The youtube link of the chat with Ramjee Chandran on 18 April 2025:
Quick Recap
On World Heritage Day 2025, Ramjee Chandran, Creator of the History of Bangalore Podcast series and Priya Chetty-Rajagopal , Founder , Heritage Beku, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about their shared interests in history, heritage, and conservation efforts in Bangalore with the main focus on Ramjee's popular podcast series. Ramjee is known for storytelling with a focus on historical narratives, 9particularly surrounding influential dynasties in South India) founded and hosts the History of Bangalore, available on Spotify,. Instagram and You tube They explored various initiatives to preserve and promote the city's cultural and environmental heritage, including research on Bangalore's history, efforts to protect green spaces and even animal welfare projects. The conversation also touched on their collaborative plans for future projects and the importance of making historical information more accessible to the public.
Summary
Collaborating on Heritage Initiatives
Priya and Ramjee discussed their passion for heritage and the need to collaborate on various initiatives. They highlighted the importance of understanding and loving heritage to save it. Priya mentioned the work of Heritage Beku and the need for primary research, which is not possible for the general public. Ramjee shared his experience in running publications and his understanding of Bangalore's continuity. They discussed the potential for collaboration and the need to enthuse others to join their efforts.
Ramjee's Extensive Research on Bangalore
Ramjee discussed his extensive research on the history of Bangalore, which he has been conducting for the past year. He emphasized that his work is deeply research-based, using primary sources, and covers the history of the region from 350 AD to the present day. Ramjee also mentioned that he is currently working on a book commissioned by Penguin, which will start from 3.4 billion years ago, focusing on the geology of the Deccan plateau. He shared that he has been tracking the story of every dynasty that had anything to do with the area of Bangalore, and he is launching Season 2 of his podcast on April 24th. Ramjee also mentioned that he has been receiving correspondence from history professors and has been invited to give lectures on history.
Animal Welfare and Heritage Vehicles
Ramjee and Priya discussed their shared passion for animal welfare and heritage issues. Ramjee praised Priya's work in fostering a change in people's attitudes towards pets and her role in the welfare of animals. He also mentioned his own efforts to improve his knowledge of Sanskrit and Prakrit. Priya expressed her gratitude for Ramjee's recognition and shared her plans to expand their initiatives to other cities. They also discussed the importance of enabling and aggregating efforts in their work.
Instagram Growth and Heritage Promotion
Priya and Ramjee discussed the growth and reach of their Instagram page, "The History of Bangalore," which has gained 50,000 followers organically. They also talked about the podcast's massive subscriber base, spanning Bangaloreans worldwide. Ramjee emphasized the importance of organic growth in promoting history, as it cannot be promoted with spending money. Priya shared her experience with the Heritage Post Office Beau Lieu and curating the Postal Trail, highlighting the pride and interest it has generated. They also discussed the potential for government offices to open up and the creation of guides for heritage sites. Ramjee expressed his interest in working with the Heritage Beku and Priya suggested focusing on low-hanging fruit like government offices. They also touched on the idea of having ambassadors for heritage and the potential for a history book on Bangalore.
Bangalore's History and Misconceptions
Priya and Ramjee discussed the history of Bangalore and the various ways it is being presented to the public. Ramjee explained that he started researching the history of Bangalore after realizing that many myths and misconceptions about the city's past were being perpetuated. He decided to write about Bangalore himself, and has been researching the city's history for over a year. He has created a podcast with 52 episodes that tracks the history of Bangalore from the 4th century to the start of the Vijay Nagara kingdom. He also mentioned that he has created a promotional page for the podcast on Instagram, which includes quick nuggets of information about the city's history.
Ramjee's Passion for History Research
Priya and Ramjee discussed Ramjee's passion for history and his extensive research on the subject. Ramjee explained that he was motivated by the absence of history in his education and the desire to uncover roots and connections. He shared his daily routine of studying history from morning to night and his upcoming book on the history of Bangalore. Ramjee also mentioned his use of AI-based scholarship tools to aid his research. The conversation ended with Ramjee highlighting the public's interest in history that is relatable to their everyday experiences.
Heritage and Water Management in Bangalore
Ramjee discusses the importance of heritage, particularly focusing on Bangalore's historical water management systems. He explains that Bangalore's existence as a metropolis is due to ancient rainwater harvesting techniques dating back to the 8th century, with man-made tanks and natural depressions still visible today. Priya adds that current small initiatives, like rainwater harvesting pits in Cubbon Park, are continuing this tradition. They both emphasize the importance of preserving and learning from historical practices to address current environmental challenges. Ramjee then shares a story about his involvement in exposing and stopping the illegal dumping of construction debris in Cubbon Park's ponds in the 1990s, which helped protect the park. Priya concludes by highlighting the park's beauty during the COVID-19 lockdown, when reduced human activity allowed nature to flourish.
Bangalore's Heritage and Conservation Efforts
The discussion covers several topics related to heritage and conservation efforts in Bangalore. Priya and Ramjee talk about past campaigns to make Cubbon Park traffic-free, which ultimately did not succeed but led to some positive changes. They discuss the importance of greenery to Bangalore's identity and how residents are quick to protect trees. Priya mentions her work with dog squads and efforts to help street animals, which Ramjee praises as an example of grassroots engagement. They also discuss initiatives like a proposed "tree ambulance" and campaigns like Stranglehold to ban dangerous kite string. The conversation highlights the role of citizen activism and collaboration with authorities in preserving Bangalore's heritage and environment.
Unraveling Deccan's Rich Historical Tapestry
Ramjee discusses his fascination with researching the history of the Deccan region, particularly the multifaceted nature of ancient kings and the robust education system for royalty. He highlights the importance of trade routes that continued uninterrupted even during wars. Ramjee explains his approach to piecing together history from various sources like inscriptions, architecture, legends, and oral histories. He emphasizes the need to make historical information more accessible and relatable to the public. Ramjee also mentions his upcoming podcast season and his efforts to understand linguistic nuances in historical inscriptions to gain deeper insights.
Collaborating on Heritage Initiatives in Bangalore
Ramjee and Priya discuss collaborating on heritage initiatives in Bangalore. Priya invites Ramjee to partner with Heritage Beku, a diverse group working on heritage projects. They agree to have their teams brainstorm ideas together. Priya mentions plans to revive the Cubbon Park bandstand with performances and historical conversations. Ramjee expresses admiration for Bangalore's activists and volunteers. The conversation concludes with Ramjee sharing his recent book 'No Reason at All' about his experiences in Delhi involving a controversy with Rajiv Gandhi.
Next steps
Ramjee to continue working on Season 2 of the History of Bangalore podcast, launching on April 24th.
Priya to send Ramjee information about the "Stranglehold" campaign against manja in kite flying.
Ramjee to consider doing a podcast episode on the history of birds in Bangalore.
Priya to follow up with Ramjee on potential collaboration ideas for Heritage Beku initiatives.
