Immortal India with Amish

EP : 24 Indus Valley Script CRACKED AFTER 4000 Years...HOW?

What if the 4,000-year-old Indus Valley Script — one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of ancient history — has finally been decoded? For more than 100 years, archaeologists, historians, linguists and scholars have tried to understand the mysterious symbols found on seals from the Indus Valley Civilisation, also known as the Harappan or Indus-Saraswati Civilisation. But no one could clearly read what was written on them. In this episode, Amish explores the extraordinary claim made by Dr Bharath Rao, an Indian computer scientist and cryptographer, who says he has decoded the Indus Script using cryptography, Sanskrit grammar, pattern recognition, and information theory. Could the ancient Indus Valley language be connected to Sanskrit? Could the famous Pashupati Seal be an early representation of Shiva? Could the Indus Script and Brahmi script show continuity in ancient Indian writing? And if this theory is correct, what does it mean for Indian history, the Vedas, the Saraswati River, and the Aryan Invasion / Aryan Migration debate? This episode looks at the evidence, the method, the criticism, and the larger civilisational question behind one of India’s oldest mysteries. Watch till the end for the possible translation of the Pashupati Seal. Chapters 00:00 – The 4,000-Year-Old Seal Nobody Could Read 00:42 – Why The Indus Valley Script Is History’s Biggest Puzzle 01:42 – The Indian Computer Scientist Who Took On The Mystery 02:13 – How Ancient Scripts Have Been Cracked Before 03:17 – How Cryptography Can Decode A Dead Script 03:52 – Claude Shannon, Information Theory & Unicity Distance 04:57 – How Dr Bharath Rao Tried To Decode The Indus Script 05:47 – The Astronomy Clue: Dhruv, Thuban & The Pole Star 08:02 – The Pashupati Seal And The Shiva Connection 11:27 – Was Shiva Worshipped In The Indus Valley Civilisation? 12:08 – Did Indian Writing Continue From Indus To Brahmi? 13:47 – What This Could Mean For Ancient Indian History 15:21 – The Biggest Objections To This Theory 18:24 – The Evidence: Sanskrit, Astronomy, Pashupati Seal & Saraswati 19:12 – Aryan Invasion, Aryan Migration & The Indus Debate 21:01 – The Timeline Problem In Vedic Literature 28:51 – Why Did The “Aryans” Never Mention A Foreign Homeland? 30:28 – The Script That Waited 4,000 Years To Be Read 31:23 – What Was Written On The Pashupati Seal? [Indus Valley Script, Indus Script decoded, 4000-year-old language, Dr Bharath Rao, Indian computer scientist, Pashupati Seal, Shiva in Indus Valley, Indus Valley Civilisation, Harappan Civilisation, Indus Saraswati Civilisation, Sanskrit, Brahmi script, Saraswati River, Aryan Invasion Theory, Aryan Migration Theory, ancient Indian history, Amish Tripathi]

EP: 23 The Secret Link between India & Africa with Jijith Nadumuri Ravi

Episode from The Immortal India Podcast with Amish Tripathi & Jijith Nadumuri Ravi In this illuminating episode of The Immortal India Podcast, author Amish Tripathi welcomes Jijith Nadumuri Ravi, a former ISRO space scientist and author of Rivers of Rigveda. Together, they explore a fascinating perspective on human origins and migrations — the idea that while Homo sapiens first evolved in Africa, India became the central cradle for populations outside the continent.What's Inside:Trace the remarkable journey of the early explorers who left Africa, followed coastal routes across now-submerged Arabian and Iranian shores, and established themselves in the Indian subcontinent.Understand the science behind this theory, supported by genetics and insights from the Human Genome Project. About the Guest:Jijith Nadumuri Ravi is a former ISRO scientist and the author of Rivers of Rigveda, which delves into the geo-chronology of the Rigveda and offers a fresh update on the Out of India Theory. His other acclaimed works include Geography of Ramayana and Geography of Mahabharata, where he intricately maps ancient Indian texts to real-world geography.(Amish, Jijith, Africa, India, Human origins, Human Migrations, Human Genome Project) Like, share, and subscribe for more from the Immortal India Podcast.Social media channels:Instagram: @authoramishFacebook: @authoramishX/Twitter: @authoramish#ImmortalIndiaPodcast#AmishTripathi#JijithNadumuriRavi#HumanOrigins#HumanMigration#OutOfAfricaTheory#OutOfIndiaTheory#AncientIndia#IndianCivilization#HumanGenomeProject#GeneticsResearch#Rigveda#RiversOfRigveda#IndianHistory#VedicHistory#Archaeogenetics#Anthropology#SciencePodcast#HistoryPodcast#IndiaAfricaConnections#AncientMigration#ISROScientist#AmishInterviews#IndianKnowledgeSystems

EP: 22 Relationships & Marriages in Ancient India: Amish x Brishti

Relationships & Marriages in Ancient India Amish x Brishti Guha | The Immortal India Podcast What did love, marriage, and relationship really mean in ancient India? Were these rigid and conservative institutions, or did they flourish in an environment of freedom, understanding, and mutual respect? In this captivating episode, Amish speaks to our special guest, Dr. Brishti Guha, Associate Professor of Economics at the Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Together, they explore the truths about relationships & marriages in India’s past—revealing a society richer and more open-minded than modern preconceptions might suggest. The discussion spans stories of polyandry, such as Draupadi’s marriage to five Pandavas in the Mahabharata, to the encouragement of widow remarriage across ancient texts, including the Rigveda, Arthashastra, and even theMahabharata. These examples show that the understanding of relationships in ancient India could be surprisingly modern, inclusive, and diverse. Dr. Guha tells us about the fascinating range of marriages featured in ancient scriptures: Gandharva Vivaha (marriage by mutual love) Rakshasa Vivaha (marriage by abduction) Pisacha Vivaha (marriage by force) Inter-caste and cross-varna marriages Traditional arranged marriages And many more—each demonstrating the complexity and inclusiveness of social life in ancient India Through this thoughtful conversation, the podcast brings to life a world where individual choice, love, and dharma harmonize with duty, family, and respect for personal will. If you are passionate about Indian heritage, culture, and philosophy, this episode will transform the way you view the past—and offer valuable lessons for today. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful conversations! Find Brishti Guha on Instagram: @brishtiguha12 Social media channels of Amish Tripathi: Instagram: @authoramish Facebook: @authoramish X/Twitter: @authoramish Reference Links — For Deeper Exploration 1. Mahabharata (Adi Parva, Chap 122: Pandu tells Kunti how marriages used to be open until Shvetaketu changed the custom. Adi Parva, Chap 168: Polyandry, Draupadi marries five Pandavas and Yudhishthir mentions other such marriages in older times. Adi Parva, Chap 217: Arjun and Chitrangada's "contract" marriage, Arjun gives up rights to his future children with Chitrangada Udyog Parva, Chaps 114-117: story of Madhavi and her multiple marriages A link to an English translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata online is https://sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm 2. RigVeda (hymn 10.18 is the famous "burial hymn" or "funeral hymn" which talks about widow remarriage). The best translation of the RigVeda is the Jamison and Brereton translation, which also contains a discussion of the word "didhishu" in the hymn, which means "second husband". Here is a link to the Sanskrit hymn: https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rvsan/rv10018.htm 3. Arthashastra, Book 3, chapters 2 to 4 talk about widow remarriage and inheritance laws relating to children of women who marry more than once 4. Kamasutra, Book 4, chapter 2 also talks about widow remarriage. 5. Harita Dharmasutra talks about "sadyovadhus" and "brahmavadinis", the latter usually didn't marry. 6. Ashvalayana Grihyasutra gives a list of highly respected teachers and many women (Gargi, Sulabha, Maitreyi, Vadava Pratitheyi) are on the list. 7. Baudhayana Dharmasutra, Book 1, chapter 11.20.16 talks about gandharva vivaha being the most popular with everyone. 8. Texts with examples of gandharva vivaha include: Avimaraka (of Bhasa), a play where a princess marries a shepherd Chaurapanchasika (of Bilhana), written when the poet was caught having a secret relationship with a princess Abhigyana Shakuntalam (of Kalidasa) Brihatkatha Dashakumaracharita 9. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition by F.E Pargiter explains how there were many mixed castes because intercaste marriages were extremely common.

EP: 21 Mystery Of India's Lost Maritime Empire

In this episode of the Immortal India Podcast, Amish Tripathi is joined by historian and author Nick Collins for an eye-opening exploration of India’s maritime history and its pivotal role in ancient global civilization. Drawing from Nick’s groundbreaking book, "How Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent Shaped the World: Ice Age to Mid-Eighth Century," the discussion uncovers how ancient Indian merchants, thinkers, and adventurers shaped the fortunes of the ancient world. What’s Inside: Learn how India’s influence sailed across seas—spreading innovations, ideas, and philosophy far beyond its borders. Explore how the Indian subcontinent became a central hub of ancient maritime trade, influencing civilizations from Sumeria to Egypt and Greece. Discover evidence and theories about Indian migrants shaping ancient cultures, including the Hittites, Mitannis, Greeks, and Trojans. Delve into the history of Lothal and how its exports shaped interactions with Sumeria, highlighting the dynamic exchange of goods and ideas. About the guest: Nick Collins studied history at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and then embarked on a career in maritime trade with Clarkson, the world’s leading provider of maritime services. His book investigates how Indian trade and philosophy have left an enduring mark on world civilizations, making him an exciting and insightful guest on Immortal India. Social media channels of Amish Tripathi: Instagram: @authoramish Facebook: @authoramish X/Twitter: @authoramish

EP 20: Writers Masterclass with Ashwin, Amish & Akshat

In this episode of Immortal India, Amish Tripathi is joined by bestselling authors Ashwin Sanghi and Akshat Gupta for an insightful conversation on the future of writing for upcoming writers. Together, they explore what truly determines success in the writing world, sharing powerful lessons- why everyone is a storyteller but not every storyteller is a bestseller, and how marketing is a very important element in this journey. The discussion dives into essential writing skills, editing strategies, and the impact of artificial intelligence on creative expression.  Packed with practical advice, candid opinions, and personal experiences, this episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to thrive as a writer in today’s dynamic landscape. Like, share, and subscribe for more from the Immortal India Podcast. #ImmortalIndiaPodcast #AmishTripathi #AshwinSanghi #AkshatGupta #WritingTips #Storytelling Social media channels: Instagram: @authoramish Facebook: @authoramish X/Twitter: @authoramish