People view the lesser-known archaeological gems on display at the Hyderabad Historical Literature Festival on Saturday. | Photo credit: G. RAMAKRISHNA
The second day of the Hyderabad Historical Literature Festival on Saturday unfolded with wide-ranging conversations that moved from medieval archeology and corporate history to community identities, political ideologies and classical music.
The day began with a session titled ‘Deccan Dynasties: A Medieval History’, featuring archaeologist and historian Uthara Suvrathan, archaeologist Hemanth Kadambi and historian Anirudh Kanisetti. The discussion explored how dynasties eventually find their way into the archaeological record and how material remains shape historical understanding.
Readers at a bookstore set up at the Hyderabad Historical Literature Festival on Saturday. | Photo credit: G. RAMAKRISHNA
Ms. Suvrathan spoke about Banavasi, a small town known as the capital of the early Kadamba dynasty based in Karnataka. Narrating her archaeological survey of the region, she said the team had identified more than 300 sites. Kadambi, in turn, reflected on the differences between archaeological and historical processes, explaining how the methods and questions in the various disciplines often diverge, even when they investigate the same past.
Another session, ‘Hues & Brews: Journeys of Asian Paints and Amrut’, featured author Anupam Gupta, writer Sriram Devatha and historian Chinmay Tumbe. The discussion focused on the evolution of Asian Paints and Amrut, which were founded in the 1940s, and how the two brands went through growth and competition over the decades.
Speaking about his book on Asian Colors, Gupta said what sets the founding family apart is their ability to take the right decisions at crucial moments. He noted that they made a conscious decision to step back from day-to-day management and bring in professionals to lead the company. Discussing his book on Amrut, Devatha said, “The DNA of Amrut was to hire people and trust them. Their family gave them freedom.”
This was followed by “Community Chemistries: Bengalis and Parsis” where Bakhtiar Dadabhoy, Sanghamitra Chatterjee and Sudeep Chakravarti spoke. Dadabhoy noted that the Parsis traced their origins and religion to the pre-Islamic Zoroastrian era. Chakravarti added that the conversation about Bengali identity must also address myths of origin, arguing that these stories play a significant role in shaping the community’s self-concept.
A session on ‘Community Chemistries: Bengalis and Parsis’ with Bakhtiar Dadabhoy, Sanghamitra Chatterjee and Sudeep Chakravarti on the second day of the Hyderabad Historical Literature Festival on Saturday. | Photo credit: G. RAMAKRISHNA
In the section “Left, Right or Centre: Politics and Ideology”, Sanjaya Baru, Jaithirth Rao and Narayani Basu examine the political and economic shifts in post-independence India. Rao recalled that between 1971 and 1973, often described as the height of leftist economics in the country, the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act was introduced in 1973, which was widely regarded as a tyrannical measure at the time. Reflecting on his youth in Hyderabad, Baru described the early 1970s as the heyday of the Left in the city. He talked about his interactions with Jyoti Basu in 1990 and narrated how he got involved in economic reforms in 1991.
The day ended with ‘Musical Narratives: Stories and Melodies of the Agra Gharana’ with a performance by Hindustani singer and writer Priya Purushothaman, accompanied by Milind Mysore on tabla and Rahul Deshpande on harmonium.
Published – 07 Feb 2026 20:38 IST