Ruchika Sharma | Myths about Aryans, Vedas, Mughals, History's weaponization, and more | InferTalks

In this episode featuring Ruchika Sharma, where she discusses the unique concept of combining eyeshadow makeup tutorials with history monologues! Hosted by Usama Nizamani, they delve into topics like myth-busting in public discourse, the challenges of communicating history to a mass audience, and confronting misogynistic trolling. They also explore myths about the Indus civilization, the Aryans, and the impact of historical narratives on contemporary society. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation with a historian and academic! Chapters 0:00 Highlights 0:41 Intro 1:06 Where did this idea of doing eyeshadow make and history monologues simultaneously come from? 1:51 A student talked me into trying this combination 2:51 How has reaching out to a mass audience over YouTube helped you do your job as a historian and an academic? 3:51 It has helped me in myth-busting in the public discourse. 4:51 Where did you have to switch gears versus doing history vlogs on YouTube versus your teaching experience at the university 5:46 It is difficult communicating with a mass audience versus in a classroom. 6:22 Difficult to balance complex parts of history in simplified manner. 07:07 What challenges did you confront along the way on your vlogging? 08:20 Misogynistic trolling takes a toll on you. 09:02 How do you balance your different commitments? 09:57 How dangerous of an idea is it when individuals and organizations weaponize history? 10:30 The dangerous idea of depicting Mughals as barbarians and brutal monarchs. 10:45 Myth: Link between rulers and Muslims living today in India 12:16 Are people more vulnerable to weaponization to history today than in previous decades or years? 13:15 What are the myths about Indus civilization that need to be done away with. 14:29 Fact: Horses are not native to the lands of Indus. 15:10 Myth: There were no social differences in the Indus civilization. 17:04 Faith has been so pivotal to the lands of Indus. What faith was organized back then. 18:08 Myth: Pashupati seal is that of Shiv. 18:50 This person is not Rudhra; he is driving his power from animals instead of killing them. 19:40 This seal is that of Shaman. 20:28 What myths drive you up the wall about the Aryans. 21:20 Aryans were not native to these lands. 21:41 A genetic study published in 2019 reinforces earlier findings about Aryans not being native. 22:10 Aryans were steppe pastoralists 22:46 Vedas point to geographical locations which are not present in the sub-continent. 23:30 If Vedic history preceded everything else it helps cast other cultures as aliens. 24:00 What are Vedas? 24:13 Vedas were initially orally composed. 24:12 Principal Vedas compiled outside of the sub continent. 25:40 Mixing of traditions between the Aryans and the culture of Indus. 26:21 What were the rituals that they brought along with themselves? 26:41 Sanskrit was brought along by Aryans. 27:10 Mittanis were the first to speak Sanskrit. 27:42 Mittanis were based in the Mesopotamian Iranian area. 28:10 Character traits of the Indra and Zeus; they are very similar. 28:14 Mesopotamian gods have similarity with the present day Indian deities. 29:20 Sarasvasti River matches the description of the Helmand river and not based in sub continent. 30:01 Were Harappans and Aryans cremating corpses? 31:01 After writing of Mahabharat and Puranas cremation becomes a normal ritual. 31:36 How do groups who do not conform to facts of history react to your vlogs and commentary? 31:56 They treated you someone as a ‘Leftist’ or an ‘anti-national.’ 33:35 Why does the entire narrative of colonization about the Sub continent starts after the 11th Century among the far-right Hindu groups 35:00 Idea of medieval India starts from the 1200s. 35:16 Islam first came in the sub continent through Ismaili traders. 36:00 Islam through Ismailis, Bohras and Gujratis came to sub continent before the arrival of Turks. 37:40 The Colonial British used this historical narratives to widen the divide between the Muslims and Hindus. 38:40 Why are far-right groups still clinging to this dated outlook of history about the Sub continent? 39:21 Where did the practice of ‘Satti’ come about? 41:43 For Ibn e Battuta, it was a cultural shock. 42:30 How true is that a great natural calamity led to the fall of the Indus civilization? 44:50 The pottery in the later stage of the Harrapan civilization is poor in quality. 46:00 What advice do you have for fellow historians? 47:23 Outro Credits Host: Usama Nizamani Production: Hamza Ayaz , Arooj Abrar & Farisa Sohail Social Media Manager: Saadullah Khan Connect with us 👇 Follow us on Facebook:👉   / inferdigital   Follow us on Instagram: 👉   / inferdigital   Twitter:👉   / infer_digital   Spotify👉 : https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe:👉    / @inferdigital   TikTok:👉   / inferdigital