From the Indus Valley to Modi’s India: Audrey Truschke on 5,000 Years of South Asian History

From the Indus Valley to Modi’s India: Audrey Truschke on 5,000 Years of South Asian History

From New Wave History - A Fresh Perspective On Historical Events by New Wave History

December 20, 2025 · 45 min

About this episode

Audrey Truschke discusses her book on 5,000 years of South Asian history, exploring its political, cultural, and religious evolution.

Historian Audrey Truschke joins Raza Rumi to discuss her groundbreaking new book “India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent.” In this wide-ranging conversation, she talked about the political, cultural, and religious evolution of South Asia, from the Indus Valley Civilization to modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Truschke explains how the region’s history has always been deeply interconnected with the rest of the world, shaped by migration, trade, empire, and diversity. She discussed Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, the Mughal era, colonial rule, and the rise of modern nationalism, and ask: how does understanding this past help us make sense of South Asia today? It is a fascinating podcast for anyone interested in India’s ancient roots, global influence, and modern identity.

People in this episode

Host: Raza Rumi

Guest: Audrey Truschke

Topics covered

  • South Asian history
  • political evolution
  • cultural evolution
  • religious evolution
  • migration and trade
  • colonialism
  • nationalism

Keywords

  • South Asia
  • Indus Valley
  • Mughal era
  • colonial rule
  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism
  • Islam
  • nationalism
  • migration
  • trade

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent

Places: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indus Valley

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