A Century Of Stories

For most Indians, the day begins with a cup of chai. But India’s relationship with tea and coffee has a far more fascinating history than we often realize.
In this episode of A Century of Stories: India, Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Bhavi Patel to explore how tea and coffee travelled across continents and eventually shaped India’s drinking culture. From the legendary story of Baba Budan bringing coffee seeds to India to the rise of South Indian filter coffee, this episode traces the cultural and historical history of Indian beverages. They also examine the dominance of chai tapris and cafes across the country and the boom in drinks like matcha.
Watch the full episode of A Century of Stories: India as. Bhavi Patel uncovers the surprising story behind two of India’s most beloved beverages. Episode out now!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kabaddi has travelled a remarkable journey - from dusty village fields to packed stadiums, prime-time television, and a professional league that has transformed the sport in India.
In this episode of A Century of Stories: India, host Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Suhail Chandhok, CEO of U Mumba and broadcaster, one of the most recognizable voices in Indian sport, to explore the fascinating rise of Kabaddi.
The conversation traces the sport’s ancient roots, its presence across Asia, and its evolution from a traditional rural pastime into one of India’s fastest-growing professional sports leagues. Suhail reflects on the launch of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the role of institutions like the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), and how broadcasters, sponsors, and team owners helped bring the sport into the mainstream.
Is Kabaddi truly becoming India’s second-biggest sport after cricket? And what does the next decade look like for this rapidly evolving game?
Watch the full conversation to understand the past, present, and future of Kabaddi. Episode out now on A Century of Stories: India’s YouTube Channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the smell of rain have to do with a 3,000-year-old city on the banks of the Ganges? In this episode of A Century of Stories India, host Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Pranav Kapoor, 8th-generation perfumer and a trained chef from Kannauj, to explore Petrichor, the science behind scent and memory, and India’s ancient distillation techniques that predate modern perfumery.
From copper stills and raw botanicals to the rise of perfume tourism, this conversation traces how fragrance shapes culture, ritual, identity, and the future of Indian craftsmanship.
Watch the full episode now on A Century of Stories: India’s YouTube Channel and rediscover why Kannauj remains the perfume capital of India.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BCCI has grown from strength to strength in the past couple of decades to become the strongest cricketing board in the world, also aided by the riches brought to it by the success of the Indian Premier League. Writer and administrator Amrit Mathur, who was at the centre of it all in the ‘90s, tells the story of how BCCI moved from being on the periphery of the cricketing world to sitting on the throne in a matter of three decades in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 17th edition of the Asia Cup is upon us, and on this occasion we bring to you an episode on the storied history of this tournament that began with the idea of bringing the Asian cricket playing nations closer in the early 80s. While the tournament has had some great cricket over the years, it has also made news for reasons beyond the pitch. Amrit Mathur, who was once offered the role of the CEO of the governing body of this tournament takes us through the fascinating journey of Asia Cup on this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.