Listen to the story of how Al-Biruni approached India not as a conqueror or convert, but as a scientist. By learning Sanskrit and documenting Indian religion, astronomy, and philosophy without judgment, he revealed a civilisation that was internally coherent, mathematically sophisticated, and intellectually self-aware.

This podcast takes listeners deep into the Sanauli excavation, unfolding the story of a discovery that unsettles comfortable timelines of ancient India. Expect a clear, evidence-led journey through the 2018 ASI dig, the science of radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating, and the engineering details of the copper-plated wheeled vehicles. The narrative balances excitement with scholarly caution, walking readers through global comparisons with Mesopotamian and Egyptian chariots, the sharp debates among archaeologists, and how modern tools like 3D modelling and spectroscopy are reshaping what we can responsibly claim about Bronze Age India. What emerges is not myth-making, but a richer, more complex picture of Harappan-era craftsmanship, trade, and social hierarchy, grounded in archaeological method and ongoing academic debate.

This podcast explores India through Marco Polo’s merchant eyes, revealing a civilization defined by ports, spices, textiles, and global trade networks. Blending Polo’s vivid descriptions with modern historical scholarship, it shows how India functioned as a central engine of the pre-modern global economy—and why its coastal rhythms still feel unmistakably international today.