A distinguished historian of modern India, Professor Mukherjee’s scholarship has powerfully re-centred the role of peasants and agrarian movements in India’s freedom struggle — challenging elite-centric narratives and restoring the agency of those long left at the margins of history. Professor Mukherjee retired as Professor of Modern Indian History and Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and also served as the Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Her leadership in institutions of national importance is matched by the depth and originality of her scholarship. From her early work on agrarian history to her contributions to widely read volumes like India’s Struggle for Independence and India After Independence, she has illuminated the deep connections between rural resistance, social movements, and the broader project of Indian nationalism. Prof. Mukherjee has continually shaped the discipline with both intellectual rigor and institutional vision. In an age of distorted retellings, her work reminds us that the freedom struggle was not just fought in political assemblies, but also in fields, forests, and village gatherings — by countless ordinary Indians whose courage and aspirations changed history. #indiannationalism #nationalism #nationalist #mahatmagandhi #savarkar #bhagatsingh #moderates #revolutionaries

Professor Aditya Mukherjee is a distinguished historian known for his extensive work on modern and contemporary Indian history, particularly the political economy of colonialism and post-colonial development. He served at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, for over four decades, where he taught at the Centre for Historical Studies and held numerous leadership positions. He retired in 2018 but remains active in academic and public discourse. Professor Mukherjee completed his early education at St. Xavier’s School, Delhi, and went on to study economics at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. He later shifted his academic focus to history, earning an M.A. in Modern History from JNU. His exceptional performance at the M.Phil. level, securing the highest possible grade, led to a direct promotion to the Ph.D. program, which he completed at the same university. Throughout his academic career, Professor Mukherjee took on several administrative roles. He served as the Chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies (2004–2006), Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study (2006–2012), Dean of the School of Social Sciences (2013–2015), and Director of the Academic Staff College (1997–2004). He was also appointed Editor of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru and was a member of the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) from 2009 to 2015. His research focuses on the development of Indian capitalism, the impact of imperialism, and the ideological currents shaping post-independence India. His widely read books include India’s Struggle for Independence and India After Independence (both co-authored), Imperialism, Nationalism and the Making of the Indian Capitalist Class 1927–1947, and RSS, School Texts and The Murder of Mahatma Gandhi: The Hindu Communal Project. He has also edited and contributed to major volumes such as A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress, 1964–1984. Professor Mukherjee has published over 50 scholarly articles and delivered more than 75 lectures and seminars around the world. He has held visiting positions and fellowships at international institutions including Duke University (USA), the University of Tokyo (Japan), Lancaster University (UK), and the Institute of Advanced Study in Nantes (France) and São Paulo (Brazil). He has also served on editorial boards such as those of International Review of Sociology, International Journal of Asian Studies, and Studies in People’s History. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was elected General President of the Indian History Congress for the term 2023–2024.

Professor Madhavan K. Palat is one of India’s most distinguished historians, renowned for his scholarship on modern European and Imperial Russian history. He is a former Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he taught from 1974 until his retirement in 2004, shaping generations of students through his deep engagement with European intellectual and political history. He earned his D.Phil. from St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and has held prestigious academic positions, including serving as Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (1992–1995), National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2010–2011), and as Visiting Professor of Imperial Russian History at the University of Chicago (Spring 2006). Professor Palat is the Editor of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, a monumental editorial project published by Oxford University Press. He has overseen the publication of 41 volumes, contributing immensely to the study of modern Indian political thought. He also serves as a Trustee of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. His specialization lies in Imperial Russian history (18th–20th century), with additional interests in modern European intellectual history. Professor Palat’s scholarship is marked by its analytical rigour, historical depth, and cosmopolitan vision, making him a leading voice in historical studies in India today. Disclaimer: The views and arguments presented by the invited speaker in this lecture are their own scholarly and intellectual positions. These perspectives do not, in any way, reflect or represent the official views, ideological positions, or institutional commitments of the organising body. The organisation upholds the principles of academic freedom and free expression, and provides a platform for rigorous debate, dissent, and the exchange of ideas — without endorsing any specific political or ideological position expressed by individual speakers. The organisation strongly condemns any form of trolling, misrepresentation, or targeted personal attacks against speakers. Disagreements, if any, should be expressed through informed, respectful, and scholarly engagement — not through harassment or intimidation, online or offline.

In today’s world, the social sciences and sciences face the challenge of being oversimplified, misrepresented, or reduced to soundbites. Complex ideas are often stripped of their nuance, leaving little space for careful thought or meaningful dialogue. The Saturday Public Lecture Series seeks to create such a space—where knowledge can be shared, questioned, and explored in depth. Organised in New Delhi at the Har Kishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, the series will bring together leading historians, economists, sociologists, political thinkers, filmmakers, and public intellectuals to speak on themes ranging from history and cinema to economics, sociology, political science, and more. These lectures are open to the public, designed especially for students, researchers, enthusiasts, and curious citizens who wish to engage with ideas beyond the classroom and outside academic walls. At a time when our collective understanding of society, culture, and science often feels fragmented, such lectures offer a platform for reflection, learning, and exchange. They remind us that knowledge is not only about theories or abstract debates, but also about lived experiences, diverse perspectives, and the connections that shape our everyday world. Through this series, we hope to reaffirm the value of critical inquiry, open dialogue, and the joy of engaging with ideas—treating knowledge as a shared inheritance that belongs to all.

Dr. Warrier is an Associate Professor at Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. She has done her PhD on women and work in colonial India from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her research interests include gender history, labour history and social history, and her work has been published in major journals like the Economic and Political Weekly. #socialformation #ancientrome #ancientgreece #grecoroman #slavery

Professor Madhavan K. Palat is one of India’s most distinguished historians, renowned for his scholarship on modern European and Imperial Russian history. He is a former Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he taught from 1974 until his retirement in 2004, shaping generations of students through his deep engagement with European intellectual and political history. He earned his D.Phil. from St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and has held prestigious academic positions, including serving as Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (1992–1995), National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2010–2011), and as Visiting Professor of Imperial Russian History at the University of Chicago (Spring 2006). Professor Palat is the Editor of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, a monumental editorial project published by Oxford University Press. He has overseen the publication of 41 volumes, contributing immensely to the study of modern Indian political thought. He also serves as a Trustee of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. His specialization lies in Imperial Russian history (18th–20th century), with additional interests in modern European intellectual history. Professor Palat’s scholarship is marked by its analytical rigour, historical depth, and cosmopolitan vision, making him a leading voice in historical studies in India today. Disclaimer: The views and arguments presented by the invited speaker in this lecture are their own scholarly and intellectual positions. These perspectives do not, in any way, reflect or represent the official views, ideological positions, or institutional commitments of the organising body. The organisation upholds the principles of academic freedom and free expression, and provides a platform for rigorous debate, dissent, and the exchange of ideas — without endorsing any specific political or ideological position expressed by individual speakers. The organisation strongly condemns any form of trolling, misrepresentation, or targeted personal attacks against speakers. Disagreements, if any, should be expressed through informed, respectful, and scholarly engagement — not through harassment or intimidation, online or offline. #palestine #gaza #palestina #palestinians #indianhistory #globalhistory #warzone

We are delighted to introduce Professor Audrey Truschke, a leading historian of South Asia and Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University–Newark, New Jersey. Her scholarship has significantly reshaped the way we understand the cultural, intellectual, and political landscapes of the Indian subcontinent. She is the author of four acclaimed books, including Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court (2016), Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth (2017), and The Language of History: Sanskrit Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule (2021). Her most ambitious work to date, India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent, was published by Princeton University Press in June 2025, written with the support of a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars grant. When she isn’t delving into the world of Mughals, Sanskrit texts, and Hindu–Muslim interactions, Professor Truschke is a powerful public voice calling attention to the misuse of history and ongoing human rights issues in contemporary South Asia. She is also a tireless advocate for academic freedom, and a vocal critic of sexism and Islamophobia. Through her rigorous scholarship, public engagement, and fearless commentary, Professor Audrey Truschke has become one of the most dynamic and influential historians of our time. Disclaimer: The views and arguments presented by the invited speaker in this lecture are their own scholarly and intellectual positions. These perspectives do not, in any way, reflect or represent the official views, ideological positions, or institutional commitments of the organising body. The organisation upholds the principles of academic freedom and free expression, and provides a platform for rigorous debate, dissent, and the exchange of ideas — without endorsing any specific political or ideological position expressed by individual speakers. The organisation strongly condemns any form of trolling, misrepresentation, or targeted personal attacks against speakers. Disagreements, if any, should be expressed through informed, respectful, and scholarly engagement — not through harassment or intimidation, online or offline.

Raam Reddy is an Indian film director, writer, and photographer celebrated for his award-winning debut feature film Thithi (2015) and Jugnuma (The Fable). Tithi won the prestigious Golden Leopard in the "Filmmakers of the Present" category and the First Feature Award at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival. In conversation with : Eshan Sharma https://www.instagram.com/iameshansharma_/ Location: Artisan Coterie, Malad Production Head : Vishesh Arora Production Controller : Mehtab Virk Cinematographer : Shrey Artisan Coterie Production Head : Saksham Special Thanks : Nikunj , Roan Mathhew , Rohan Mehta , Preyrak Mehta , Raam Reddy , Juhi Aggarwal Editor : Sagar Website : https://www.karwaanheritage.com Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/karwaanheritage Whatsapp : https://chat.whatsapp.com/JscSdpie85BFxDKBbZYXa7 Karwaan Heritage is a public history collective that seeks to bring India’s layered pasts alive for diverse audiences. Founded by historian and filmmaker Eshan Sharma, Karwaan has grown into a vibrant platform where history, memory, and culture meet everyday life. Over the past six years, Karwaan has hosted conversations with some of the most renowned historians, writers, artists, and filmmakers, creating a space where scholarship is shared beyond classrooms. It has been featured by TIME Magazine, Mid-Day, India Times, and Air India, among others, as one of India’s leading heritage initiatives. From heritage walks in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and beyond, to public lectures, book launches, film appreciation workshops, and history festivals, Karwaan explores history in plural, inclusive, and engaging ways. Its projects range from walking through old neighbourhoods and monuments, to discussing how cinema, art, and literature shape our historical imagination. At its heart, Karwaan believes that history belongs to everyone. It works to counter historical revisionism, preserve plural voices, and make people see their cities, stories, and traditions in a new light. With a community that includes students, scholars, diplomats, artists, and curious citizens, Karwaan has become a bridge between academia and the wider public.