how we evaluate time in our present. Are we conning time? Have we templated time? Or is it just a futile exercise in contemplating the passage of time? Tune in...

We heard you, all museum enthusiasts, and students of culture and heritage! Here's to you all; the die-hard muses of the cabinet of curiosities. Some more behind-the-scenes in a museum! Here's a special episode for the International Museum Day. An extended version of the interview with Ms. Ruta for our episode #4: Acquire, Inquire.  You know that one, right? Let's keep the conversat...

Museum Day is (almost) here! Join your hosts Akash and Durga on a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of museums. A brief history of museums in South Asia followed by a special guest interview will peel the layers of how a museum works. Ms. Ruta, the Assistant Curator at Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai (India) speaks about the nuts and bolts of a museum experience.  Ready for a whirlwind tour? Follow us o...

Yes, the archaeologists carefully plan and then excavate sites. But there are some chance finds...or as we say, lady luck smiles upon us! Hosts Durga and Akash take you on a whirlwind tour of such chance finds in archaeology that changed the way we look at the past.  Do you know any such chance finds? Give this episode a listen and keep the conversation alive by following us on Twitter and Instagr...

Why do archaeologists need to traverse from the library to the laboratory!? Let's discuss the various stages of envisioning an archaeological project from asking the research question to shovelling the earth, in this second episode of Chippin' Away. Your hosts Durga and Akash take you on a 15-minute audio journey of field methods in archaeology with examples from South Asia. To know more...