Brown History Podcast

North America looks the way it does today because European settlers took land that Indigenous peoples were already living on. They did this through unfair treaties, wars, forced removal, and taking land by force. Historians call this settler colonialism — when newcomers move in, push out the original people, and build a permanent society on their land. And this didn't end in the past. It still happens today, just in quieter ways. Now, land is taken through laws, court decisions, and big corporations. For example, mining projects, pipelines, dams, and logging often get approved even when Indigenous nations say no. The process looks official, lots of paperwork and legal terms, but the idea is the same: governments still act like they can use Indigenous land without Indigenous permission. Immigrants have a complicated role in this. We didn't start these systems, we didn't fight the original wars or create reservations, but we still arrive and build our lives on this land. That means we also benefit from a system built on taking land from Indigenous peoples. And each of us has to choose whether we continue that system or help change it. Today, I'm talking with Nishant Upadhyay, author of Indians on Indian Lands. We discuss how South Asian communities became part of these settler systems, how race and caste shape our relationships with Indigenous peoples, and what it means to live responsibly on lands that were never given up. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3Y5kDhz Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768    

This episode could save your life! Across the world, South Asian communities are facing an alarming rise in heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and high blood pressure. And it's not just affecting older people. Young people who are fit, thin, and have no family history are showing no symptoms until it's too late. But this crisis runs deeper than diet or lifestyle. Our health risks are rooted in the very history our ancestors endured. In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Mubin Syed (@desidoc.md), author of Healing from Our History: How Colonial-Era Famines Led to a Modern South Asian Health Crisis. Together, we trace how the trauma of the past still shapes our bodies and what we can do now to reclaim our health. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3LZSR3e Subscribe to our newsletter: https://brownhistory.substack.com/ Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768

If you ask someone what ancient India gave to the world, most people will probably say "yoga." But for over a thousand years, India was an intellectual, cultural, and spiritual centre of the world. From astronomy and art to literature, language, religion, and philosophy, India was a powerhouse of ideas that traveled far beyond its borders. So why don't more people today know about this part of India's history? On today's episode, we sit with the great historian William Dalrymple, author of his new book, The Golden Road, and discuss how ancient India shaped the world as we know it today. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3Spk3bK Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768

When we hear the phrase 'homeland security,' we usually think of the United States. But long before 9/11, Israel was already building a model —one based on occupation, surveillance, and control. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India promised it would never be caught off guard again. But instead of rebuilding from within, it became one of Israel's biggest customers. Not just for weapons, but for surveillance technology, police training, and an entire mindset shaped by Israel's experience of occupation. In today's episode, we sit with Rhys Machold, author of Fabricating Homeland Security, and unpack how homeland security became a global brand, how fear became a marketplace, and how Israel became India's go-to model for policing, surveillance, and counterterrorism. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/449mEhf Visit our Shop: https://shopbrownhistory.com/ Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/brownhistory Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768

On today's episode of the Brown History Podcast, we sit with Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Her work is fearless, powerful, and deeply human. Each of her films tells a different story, in a different way—but what ties them all together is her deep and unwavering love for her people. She captures their history, their joy, and their sorrow with honesty and grace. Her films are bold. They're visually stunning. And they don't shy away from the hard truths. This month, the Toronto International Film Festival is honouring Deepa Mehta's remarkable 30-year career with a special retrospective—screening ten of her film from April 4th to 23rd at the TIFF Lightbox here in Toronto. This episode could not have happened without the support of the Toronto International Film Festival, specifically Nandita Dutta from TIFF, a special thanks to them all. Visit our Shop Become a patron Books covered on the podcast so far: https://amzn.to/42TH768 Book Recommendations by Deepa Mehta: The First Man by Albert Camus Nowhere, Exactly: On Identity and Belonging by M. G. Vassanji