“Indian Civilization is an Idea But Also an Enigma”: Author of ‘Indians’

In an interview to talk about his fascinating series on Indian history called 'Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization’, which covers a sweep of time from the Indus Valley Civilization to the dawn of the British age, and has attracted tens of millions of viewers, both within India and abroad, the scriptwriter and anchor of the series says Indian civilization is both an idea but also an enigma. The first is easy to understand the second is intriguing. However, I will leave you to watch the interview to find out why Namit Arora has said this. When you do you will discover how right he is.
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[@user-tf1cn9ve5n]

Not many people are saying this, but the series was quite balanced and intellectually nourishing.

[@atiqaroha6421]

Fantastic work, as a non indian i was very impressed with the non biased information given in the whole series I would definitely recommend it to a wider audience who is interested in Indian history Well done 👍

[@jamilakoshy3324]

Such a pleasure listening to this. Loved "Indians". Thanks!

[@jidrit999]

Lot of nonsense in that

[@jamilkhan715]

Great. I have seen all his videos. To me it was an eye opener. Grateful to karan also for his very positive view about indo pak relations.

[@atompf24]

Every Saturday I eagerly waited for each episode of Namit Arora’s video series. It was brilliant!

[@Asterix0110]

Absolutely agree with you.

[@DigitUnni]

Mashallah

[@Ratv57]

Fantastic series and interesting as well. Loved it. Also a great discussion and erudite answers by Namit. Well done

[@shrinidhikulkarni479]

The series is amazing. I want it will be translated to all Indian languages.

[@RameshJain]

I loved your series on interesting and insightful discussions. This one is one of the best. We need to understand India among all that is being said about us - Indians - mostly by uninformed people. Mr Arora is one of the most honest and bold Indians, I know.

[@AReo-pl1eq]

Thank you, brilliant work for the country, Namit 🙏

[@lakshmipalanichamy5015]

Excellent interview ..same holds good for the series..very very interesting and informative…👍👏👌…glad we still have good intellect in our country 🙏

[@Rizwan-Ali]

This shows if you follow your passion you can make a change through your work.

[@chandrikaroy1060]

Excellent interview. I had watched all the episodes and they were great. Thanks to Karan Thaper and Namit Arora.

[@arjun.cheeroth]

Thank you Karan for this interview. I'm a regular viewer but i have to admit i ignored Namit Aroras series when it was initially released. Thanks to this interview i started watching it and i have to say It's one of the best explanations of indian history that I've encountered. I'll have to read the book now!

[@vishaalbhatnagar3924]

Great conversation! Great historical series. ❤

[@sainair]

Excellent discussion. This was long overdue. I wanted this discussion between Karan and Namit. Eagerly waiting for Namit's upcoming book.

[@ashokddani]

Great interview. Both Karan and Mr Aurora

[@AnirimaGhosh]

The only thing about the series I didn’t like: that series ended. Wish there was more to it.

[@Asterix0110]

Yes, I agree. There are still so many holes which could have been filled admirably by Mr Arora.

[@TMTyoutube]

haha well history is only so much. we are adding to it as we speak.

[@VijayKumar-jk4wj]

this book is entirely correct..

[@kalebj7001]

Wish this series covered more topics from ancient and mediaeval India.. really loved the presentations

[@CjK007Bond]

Thanks for this interview Karan , I’ve watched all of Namit’s web series episodes, and it changed my perspective towards history specially towards Mughal history.

[@CommanderAnuragSaxena]

It was a delight to see Mr Namit being interviewed by Karan.

[@Oceansta]

This series is truly remarkable. Will be a hard pill to swallow on some level for andhbhakhts.

[@harendragautam872]

Thanks!

[@baggamohit]

“Awesome” just one word to tag this episode

[@binduearath807]

Great work 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@debashistalukdar5523]

Learnt a great deal about Indian history from his webseries. Sadly I cant remember all the dates and names from history, but I am glad that I am learning the right unbiased unbigoted history. I believe, in order for one to know ones present and future the right way, its of paramount importance to know and learn the history the right way.

[@jidrit999]

this is not unbigoted history. this is biases towards brahmins

[@debashistalukdar5523]

@@jidrit999 Is it shame and guilt thats making you hide behind this rejection of history. Will you also then deny that Ambedkar wasn't one of victims of caste based oppression?

[@jidrit999]

@@debashistalukdar5523 whole of history is not caste Based oppression, neither all Brahmins were like that. Bhakti movement was reform movement in this direction where many Upper caste so called participated n has disciples from all castes. This series however whitewashed all brutality of islamic rule on hindus. This video series has not done any justification to spiritual prowess of Hindus and made many unproven claims like Brahminism finished Buddhism. This is not surprising as this video is sponsored by Raza academy

[@debashistalukdar5523]

@@jidrit999 of course not, the author is not polarized for sure. And may be not all upper castes were delusional. Like not all Germans picked up weapons against jews, but 6 million jews did die at the hands of Germans. So if a German says history is biased against them, guess your stomach will turn. Moreover evils were done by hindu kings upon others as well. But their religion is not dragged in to fit a popular narrative, like the current one. Moreover history is for education, not exact revenge, coz no one is clean I guess. So a request, let's just keep it that way. Enjoy history, learn from it with open mind.

[@whywhywhy2182]

An astonishing work by Amit Arora. I have been regularly watching all his episodes, particularly happened to watch the one with Satavahana kings, as I was curious to know about history of that part of region. Subsequently, I have made it a point not to miss any of the episodes. Infact, his narration made to buy that book and it gave me opportunity to learn more about true version of history based on logic and documentary evidence. Really appreciate the author to bring his series of episodes and the book in this timeline, where one has think twice before expressing one's rational opinion on matters of migration of Aryans, many other contentious issues like birthplace of ...etc.

[@ranganathanv5365]

Namit Arora' episodes are a wonderful way to jump start the learning on Indian history

[@sonachenab]

Great interview..

[@nasirmustafa2492]

Great work, indeed. We are descendents of a great civilization.

[@prettyamrita4909]

I just start to watch this interview because of one word Enigma because I also have this feeling after reading history there are so much missing of facts nd lots of chaos in our history

[@mathewkurian3576]

Great interview. Thanks

[@IreneRosul-vy9zm]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@sanjeevsharma-jh8jo]

Namit has decoded our past credibly. Loved it.

[@sanjeevsharma-jh8jo]

@@Rajasthani710 Great ! You know a lot. Perhaps! You are direct creation of Pushkar Pond or Yagna that took place in the mount Abu. Satya MeV Jayate. Vasudev Kutumbcum. मूरत ह्रदय न चेत ज्यों गुरू मिलिहं विरचं सम। खुस रहो। दूधो नहाओ पूतो फलो। अब कोई सम्राट नहीं होगा। जनता को ठगने वाला ठग अवश्य हो सकता है। रस्सी जल जाती है पर एठन नहीं जाती है। जय हो। 🌼🌺🌼

[@mohammedmurtaza3257]

One of the most outstanding interviews I've seen lately...

[@AsadKhan-ii3es]

Excellent discussion...

[@tbs698]

I have watched/heard 3 sequels from IVC to Vijanagara kingdoms. Very interesting and enlightening.

[@gitanjalikhanduri314]

An excellent conversation.

[@fawadzakariya7480]

Namit did a great series, thanks to the Wire. Excellent for Karan to interview him.

[@santoshpillai6945]

Dear Mr. Arora You are an inspiration. I purchased the book as i was watching this interview. Look forward to some great reading. I happened to see the Vijaynagar episode and got hooked to it. Even more excited to know that you are an engineer with passion for history. I am also an engineer with a liking for history. You are my role model.

[@souparnadhar7034]

Hello, Mr. Pillai as you said you brought the book can you give a brief review about it? I was also planning to buy Namit Arora's book. Are there more information in the book than there are in the series?

[@mdimtiyaz-zl5gp]

Good interview - namit arora is cool guy...

[@nitinpatil9555]

Wonderful !

[@imtu75]

Thank you!!!!

[@lingunite]

"hindutwa scholar is an oxymoron" spot on!

[@Asterix0110]

@@FreddieMurphy746 Wonder, was this supposed to be a debate? Or, was it just a conversation to know more about the author and his works?

[@JthElement]

@@FreddieMurphy746There does not have to be 'the other side'. Its not black and white. Sometimes there is only one side or there are many sides. Most things are not binary. And, there is nothing to 'rebut' here. Why don't you do it, wisecrack, rather than leaving a vague comment?

[@therash09]

Every radical scholar is an oxymoron, be it Hindutvavaadi, Ummahvaadi, Khalistani, Vaampanthi. Every right wing and left wing indoctrination is horrible and dangerous.

[@sreedhark.r.1532]

@lingunite. Comment from a Hindutvavadi Thanks for your arrogant Comment. Please be in your elitist bubble, so that we can reach out to all section of society

[@lingunite]

@@sreedhark.r.1532 I don't know somebody misread me. I meant a sensible and scholastic person cannot be a bigot

[@getttganesh]

Great interview and a great historian, I love that Namur Arora’s series, must watch for all Indians

[@VijayKumar-jk4wj]

this book seems to be authentic and based on history.. facts..

[@JetFlash512MB]

To the great audience an question , who has viewed the video series by this historian 1. The historian do comments that Santini's/Hinduism giving Lord Buddha status as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu is a political ploy. But if u ask them about Akbar giving Rajputs a place in his administration then they will say that there was no politics in that and that was done out of love or compassion for his subjects. So whatever spirutualists does , that is done out of political acumen but when real politician take some action , that is done because of love & compassion.

[@snehalathaebenezer3035]

Watching this and listening to both of you was indeed a pleasure.

[@ejazwaliyar]

The positive gesture in questioning about Pakistan is admirable

[@seetaramaraomamidi3179]

Recently, a book authored by Kalluri Bhaskaram in Telugu " These are our roots " (ఇవీ మన మూలాలు) is launched. It is extensively researched encompassing many disciplines , genetics, archaeology,social ,cultural, linguistic, religious, literary. He traces human evolution from about 70000 years to the present and how indian civilization has evolved with scientific proofs. In this effort he opens new windows to dwell upon. I need to read repeatedly to understand . There are extensive reviews in youtube about the book by a galaxy of personalities organised by "Mana manchi pusthakam ". The book is published by Astra publishers.

[@satyarthwonderboy9906]

Where can I see this series

[@padminimirchandani1879]

Loved this episode. Look forward to watching the series.

[@ramakrishnarouthu6634]

V R Narla late journalist, wrote Raja Rammohan Roy made fervent appeals to the British for introduction of English edn in India. According to him, English education laid foundation for intellectual independence. I believe Narla was right in every respect.

[@amitavabhattacharya8759]

Excellent

[@sanjaydubey5472]

Hamare Loktantrik Desh Bharat mein Loktantrik Moolyon ki Raksha Honee Chahiye.---- AJAM, Buxar, Bihar.

[@ramchander1688]

He is great historian ❤

[@kaushalgagan6723]

Thanks for this interview as always it was insightful ❤

[@ericbanasea]

Watched the whole series recently. Commendable work by Namit. He has very softly refuted the ideas of Hindutwa as well as other religions.

[@mary-rj3df]

A very refreshing interview yet again Sir❤

[@bashirarsalan]

Good one

[@m.r.barkaati3190]

Karan Thapar, you are a fearless and honest journalist. I remember that you had interviewed Modi ji, during which Modi ji had to ask for water because he was not able to answer any question. I wish you could interview the PM again. Take it and ask about the problems of the people. Our PM speaks his mind but does not listen to the people. It seems that our country India is in the hands of a dictator.

[@1008apocalypse1008]

Karan Thapar should interview Muslim politicians and ask about सर तन से जुदा, हलाला, तीन तलाक, 😅

[@sm9214]

​@1008apocalypse1008 Muslims make demands on the basis of religion. But shamelessly beg democracies to treat them on tolerance.

[@user-ho2bm5gv2i]

​@@1008apocalypse1008❤❤ sanghi janvaron ko aql Kam he

[@Sarthakkumarpal]

Are you joking! Modi only gives interview to equals such as Akshay Kumar😂

[@budsurtees4224]

It SEEMS? There is no seeming. India IS now a fascist state. It was never a true democracy to begin with, considering its feudal past and mindset, but with Modi India has given up all pretensions at being a democracy.

[@VijayKumar-jk4wj]

Is this book translated in hindi..

[@amania9254]

He did a great job 👏

[@praveenkumar-qc8zy]

Great

[@shrikantmahajan3750]

Lovely! One get pleased. The author namit seems to be narm(gentle )human being without any demands of celebrity status and recognition instead an inquisitive normal human being with big human heart and humane feelings! Well as I see how all the only three rulers are great of many ,the Alexander the ashoka the akbar these crude warriors rulers ultimately changed their own behaviour habits and actions and turn themselves from having anger and violence to gentleness and nonviolence thus correcting and winning humanity !

[@nandans2506]

What? 😂😂

[@ekamsat429]

A couple of years of wait for the next title may prove to be too long if there is a politically motivated rapid backslide of the modern values.

[@AvArasu]

This is really awesome and those interested in History must watch this. Hearty Congrats 🎉 for both.

[@fotorajesh]

Please Madame/Sir, anyone have the link to listen or watch the discussion with the Pakistani scholar and audience, please could you. I would be very grateful..

[@fotorajesh]

I meant the discussion Mr. Arora and Mr. Thapar are talking about towards the end.. please

[@irfansayed414]

Karan Thapar's talk shows are unbelievably energizing. The element of 'informed' intellect adds such tremendous value that would only be attainable by umpteen hours of laboured effort. Thank you Mr. Arora for your dedicated adventures, motivated entirely by the search for history. Moreover, Pakistan and India get bonded for a moment! That's awesome, isn't it?

[@camelkarma]

😂. Because he is always soft on left leaning folks. His hard stance is nowhere to be seen.

[@sathyansundar]

Saw all the 10 episodes with my family members. The positive notes on them was the repeated reaffirmation that the civilization of India didn't commence with the Vedic (otherwise Brahminic Aryan concepts) scriptures and the epics. The surprise and disappointing feature is what Namit himself admitted and felt sympathetic about the exclusion of the south. One episode on the Vijaynagar empire will not do any justice to the contributions that south has made. The naval expeditions and expansion of the Cholas were completely ignored, which put India on the maritime history of the world was sadly avoided. On these line, Namit Arora sadly sat on the same lines to his North Indian predecessors on the subject. Sympathies and apologies won't fix things, only actions will, if we want to the tell the world, the story of India.

[@Indian-xj5ww]

Disagree. Do you not remember episode 4, "The Ikshvakus of Andhra Pradesh", and half of episode 7, on Marco Polo's visit to the coastal south? Add episode 8 on Vijayanagar and that's 2.5 episodes out of 10 devoted entirely to the south (plus others bits here and there).

[@sathyansundar]

@@Indian-xj5ww Agree and disagree. Yes here and there...not fully. So even based on your view of 2.5 episodes out of 10, doesn't justify.

[@gopalaraodasari7743]

How can one forget the cholas ?!

[@gangadharhiremath7306]

"Hindutwa scholar is an oxymoron..." Karan Thapar's gleeful smile at this statement is truly memorable.

[@justicelovermeenaji]

timestamps?

[@pbghosh5305]

Excellent mind.🎉🎉🎉

[@envermasud2160]

Thank you Amit Arora and Karan Thapar. I'm thinking of using 'Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization’ to kick-off an educational series at my retirement community in the "data center capital of the world." - PS I too am an SSC graduate (1959)

[@ileenollukaren6244]

Awesome Karan u have a great eye and Namit has done a fantastic job loved his interview

[@srikantpanda7966]

4:00 its a good series by namit arora, but for those who has read the discovery of India by Nehru .. (ya the forced chacha from the kaul family near a neher , became nehru... ), this series seems a re-writting of it, discovery of india by jawaharlal Nehru .... thanks for reviving that To make it even more authentic by mr namit arora, wish many of the missed or shorten topics related to charaka, shushruth, kalidasa, aryabhatta, and shankaracharya, etc could have also got similar elaboration like other characters in the series.... This is where they say .. history is written and louded from a winners perspective, be it a winner from any angle, power, politics, money, name , and or fame .... please prove it wrong.

[@lightgatha]

A good man

[@sm9214]

There are two kinds of historians in India. One writes from the Indians' view of the alien occupiers, invaders and rapists. The other one writes on deputation for the latter.

[@ganeshiyer5249]

Remarkable interview. A must watch for a lover of history

[@Wanderer975]

Nice

[@OP-rp4hc]

Please make animated video of Indian series for kids...... They will enjoy and understand real history rather fake

[@srim6671]

Funny how the author can’t hide his biases. Brahminism is not a religion. Otherwise a good discussion

[@ramakrishnang2449]

Brilliant presentation.

[@Sarthakkumarpal]

To think of Hindutwa scholar is an oxymoron.

[@majidturk4752]

पता नहीं सभी लोग मिलकर प्रदर्शन क्यों नहीं करते इवीएम को हटाने के लिए 😢😢😢😢😢

[@1008apocalypse1008]

क्योंकि evm में कोई गड़बड़ नहीं है। तुम अपनी सोच बदलो। शरिया नहीं चलेगा।

[@user-ky8pp4yk1t]

"Namit Arora" A brilliant historian ..i am a fan of your presentations.

[@ANUJKUMAR-on4yg]

For better understand history,Visit “Bihar Museum” in Patna-the best museum in India..

[@kathirko]

Unsurprisingly yet unfortunately, this is a new view/perspective of Indian history for most Indians (particularly North Indians). In Tamil Nadu and also most of Kerala, the perspective of India more or less aligns with what you have portrayed. However, there is a perspective from the South. Unfortunately most of India refuses to consider it.

[@alani3992]

People of the South are just satisfied with domination of the North. Delimiation will further quash them.

[@ragup205]

🎉🎉🎉❤

[@user-go2tt8od3i]

What a nice experience!

[@anikettripathi7991]

Nationalists and Antinational can't have same ideology. We get what we focus ..

[@UjalaSingh-gm1dg]

Now I actually realize that good things take time.

[@Heart_Surgeon_Nirmal_Gupta]

Amazing -You are Namit Ji.

[@mooncatcher1]

Namit Aurora very elucidative as usual

[@smiritigoswamiclass-5.398]

We are always with neutral and intellectual media and Karan Thapar.❤😂🎉.

[@user-qp5go8iq6h]

The Continent of Circe by Nirad c Chaudhuri

[@user-sx4mq6zn9o]

Good interview.

[@amaitra]

IITKGP ka tempo high hain!

[@sanvat6379]

I thoroughly enjoyed the series #Indians. Well timed. In fact, after watching the initial episodes, I started waitng for the next ones to arrive. Thanks Namit. It was a great job, especially in these times when a large segment of Indians are fed & unnecessarily charged up with vicious communal identity propaganda virus. Your series #Indians seemed like a sanity- infusing, antivirus vaccination drive. I hope it helps. In this interview, particularly, your one word comment on the term #HindutvaScholars was on the dot ..... Look forward to #ModernIndians 👍

[@user-qp5go8iq6h]

“ The Continent of Circe “

[@anandmohan4657]

Namit's sequel on modern india will be welcomed by large section of public

[@shantakaram1]

I recommend to Viewes of this Episode to also read the Book: INDIANS- A brief History of a CIVILIZATION. Of course as Mr. Arora says nowadays Video Format is more Popular and Convenient. This Project concieved and executed by an IITian gives some scientific application of Mind.