The IFA Archive Podcast

Ep 12: Chippin’ Away at Histories of Medicine with Akash Srinivas and Durga Kale

How can podcasts bring museum collections to life? In this episode, prehistoric archaeologist Akash Srinivas and cultural anthropologist Durga Kale engage with Ritwika Misra from IFA to discuss their IFA-implemented project and the making of their podcast Chippin’ Away, developed in collaboration with the SL Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives in Bangalore. The project explores themes such as women and medicine, ancient surgical practices, traditional healing systems, and mental health through archival research and interdisciplinary approaches. It involved creating a series of podcast episodes accompanied by blog posts, illustrations, and plans for audio guides and public engagement activities. The episode offers insight into their research process, the making of the podcast, and how audio storytelling can make museum knowledge more accessible and engaging.

Ep 11: Museum on the Moon: Archiving Objects and Stories with Khandakar Ohida

Can a personal collection be looked at as a museum? Visual artist and filmmaker Khandakar Ohida engages with John Xaviers from IFA. They speak about her IFA-implemented project Museum on the Moon between 2022–2023, where she reimagined her uncle’s decades-long collection of seemingly mundane objects—from miniature paintings to photographs—into a digital and virtual museum that also informs a feature-length film. The project involved archiving, storytelling, and exploring memory through 3D and VR spaces. The episode offers an in-depth look at her research process, the creative and technical challenges she faced, and how personal histories can become collective narratives that expand the possibilities of contemporary art and museum practice.

Ep 10: Voices of the Kadu Golla: Oral Histories and Folk Narratives with Mohan Kumar N

How do oral narratives preserve the memory and resilience of marginalised communities? Folk singer and researcher Mohan Kumar N engages with TN Krishnamurthy from IFA. They discuss his IFA-implemented project Aadalitashaahi Dhoranegalu mattu Kadu Gollara Asthitva  (Hegemonic Administrative Attitudes and the Resilience of the Kadu Golla Community) (2022–2023), which explores Veera Tammanna, a local hero of the Kadu Golla community, and highlights gaps in mainstream historical records. The project involved collecting oral narratives,  reimagining these stories, creating songs, and a monograph. The episode offers insight into Mohan’s research, the folk tradition of the community, and how storytelling preserves resilience and marginalised voices. This episode is in Kannada.

Ep 09: Colonial Frames: Visual Narratives from the High Ranges of Kerala with KP Jayakumar

What do colonial-era photographs tell us about identity and power in Kerala’s High Ranges? Scholar and writer KP Jayakumar engages with Pranav Sethuratnam, Senior Project Associate: Archives at IFA. They speak about his IFA-supported research that examines the visual legacy of European photographers in the region, with a focus on hunting imagery and its lasting impact. Drawing from archives, travelogues, and field visits, Jayakumar reflects on how these photographs contributed to colonial stereotypes and continue to shape postcolonial nostalgia. The conversation delves into the politics of representation, the framing of indigenous cultures, and the enduring power of images in shaping cultural memory. This episode is in Malayalam.

Ep 08: Through the Lens: Photojournalism as contemporary cultural practice in Kashmir with Sanjay Kak

How does photography bear witness in times of conflict? Filmmaker and writer Sanjay Kak engages with Menaka Rodriguez, Executive Director at IFA. They speak about his IFA-supported project that traces three decades of photojournalism in Kashmir through the journeys of nine Kashmiri photographers. The conversation reflects on cultural silence, memory, and the visual language of resistance in a region marked by long-standing conflict. Sanjay shares insights into the making of the photobook Witness: Kashmir 1986–2016 / Nine Photographers, and explores how the act of witnessing through a camera becomes a form of storytelling, testimony, and cultural practice. To purchase the book, visit Yaarbal Books on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yaarbal_books/]. Limited editions are also available on Amazon Singapore and independent bookstores [https://www.ibpbooks.in/witness-kashmir-1986-2016-nine-photographers-second-edition/p/58899].