Best Shinil Subramanian Payamal Podcasts (2025)

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My Name is Gauhar Jaan written by Vikram Sampath - Book Review 6:33

4d ago6:33

6:33

Vikram Sampath’s ‘My Name is Gauhar Jaan: Life and Times of a Musician’ is a meticulously researched and engrossing biography that revives the fascinating life of one of India’s earliest recording artists—Gauhar Jaan. Order links of the book 'My Name is Gauhar Jaan: Life and Times of a Musician' below: Amazon India: Paperback Hardcover Kindle Amazo…

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From The Holy Mountain written by William Dalrymple - Book Review 5:28

5d ago5:28

5:28

William Dalrymple’s third book 'From The Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium' published in 1997, is a masterful blend of travelogue, history, and cultural exploration. Order links of the book 'From The Holy Mountain' below: Amazon India: Paperback Hardcover Kindle Amazon USA: Hardcover Paperback Kindle And please don't forget to che…

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The Blood Telegram written by Gary J. Bass - Book Review 5:01

18d ago5:01

5:01

This magnificent history provides an unprecedented chronicle of the 1971 break-up of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. It provides the first full account of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s secret support for Pakistan in 1971 as it committed shocking atrocities in Bangladesh. Order links of the book 'The Blood Telegram' below: Amazon Indi…

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The Origin of Species written by Charles Darwin - Book Review 3:34

1M ago3:34

3:34

A true masterpiece, The Origin of Species laid the foundation of evolutionary biology as early as 1859. Extraordinarily well written, the book doesn’t only explain evolution in an instructive and accessible manner, it also includes fascinating stories about how the process of natural selection occurs in the animal and plant kingdoms. Order links of…

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A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar written by Robert Sewell - Book Review 5:00

1M ago5:00

5:00

First published in 1900, ‘A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar’ is unbiased research and work on the Vijayanagar Empire by Robert Sewell, a collector, and magistrate in Madras Presidency in colonial India. Order links of the book 'A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar' below: Amazon India: Paperback Hardcover Kindle Amazon USA: Paperback Hardcover Kindle And …

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Independence written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - Book Review 4:08

2M ago4:08

4:08

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's powerful new novel 'Independence' is a moving story of loyalty and love, nationhood and sisterhood, set against India's independence movement, at once exhilarating and devastating. Order links of the book 'Independence' below: Amazon India: Hardcover Paperback Kindle Audible Amazon USA: Hardcover Paperback Kindle Audibl…

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Hormegeddon written by Bill Bonner - Book Review 4:12

2M ago4:12

4:12

From the mind of Bill Bonner comes Hormegeddon, a phenomenon that occurs when a small dose of something produces a favorable result, but if you increase the dosage, the results end in disaster. The same applies when the world gets too much of a good thing in public policy, economics, and business. Drawing on examples throughout modern political his…

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Top 27 Most Anticipated History Books of 2025 11:12

3M ago11:12

11:12

These titles span a wide range of historical topics from cultural exchanges, to colonial history, modern conflicts, and environmental perspectives, providing a rich selection for history enthusiasts in 2025. Remember, publication dates might shift, but these are currently anticipated for release in 2025. And please don't forget to checkout Historyl…

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On War written by Carl von Clausewitz - Book Review 6:49

3M ago6:49

6:49

Carl von Clausewitz's On War is the most substantial pursuit in Western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Since the title's first existence in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has enlivened generations of soldiers, intellectuals and political leaders. This book is one of the mos…

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The Golden Road written by William Dalrymple - Book Review 5:05

3M ago5:05

5:05

'The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World' reveals how Indian ideas transformed the world, crossing political borders to influence everything from the statues of Indian ascetics in Roman seaports to Buddhism in China, and the observatories of Baghdad to crucial mathematical concepts such as ‘zero’ ─ and even the very numbers we use …

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Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum written by Vikram Sampath - Book Review 8:15

4M ago8:15

8:15

Meticulously researched, authoritative and unputdownable, Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (1760-1799) written by Dr. Vikram Sampath opens a window to the life and times of one of the most debated figures from India's history. Order links of the book 'Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (1760-1799)' below: Amazon India: Hardc…

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Imperial Games in Tibet written by Dilip Sinha - Book Review 5:04

4M ago5:04

5:04

In Imperial Games in Tibet: The Struggle for Statehood and Sovereignty, former ambassador Dilip Sinha deftly guides us through the region’s complex geopolitical entanglements, charting its history from the rise of Tibetan Buddhism, through the cloak-and-dagger machinations of the Great Game, to its fateful invasion and annexation by China in 1950. …

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Kautilyanomics written by Sriram Balasubramanian - Book Review 3:56

4M ago3:56

3:56

Kautilyanomics for Modern Times seeks to do three things—first, to provide a structure and a context for Kautilya’s economic thoughts; second, to examine his work’s relevance today; and third, to do it in a way that a lay reader can follow and grasp easily. Order links of the book 'Kautilyanomics: For Modern Times' below: Amazon India: Paperback Ki…

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Rukhmabai written by Sudhir Chandra - Book Review 5:37

5M ago5:37

5:37

'Rukhmabai: The Life and Times of a Child Bride Turned Rebel-Doctor' is the extraordinary story of a child bride who took on the patriarchy and emerged one of India’s pioneering women doctors. An outcome of research spanning decades, Sudhir Chandra’s intelligent, empathetic biography shines brilliant new light on this extraordinary but little-known…

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New Cold Wars written by David E. Sanger - Book Review 6:16

5M ago6:16

6:16

New Cold Wars ― the latest from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author of The Perfect Weapon David E. Sanger ― tells the riveting story of America at a crossroads. At the turn of the millennium, the United States was confident that a democratic Russia and a newly wealthy China could gradually be pulled into the Western-led order. …

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Common Sense written by Thomas Paine - Book Review 3:56

5M ago3:56

3:56

Common Sense is a 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage common people in the Colonies to fight for egalitarian government. It was published anonymously on 10…

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The Bose Deception written by Anuj Dhar and Chandrachur Ghose - Book Review 8:23

5M ago8:23

8:23

'The Bose Deception: Declassified', in this fascinating investigative work, Anuj Dhar and Chandrachur Ghose have rummaged through more than two thousand files declassified in India, and in the UK, USA and Taiwan to disentangle the complex web of a deception plan that has kept the whole country on tenterhooks for decades. They unravel the plot layer…

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The Greatest Nobodies of History written by Adrian Bliss - Book Review 4:07

6M ago4:07

4:07

Equal parts fascinating and hilarious, The Greatest Nobodies of History is a surreal love letter to life’s forgotten heroes, featuring hitherto undocumented accounts from Ancient Greece to the front lines of the Great Emu War. All that follows really happened, and some of it could even be true … Order links of the book 'The Greatest Nobodies of His…

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Bravehearts of Bharat written by Vikram Sampath - Book Review 5:57

6M ago5:57

5:57

Fifteen Brave Men and Women of Bharat who Never Succumbed to the Challenges of Invaders But were Lost and Forgotten in the Annals of History These are the stories of those Bravehearts who Fought to Protect their Rights, Faith and Freedom Pacy and unputdownable, Bravehearts of Bharat chronicles the stories of courage, determination and victory, whic…

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Targeted: Beirut written by Jack Carr and James M. Scott - Book Review 6:25

6M ago6:25

6:25

The first in a new in-depth nonfiction series examining the devastating terrorist attacks that changed the course of history from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott, beginning with the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut. Based on comprehensive interviews with survivors, extensive military r…

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Nexus written by Yuval Noah Harari - Book Review 5:50

7M ago5:50

5:50

'Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI' looks through the long lens of human history to consider how the flow of information has shaped us, and our world. Taking us from the Stone Age, through the canonization of the Bible, early modern witch-hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the resurgence of populism today, Yuval Noa…

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Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples written by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 6:19

7M ago6:19

6:19

Meenakshi Jain’s "Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples" is a compelling exploration of the historical narratives surrounding temples in India, particularly focusing on their transformations and the cultural implications of their journeys through time. Jain, an accomplished historian, combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to illum…

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God's Ghostwriters written by Candida Moss - Book Review 4:53

7M ago4:53

4:53

Filled with profound revelations for reading and understanding the texts themselves, God’s Ghostwriters written by Candida Moss is a groundbreaking and rigorously researched book about how enslaved people shaped the Bible, and with it all of Christianity. It’s also an intimate portrait of lives not often considered by history, and a reckoning with …

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The Demon of Unrest written by Erik Larson - Book Review 5:36

7M ago5:36

5:36

Master storyteller Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s shelling of Sumter—a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. Drawing on diaries, secret communiques, slave ledgers, and plantation records…

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The 1619 Project created by Nikole Hannah-Jones - Book Review 5:55

7M ago5:55

5:55

The 1619 Project charts a new American origin story, beginning not on 4th July 1776 with the American War of Independence, but in August 1619, when a ship arrived in Virginia bearing a cargo of up to thirty enslaved people from Africa. Orchestrated by the editors of the New York Times Magazine and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jon…

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Heresy written by Catherine Nixey - Book Review 6:15

7M ago6:15

6:15

In the early years of the first millennium there were many other saviours, many sons of gods who healed the sick and cured the lame. Among them were Asclepius, the son of Apollo, who made the blind see; gentle, long-haired Apollonius, who raised the dead and Zalmoxis, who promised his followers eternal life. But as Christianity spread across the Me…

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The Darkening Age written by Catherine Nixey - Book Review 4:36

8M ago4:36

4:36

A bold new history of the rise of Christianity, showing how its radical followers ravaged vast swatches of classical culture, plunging the world into an era of dogma and intellectual darkness. Taking readers to the great cities of the ancient world and with a remarkable cast of scholars, zealots, martyrs and demons, The Darkening Age is a wrenching…

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Nuclear War: A Scenario written by Annie Jacobsen - Book Review 5:28

8M ago5:28

5:28

Nuclear war begins with a blip on a radar screen. This is a minute-by-minute account of what comes next. It has to be read to be believed. Nuclear War written by Annie Jacobsen is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever. Order links of the book 'Nuclear War:…

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Sati written by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 7:42

8M ago7:42

7:42

'Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries, and the Changing Colonial Discourse' is not a work on Sati per se. It does not address, in any depth, issues of the possible origins of the rite; its voluntary or mandatory nature; the role, if any, of priests or family members; or any other aspect associated with the actual practice of widow immolation. I…

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An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi - Book Review 7:05

9M ago7:05

7:05

In this fascinating book, Zeinab Badawi guides us through Africa’s spectacular history – from the very origins of our species, through ancient civilisations and medieval empires with remarkable queens and kings, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians…

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Tilak: The Empire's Biggest Enemy by Vaibhav Purandare - Book Review 9:44

9M ago9:44

9:44

Vaibhav Purandare encapsulates Tilak's saga in this definitive biography. He traces Tilak's journey from his early days in Konkan to his influential role across India, highlighting his battles against the British, imprisonments, and commitment to Swaraj. Rediscover an icon of Indian history whose ideas and actions continue to resonate today. Bal Ga…

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From Silk to Silicon written by Jeffrey E. Garten - Book Review 6:21

9M ago6:21

6:21

Globalization has often been understood as an impersonal and abstract phenomenon. Whether in everyday culture or matters of policy, this force has been experienced as something at once general and monolithic. From Silk to Silicon written by Jeffrey E. Garten is the first book to look at a history of globalization as told through the lens of ten ext…

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Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple by Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi - Book Review 6:53

10M ago6:53

6:53

Lauded as one of the one hundred and eight great centres of Vaishnava worship in Bharatha Varsham, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is a treasure-house of art and architecture as well. Despite the changing phases of its evolution, it has guarded and cherished its legacy of spiritualism including continuity of traditional rites and rituals without sacri…

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The British Makeover of India by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 7:21

10M ago7:21

7:21

Early officials of the East India Company were surprised to discover that indigenous institutions of judicial redress had survived in a surprisingly good state during the centuries of “Tartar” rule. They noted that those institutions had largely remained beyond the purview of the medieval state, and had well served the needs of the populace. Subseq…

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The Missing Thread written by Daisy Dunn - Book Review 4:11

10M ago4:11

4:11

A dazzlingly ambitious history of the ancient world that places women at the center—from Cleopatra to Boudica, Sappho to Fulvia, and countless other artists, writers, leaders, and creators of history. In The Missing Thread, Daisy Dunn shows us once again why we all should learn about ancient civilisations: because they provide great stories that ar…

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Kashi: The Valiant History of a Sacred Geography by Aditi Banerjee - Book Review 8:01

11M ago8:01

8:01

Kashi: The Valiant History of a Sacred Geography tells the story of the most sacred of all Hindu holy cities through the prism of sacred geography as is extensively documented in the Sthala Purana. The book features a summary of the Kashi Khanda from the Skanda Purana, an ancient text on the divine origin and leela surrounding the kshetra of Kashi.…

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How the World Made the West: A 4,000-Year History written by Josephine Quinn - Book Review 5:19

11M ago5:19

5:19

The West, the story goes, was built on the ideas and values of Ancient Greece and Rome, which disappeared from Europe during the Dark Ages and were then rediscovered by the Renaissance. But what if that isn't true? In a bold and magisterial work of immense scope, Josephine Quinn argues that the real story of the West is much bigger than this establ…

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Is the Taj Mahal symbol of love or death? 5:07

11M ago5:07

5:07

Have you ever wondered what was the human cost behind the Taj Mahal? Came across this interesting piece of info on Page XXVIII in the ‘Introduction’ section of the book ‘Babur: The Chessboard King’ written by Aabhas Maldahiyar which I had reviewed on the 12th of April, 2024. Related links: Babur: The Chessboard King written by Aabhas Maldahiyar - B…

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What is the actual cost of the Taj Mahal? 2:56

12M ago2:56

2:56

Have you ever wondered what was the actual cost of building the Taj Mahal? Came across this interesting piece of info on Page XXVI in the ‘Introduction’ section of the book ‘Babur: The Chessboard King’ written by Aabhas Maldahiyar which I had reviewed on the 12th of April, 2024. Related links: Babur: The Chessboard King written by Aabhas Maldahiyar…

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The Walking Brahmin written by Maneesh Godbole - Book Review 3:40

12M ago3:40

3:40

Replete with maps and photographs, 'The Walking Brahmin' offers a unique insight on what really happened during the first war of independence in 1857. Order links of the book 'The Walking Brahmin' below: Amazon India: Paperback Kindle Amazon USA: Paperback Kindle Flipkart: Paperback And please don't forget to checkout Historylogy.com for latest boo…

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An Indian I Am written by K. K. Muhammed - Book Review 4:48

1y ago4:48

4:48

This is the autobiography of Shri K. K. Muhammed, an Indian Archaeologist who had the courage to speak the truth. He, under the guidance of Prof B. B. Lal made yeomen contributions in the excavations that proved the existence of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi at Ayodhya. It reads like a book of Positive thinking and creative ideas. By the time you finish …

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The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon written by David Grann - Book Review 3:23

1y ago3:23

3:23

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed writer David Grann set out to determine what happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z. In this masterpiece, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle. Amazon Ind…

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Temples and Legends of Kerala written by K. R. Vaidyanathan - Book Review 3:31

1y ago3:31

3:31

Twenty five important temples of Kerala have been included in this book. Their origin, legends, architecture, rites, rituals and customs, traditions and festivals have been well described. It is a pilgrim's as well as a tourist's guide to Kerala. Order links of the book 'Temples and Legends of Kerala' below: Amazon India: Paperback Kindle Amazon US…

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Babur: The Chessboard King written by Aabhas Maldahiyar - Book Review 5:36

1y ago5:36

5:36

Gripping, anecdotal and deeply researched Babur: The Chessboard King delves into Hindustan's economic landscape during Timurid rule and portrays Babur as a multifaceted ruler, challenging the typical depiction of an infallible conqueror and a good human being. Meticulously sourced from the Persian manuscript of the Baburnama and other primary sourc…

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RAMA: His Historicity, Mandir and Setu written by Professor B. B. Lal - Book Review 4:57

1y ago4:57

4:57

This booklet seeks to present archaeological facts, nothing but hard facts, in regard to the three more or less allied topics, viz.: (i) `Was Rama a figment of the imagination of a poet called Valmiki, or is there any evidence to suggest that he may have been a historical figure?`; (ii) `Was there a temple in the Janma-Bhumi area at Ayodhya, prior …

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The Battle For Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya written by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 7:47

1y ago7:47

7:47

For over two decades, a handful of Left historians have strenuously endeavoured to stymie the Ramjanmabhumi movement. From questioning the antiquity of Rama worship and the identity of ancient Ayodhya, they have also challenged the widely held belief that Babri Masjid was built on the site of the Janmabhumi temple. Excavations of the ASI revealed u…

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Rama and Ayodhya written by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 6:42

1y ago6:42

6:42

From the late 1980s, Left historians have been in the forefront of the campaign against the Rama temple. They have argued that Rama worship was an eighteenth-nineteenth century phenomenon and the present day Ayodhya acquired its standing and identity only in the fifth century AD, during the rule of the imperial Guptas. According to Left academics, …

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Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi written by Vikram Sampath ─ Book Review 9:33

1y ago9:33

9:33

Vikram Sampath’s latest offering retraces the long history of this bitterly disputed site and the dramatic twists and turns in the chequered past of this hoary shrine. Piecing together numerous documents and accounts—Vedic and Puranic texts, Sanskrit literary sources, Agama shastras, Jataka tales, Persian accounts, travelogues of foreigners, archiv…

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Vishwanath Rises And Rises: The Story of Eternal Kashi written by Meenakshi Jain - Book Review 5:48

1y ago5:48

5:48

Dr. Meenakshi Jain, in Vishwanath Rises and Rises, once again demonstrates the power of good research and scholarship, something clearly missing in the fake narratives put out by Leftist historians such as Romila Thapar and Irfan Habib. Vishwanath Rises and Rises is a must for your bookshelf. Order links of the book 'Vishwanath Rises And Rises: The…

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Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan written by Ruby Lal - Book Review 7:59

1y ago7:59

7:59

Vagabond Princess shape-shifts our views of the magnificent Mughals as we begin to see and feel Princess Gulbadan’s world, full of freedom, movement and migration, and encounters with new cultures, tongues, and art forms. Order links of the book 'Vagabond Princess : The Great Adventures of Gulbadan' below: Amazon India: Paperback Kindle Amazon USA:…

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Shinil Subramanian Payamal Podcasts

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