“Historians are prophets looking backwards.” Prof Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Chancellor of Ashoka University, held a packed audience at Pundole’s in Mumbai spellbound with his talk on the revolt of 1857. It was a thrilling account of a traumatic and transformative episode in our nation’s history. Peppered with priceless anecdotes and the good professor’s compelling opinions, this was a great example of how to engage with history—respectfully, critically and with compassion for both the conquered and the conquerors. Before the talk, the Prof asked for a small change in the title of the talk. He ended by explaining why—watch to find out.
Rudrangshu Mukherjee is an esteemed historian and the author of many well-regarded books, five of which focus on the Indian Revolution of 1857. Besides being the Chancellor, he is also a professor of history of Ashoka University. Professor Mukherjee has a D.Phil in Modern History from Oxford University and was previously the editor of The Telegraph’s editorial pages.
