India's Untold History | Amish Tripathi on Sanatan, The Cholas & the Mughals | Bani Anand | AAE S5

In this powerful episode of AfterHours with All About Eve, Bani Anand sits down with bestselling author Amish Tripathi to discuss his new book 'The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath' and to explore India’s civilisational memory, cultural identity, and the philosophical depth of Sanatan Dharma. The discussion begins with what Sanatan truly represents, how it lives within us, and why the Western idea of “religion” cannot capture the dharmic worldview. Decolonisation and Dharma: Why we should question our education, according to Amish Tripathi Amish Tripathi reflects on how colonial influences continue to shape our thinking—from the seasons we are taught in school to the limited historical narratives we receive. He explains how India has existed as a cultural nation since eternity, supported by ancient travelogues and centuries of continuity. He also explores why binaries do not define us, how one can be both atheist and religious, and why Sanskrit never created hierarchies between a god and a goddess. The podcast moves into the deeper meaning of dharma, which goes far beyond the Western notion of religion. Amish speaks about collapsing birth rates in East Asia and contrasts these trends with the long-term thinking embedded in dharmic cultures. He highlights why remaining connected to our ancestors and descendants is essential, and how forgetting our own heritage weakens society. He also points out the imbalance in our textbooks, where vast regions of India are treated as afterthoughts. "Indian Muslims were as oppressed as Hindus under the Mughals": Amish Tripathi Amish further discusses the legacy of the Chola empire, the portrayal of Mughals and Turks in Bollywood, and the need to approach history with nuance. He explains why the Mughals saw themselves as Timurids and oppressed Indian Muslims as much as Hindus. The interview also touches on India’s low levels of per capita violence, the link between historical invasions and patriarchy, and the cultural resilience that has kept India intact over a thousand turbulent years. Towards the end, the podcast shifts to contemporary themes such as extreme feminism in the West, the role of arranged marriage in reinforcing caste, and the genetic consequences of close-kin marriages in Pakistan. The episode closes on a lighter note, with Amish sharing how he unwinds after engaging with such weighty ideas. The interview offers a layered and compelling look at who we are as a civilisation, and why understanding our roots remains essential. (00:00) Episode begins (3:07) What Sanatan Dharma is (7:56) Why we still haven’t decolonised (6:04) India as a cultural civilisation (13:41) How you can be both atheist and religious in Hinduism (15:00) Why the term ‘religion’ doesn’t suit us (17:43) The global decline in birth rates (19:35) Sanatan’s long-term view of relationships (22:03) Why staying connected to our ancestors is vital (23:59) Why we should study our ancestors, not our invaders (24:45) Most of India is missing from our history books (28:47) Cholas — conquerors or protectors? (30:31) Should Mughal history be reduced or rebalanced? (31:50) The Mughals were actually Timurids (34:15) Turkic invaders were not Indian Muslims (36:09) How Bollywood misrepresented Mughals and Turks (37:40) Why the Mughals always saw themselves as foreigners (40:08) India — the last ancient civilisation (42:10) Chola values that still live within us (44:34) Why India has low per-capita violence (46:05) How historic violence shaped patriarchy in some regions (49:24) On "destructive" feminism (51:06) How arranged marriage reinforces caste system (53:15) On cousin marriages in Pakistan (55:28) How Amish Tripathi unwinds AfterHours Follow us: Instagram:   / allabouteve_in   Facebook:   / allaboutevein   Pinterest:   / allabouteve_in   Website: https://allabouteve.co.in/ #amishtripathi #indianhistory #indianculture #mughal #mughalempire #chole #feminism #sanatandharma #sanatan