The Story Isn’t Over: History from the Margins

On 26 April 1915, 444 men of the 47th Sikh Regiment went over the top at the Battle of Ypres. By nightfall, 347 could not answer roll call, a 78% casualty rate in a single day. Their names? Barely 16 or 17 appear on the Menin Gate. This is the story Britain left out. Right now, you can get 50% off your first three months of Audible using my link here: https://bit.ly/ROASAudible I sat down with Dr...

Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, raised at Elveden Hall in Suffolk and goddaughter to Queen Victoria. Then she became one of Britain’s most fearless suffragettes. Her sisters were even more extraordinary. I sat down with Dr Mishka Sinha, Curator for Inclusive History at Historic Royal Palaces and the historian behind a landmark new exhibition at Kensing...

Queen Victoria was Empress of India. She was also godmother to the children of the man whose kingdom she helped destroy. Victoria called him “your affectionate friend.” But as Polly Putnam tells me, it was a strange relationship between conqueror and conquered. Polly is the Collections Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, the historian behind Netflix’s Bridgerton , and the curator of The Last Prince...

Most people think Chandi Di Var is simply a celebration of divine vengeance, a straightforward battle between good and evil. But what if we have been reading it wrong? In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of Chandi Di Var , Chandi Charitar I , and Chandi Charitar II , asking why the moral universe in these compositions is far less clean or predictable than many assume. As discussed in th...

Religion at school always felt too neat. Boxes. Definitions. “This is what Sikhs believe.” But real life is never that tidy. In this episode, I sit down with Professor Eleanor Nesbitt, Emeritus Professor of Religions and Education at the University of Warwick, co-founder of the Punjab Research Group and author of Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction , to explore what the textbooks miss. We talk abou...

In this episode, I speak with Marieha Hussain about the story behind the Coconut Placard Case . We begin with her early life and identity as a Muslim South Asian woman in post-9/11 Britain, before turning to the protest that led to a police investigation, a criminal trial, and ultimately her acquittal. We unpack what really happened at the pro-Palestine march, and why a satirical placard featuring...

What does it mean to make ancient music feel new again? In this episode of The Story Isn’t Over , Ramblings of a Sikh sits down with sitar maestro Jasdeep Singh Degun , a Leeds-born virtuoso reshaping the soundscape of British Indian classical music. From his early training within the NADA Yatra tradition to headlining the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall , Jasdeep reflects on the tension betwee...

In this episode I sit down with Shuranjeet Singh, founder of Taraki and one of the leading voices on Punjabi mental health in the UK. We have an open and grounded conversation about masculinity, youth, community trauma and why mainstream mental health systems often fail South Asian communities. Shuranjeet reflects on leaving a career at Oxford, the power of lived experience and how grassroots work...

In this conversation with Harleen Singh — author of The Lost Heer — we dive into the forgotten voices of Punjabi women. From widowed rulers who stood against invaders and the British, to the folk songs, recipes and textiles that carried memory and resistance through colonial Punjab. Harleen Singh's work brings these overlooked stories back into the centre of South Asian history. The Lost Heer...

I n 1945, the world celebrated Allied victory in World War II — but across Asia, the war didn’t end. It simply changed shape, sparking new battles for freedom and the end of empire. In this episode, historian Phil Craig joins Ramblings of a Sikh to discuss his new book, 1945: The Reckoning , the final volume in his acclaimed trilogy on the Second World War. Through the intertwined stories of five...

In this fascinating episode, we are joined by Professor Stephen Morillo , a renowned historian and leading expert on medieval warfare. Together, we explore the strategies, cultures, and justifications that shaped how wars were fought during the medieval era. From the clash of swords to the march of armies, Professor Morillo reveals how medieval warfare was influenced by cultural beliefs, subsisten...

What if the Sikh Empire wasn’t born on the battlefield, but in the library? 📚 In this teaser for our Road to Empire podcast with author Satnam Singh, we explore the intellectual and political foundations of the Khalsa before the rise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. From the Anandpur court of Guru Gobind Singh to the literature of the Mughal and Sanskrit worlds, this conversation reveals how stories, id...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Professor Brian Villmoare , Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as we explore the grand narrative of the universe. Drawing from his book The Evolution of Everything: The Patterns and Causes of Big History , Professor Villmoare examines the interconnectedness of the cosmos, life, and human societies. This episode ch...

Join Sathnam Sanghera on a transformative journey to uncover the hidden truths of British imperialism — a controversial legacy that continues to shape global dynamics and modern society. Inspired by his acclaimed book EmpireWorld , Sanghera confronts the far-reaching consequences of imperialism, emphasizing the critical role of historical accountability, decolonization, and cross-cultural perspect...

Discover the untold story of Indian soldiers during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I in this fascinating discussion with Professor Peter Stanley, one of Australia’s leading military historians. This video explores the sacrifices, challenges, and hidden histories of over 16,000 Indian soldiers who served in one of the most brutal battles of WWI. Learn about their role in the first major amphib...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Join the Ramblings of a Sikh YouTube Channel ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★⁠⁠ Join us for an exclusive interview with G.S. Nawepindiya, where he shares insights into his vibrant Punjabi music career and the rich heritage of Sikh culture. In this conversat...

Sam Dalrymple joins me for a powerful conversation about his book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, where he unpacks how India went through multiple partitions, not just the 1947 split. We explore the Partition of Bengal, the Partition of Punjab, the role of the Muslim League, and the mass migrations that followed. From the politics of Jinnah, Nehru, Gandhi, and Mount...

🎙️ How Much Museum Art Was Legally Acquired? 🤔 Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Prof. Erin Thompson — the world’s first professor of Art Crime at John Jay College (CUNY). We explore: – How museums acquire and label stolen artifacts – The secret world of forgery, smuggling & sacred object theft – Museum cover-ups and colonial legacies – The ethics of repatriation and controversial...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with actor, writer, and advocate Jassa Ahluwalia to dive deep into the experiences that shaped his new book, Both, Not Half. From growing up mixed-race in Leicester to challenging the entertainment industry’s narrow perceptions, Jassa shares how he turned cultural complexity into a strength. 🌍✨

🔍 Exploring Liverpool’s Complex Racial History Dive into the heart of Liverpool’s historical and contemporary race relations with our in-depth discussion featuring Emeritus Professor John Belchem from the University of Liverpool. 📖 Drawing from his extensive research and his book Before the Windrush , Professor Belchem uncovers the racial dynamics of early 20th-century Liverpool , offering a com...

🎙️ A Deep Dive into the Indian Army’s WWII Training with Dr. Alan Jeffreys In this enlightening discussion, we sit down with Dr. Alan Jeffreys, Head of Collections at the Imperial War Museum and author of Approach to Battle: Training the Indian Army During the Second World War , to explore the crucial yet often overlooked aspect of training the Indian Army during World War II. Dr. Jeffreys delves...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Join the Ramblings of a Sikh YouTube Channel ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★⁠⁠ Discover the legendary life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the iconic Sikh warrior and king, in this insightful video featuring co-curator Davinder Singh Toor. 🎥 Take a jour...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Join the Ramblings of a Sikh YouTube Channel ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★⁠⁠ Dive into the mesmerizing world of @magicsingh , the magician who has taken the globe by storm with his captivating blend of traditional and modern magic. In this exclusive inte...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Join the Ramblings of a Sikh YouTube Channel ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★⁠⁠ In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Jvala Singh, a lecturer at UC Berkeley, creator of The Suraj Podcast, author of “54 Punjabi Proverbs,” and PhD holder. Together, we delve...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Join the Ramblings of a Sikh YouTube Channel ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★⁠⁠ Explore the Untold Stories of Sikh Women Who Survived the 1984 Genocide In this exclusive interview with Sanam Sutirath Wazir, we delve into the harrowing experiences of Sikh wo...