From Cholas To Ahoms, PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat Spotlights A New Way To Explore Indian History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted an unusual citizen-led initiative that uses technology to make Indian history easier and more engaging to explore, featuring the work of Mumbai-based Krishna Seshadri during the 137th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

Seshadri, an engineer-turned-marketing professional with a longstanding interest in history, has created bharatrajya.com, a website that allows users to select a year and explore which rulers controlled different parts of India during that period. The initiative aims to present history as a story while bringing greater attention to kingdoms and dynasties that, according to Seshadri, often receive less attention in conventional accounts.

During his conversation with Modi, Seshadri pointed to the Cholas, Pallavas, Karkota dynasty of Kashmir and Ahoms as examples of powerful historical traditions that he felt deserved wider public attention. His interest is not limited to dynasties, with figures such as Rajaraja Chola, Hemu and Tribhuvan Mahadevi among the personalities he would like to understand more deeply.

What particularly impressed Modi was the website’s emphasis on public participation. Visitors can submit corrections and suggestions, which are cross-checked against sources before being incorporated. Suggestions from users have already led to regional-level features, an interactive “trump card” format for comparing empires and plans to make resources easier to download and share.

Modi described the initiative as a remarkable effort and said it could help history students as well as ordinary citizens learn about the country’s past in an engaging manner. Seshadri said his aim was to combine his interest in technology and history to make the subject more accessible.

The broader episode also touched on several grassroots initiatives. Modi highlighted the Nasha-mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign, urging young creators, musicians, students and theatre groups to use creative content to spread awareness about drug addiction.

He also cited women street vendors benefiting from PM SVANidhi, cleanliness efforts in Uttar Pradesh and during the Amarnath Yatra, flower cultivation in Nagaland, forest conservation in Odisha and Mission ShaktiSAT, through which 12,000 girls from 108 countries are being introduced to satellite technology.

Modi also highlighted farmers turning to avocado cultivation for new income opportunities and paid tribute to legendary actor Uttam Kumar ahead of his birth centenary on September 3.

The episode ended with an appeal to embrace “Vocal for Local” during the upcoming festive season and support products made in India.