Podcast: What explains rising global authoritarianism? The history of constitutions has some answers

In the second episode of Past Imperfect, host Dinyar Patel talks to historian Linda Colley about how the role of constitutions has changed over time.

Dinyar Patel

· Aug 08, 2022 · 11:30 am

Podcast: Ramachandra Guha on why Indians are so good at writing uncritical hagiographies

The first episode of Past Imperfect, a new series hosted by historian Dinyar Patel.

Dinyar Patel

· Jun 30, 2022 · 08:30 am

Dinyar Patel wins the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize for his biography of Dadabhai Naoroji

The Rs 15-lakh prize given by the New India Foundation goes to Patel for ‘Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism’.

Dinyar Patel

· Dec 01, 2021 · 12:00 pm

What does the writing of Constitutions have to do with wars? Plenty, as this book proves

Linda Colley’s ‘The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen’ presents a profoundly global and lucid story of constitution-writing.

Dinyar Patel

· Sep 18, 2021 · 08:30 am

‘The Horde’: Marie Favereau rewrites the conventional history of the Mongol conquerors

The French historian tells the story of the westernmost component of the Mongol-dominated world, ruled by the Jochids.

Dinyar Patel

· Jul 11, 2021 · 05:30 pm

‘Black Spartacus’: A biography of the man who may have been the first great anti-colonialist leader

Sudhir Hazareesingh’s book examines the life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, who brought revolution to Haiti and inspired the world.

Dinyar Patel

· Jan 10, 2021 · 08:30 am

What we have forgotten about the pandemics that killed millions of Indians over 100 years ago

Over half of the 70 million deaths from pandemics between 1817 and 1920 took place in India, points out Chinmay Tumbe in his new book.

Dinyar Patel

· Dec 19, 2020 · 08:30 am

JBS Haldane’s life, via Samanth Subramanian’s biography, shows why scientists must be political too

In ‘A Dominant Character’, the life of a scientist committed to a political vision, even misled by it, is chronicled with verve.

Dinyar Patel

· Oct 11, 2020 · 08:30 am

How Dadabhai Naoroji’s support for women’s rights helped him get elected to the British Parliament

An excerpt from ‘Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism’, by Dinyar Patel.

Dinyar Patel

· Sep 17, 2020 · 08:30 am

The Art of Solitude: Travel vicariously through Central Asia with Robert Byron’s classic

‘The Road to Oxiana’ is a celebration of the type of wide-ranging mobility currently denied to us.

Dinyar Patel

· Apr 30, 2020 · 11:30 am

Epidemics change the course of nations and transform societies. Here are four lessons from history

The past is no recipe for the future – but it can suggest what to expect.

Dinyar Patel

· Apr 19, 2020 · 07:30 am

SR Mehrotra (1931-2019): A tireless chronicler of India’s struggle for freedom

The London-trained historian paid special attention to two figures from the Congress’ very beginnings, Allan Octavian Hume and Dadabhai Naoroji.

Dinyar Patel

· Jul 22, 2019 · 08:30 am