History can happen over chai
A history and archaeology venture with a difference, Chai with History encourages perspective and discussion in its monthly sessions
A hot cup of chai can start a lot of things. Even ruminations on history, Lathashree Kolla will have you know. Armed with little more than a passion for the past (and sometimes, slides on genetic migration), the archaeologist has, for three years, been combining her two loves, tea and history, in a venture called Chai with History. A motley crowd gathers once every month for an interactive two-hour-long lesson on history and archaeology. But this isn’t some run-of-the-mill ‘history talk’, she warns. “I don’t think Chai with History is one of those places where you come, listen, take pictures and go,” she says with a laugh. Point noted.
It is an initiative where participants have freewheeling discussions about all topics related to history. That the ‘classroom’ happens under the canopy of a tree in Museum grounds with breaks for chai at its small tea shop actually led to the christening of the group. The first time they met – a bunch of people who connected through social media – it was at Koshy’s in 2013, but the subsequent meetings happened outdoors. “The start of this group was very simple,” she says. “I had finished my master’s degree from the Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute in Pune and had come back here. While talking to my friends, someone suggested why not meet up somewhere so that I could explain them about archaeology and history.”
The first series was about Indian History. So great was the enthusiasm to learn, that many requested a fixed syllabus, and regular coursework. They learned about the rulers of India, from Ashoka to the Cholas and others. They learned the Ashoka Brahmi script – the mode of communication of that period – and when they wanted to test their newfound knowledge, the group would pop into the museum and look at the inscriptions displayed there. “Isn’t that the best way to relish history?” she asks. After every session, an open box lets people contribute money if they want to. Those who have knowledge of a particular aspect of history or archaeology can hold a session for the group. Like Gurudutt Dixit, a IT professional, who has taken in-depth sessions for the group on public archaeology, or Abhilash Sivadas, who held a session on Vaastu Shastra.
With training in archaeology – “we archaeologists are a crazy bunch of people” – and field work in rural Bengaluru, Kolla says the city offers a unique lesson into practically all time periods starting right from the beginning of time with its geological land forms. “Ancient India is seen in Begur and Nandi, the medieval in Tipu’s Palace, and modern in its numerous churches and in the cantonment area,” she says, passionately.
It isn’t for everyone, and Kolla isn’t afraid to say so. She relies on word-of-mouth to draw in participants, shunning further publicity for fear that some will want to come for the sessions just for a “touristy walk”. “That is not what I am looking at,” she says, citing one of the strangest requests she got. It went: ‘Dear Madam, I am Mr ____. I belong to the _____ kula. As you already know, our people have contributed so much to India/Karnataka/ culture’. She says, “He wanted me to research into depths of his kula and that is not what the group is about. And certainly not what I do.” Participants should come to the group “either as a teacher or as a student,” she says. Discussions are welcome provided “you have done your homework.” That includes pre-reading material that she suggests based on the subject she decides in advance.
Kolla knows most of the other groups that conduct history walks in the city, and has even conducted specialised walks for the INTACH. This group too plans outings to important locations as part of the Explorer Series. The first one is to the Vellore Fort and its surrounds. She hopes that understanding history and archaeology will deepen people’s interest in the glorious past of the country.
And in themselves too. She recalls an intense session on migration, where she proved how the city was a haven for migrants right from the Kushalas “who were foreigners”. One man pondered out aloud – “So, who am I?” That deep yearning led her to pull out slides on genetic migration – thus starting another sojourn of Chai with History. History, after all, is more than just figures from the past – it’s also a way of discovering ourselves.
Field Trip to Vellore and surrounds - Explorer Series by Chai With History, Sept 26-27. Contact: multidresearch@gmail.com
WHAT: A two-hour informal teaching/discussion on history and archeology (about Bengaluru and India) conducted once a month over chai
WHY: “Understanding history and archaeology will deepen people’s interest in the past of the country and also it is a way of discovering ourselves,” Lathashree Kolla says
WHEN: Chai with history was started by Kolla in 2013
WHERE: Different venues. People can get to know about the topic of discussion and the venue by looking at the schedule on their Facebook page Chai With History. Anyone who is an enthusiast can join the group to develop an interest in the subject that is “beyond travelling to places and taking a display picture”.
Looking back:
Book Reading Series: Chai With History conducted study sessions on how to read and appreciate apparently complex styles of academic writing. The stress was on how to gain information from historical and archaeological tomes and papers. For instance, acade-mic journals on the Harappan Civilisation from the pa-st 15 years were read to help understand that period.
Public Archaeology Series: This series invited people to share their knowledge and create archaeology databases. By engaging the public to share archaeological findings and promote stewardship of cultural resources, the series made archaeology relevant to society. There were activities like a field trip to Devanahalli Fort, a session on Vaastu Shastra and an introduction to South Indian temple architecture which was conducted by an IT engineer Shashi Kolar.
A hot cup of chai can start a lot of things. Even ruminations on history, Lathashree Kolla will have you know. Armed with little more than a passion for the past (and sometimes, slides on genetic migration), the archaeologist has, for three years, been combining her two loves, tea and history, in a venture called Chai with History. A motley crowd gathers once every month for an interactive two-hour-long lesson on history and archaeology. But this isn’t some run-of-the-mill ‘history talk’, she warns. “I don’t think Chai with History is one of those places where you come, listen, take pictures and go,” she says with a laugh. Point noted.
It is an initiative where participants have freewheeling discussions about all topics related to history. That the ‘classroom’ happens under the canopy of a tree in Museum grounds with breaks for chai at its small tea shop actually led to the christening of the group. The first time they met – a bunch of people who connected through social media – it was at Koshy’s in 2013, but the subsequent meetings happened outdoors. “The start of this group was very simple,” she says. “I had finished my master’s degree from the Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute in Pune and had come back here. While talking to my friends, someone suggested why not meet up somewhere so that I could explain them about archaeology and history.”
The first series was about Indian History. So great was the enthusiasm to learn, that many requested a fixed syllabus, and regular coursework. They learned about the rulers of India, from Ashoka to the Cholas and others. They learned the Ashoka Brahmi script – the mode of communication of that period – and when they wanted to test their newfound knowledge, the group would pop into the museum and look at the inscriptions displayed there. “Isn’t that the best way to relish history?” she asks. After every session, an open box lets people contribute money if they want to. Those who have knowledge of a particular aspect of history or archaeology can hold a session for the group. Like Gurudutt Dixit, a IT professional, who has taken in-depth sessions for the group on public archaeology, or Abhilash Sivadas, who held a session on Vaastu Shastra.
With training in archaeology – “we archaeologists are a crazy bunch of people” – and field work in rural Bengaluru, Kolla says the city offers a unique lesson into practically all time periods starting right from the beginning of time with its geological land forms. “Ancient India is seen in Begur and Nandi, the medieval in Tipu’s Palace, and modern in its numerous churches and in the cantonment area,” she says, passionately.
Chai with History has takers from all walks of life. Some, like John R Fernando just walked into one of their sessions and asked if he could join the group, participate in and photograph the sessions. And some, like Pavan Srinath, head Policy research Takshashila, was completely “blown away” by the intellectual depth of the one session he attended on temple architecture a few weeks ago at the Bhoganandeeshwara temple below Nandi Hills, after a friend told him about the group. “I came away understanding the subject in-depth,” Srinath says of his experience. He then returned home and joined the group online.
It isn’t for everyone, and Kolla isn’t afraid to say so. She relies on word-of-mouth to draw in participants, shunning further publicity for fear that some will want to come for the sessions just for a “touristy walk”. “That is not what I am looking at,” she says, citing one of the strangest requests she got. It went: ‘Dear Madam, I am Mr ____. I belong to the _____ kula. As you already know, our people have contributed so much to India/Karnataka/ culture’. She says, “He wanted me to research into depths of his kula and that is not what the group is about. And certainly not what I do.” Participants should come to the group “either as a teacher or as a student,” she says. Discussions are welcome provided “you have done your homework.” That includes pre-reading material that she suggests based on the subject she decides in advance.
Kolla knows most of the other groups that conduct history walks in the city, and has even conducted specialised walks for the INTACH. This group too plans outings to important locations as part of the Explorer Series. The first one is to the Vellore Fort and its surrounds. She hopes that understanding history and archaeology will deepen people’s interest in the glorious past of the country.
And in themselves too. She recalls an intense session on migration, where she proved how the city was a haven for migrants right from the Kushalas “who were foreigners”. One man pondered out aloud – “So, who am I?” That deep yearning led her to pull out slides on genetic migration – thus starting another sojourn of Chai with History. History, after all, is more than just figures from the past – it’s also a way of discovering ourselves.
Field Trip to Vellore and surrounds - Explorer Series by Chai With History, Sept 26-27. Contact: multidresearch@gmail.com
WHAT: A two-hour informal teaching/discussion on history and archeology (about Bengaluru and India) conducted once a month over chai
WHY: “Understanding history and archaeology will deepen people’s interest in the past of the country and also it is a way of discovering ourselves,” Lathashree Kolla says
WHEN: Chai with history was started by Kolla in 2013
WHERE: Different venues. People can get to know about the topic of discussion and the venue by looking at the schedule on their Facebook page Chai With History. Anyone who is an enthusiast can join the group to develop an interest in the subject that is “beyond travelling to places and taking a display picture”.
Looking back:
Book Reading Series: Chai With History conducted study sessions on how to read and appreciate apparently complex styles of academic writing. The stress was on how to gain information from historical and archaeological tomes and papers. For instance, acade-mic journals on the Harappan Civilisation from the pa-st 15 years were read to help understand that period.
Public Archaeology Series: This series invited people to share their knowledge and create archaeology databases. By engaging the public to share archaeological findings and promote stewardship of cultural resources, the series made archaeology relevant to society. There were activities like a field trip to Devanahalli Fort, a session on Vaastu Shastra and an introduction to South Indian temple architecture which was conducted by an IT engineer Shashi Kolar.
