I guess in a sense I came in late to this game. I co-founded The Bombay Heritage Walks, an organization that undertakes architectural walking tours in the city of Mumbai with my dear friend and colleague, Abha Bahl, back in 1999. Since then and more persuasively since 2007, when I moved books and baggage to the US, we have been exploring ways to have my “physical” presence on Indian soil, while still being away. We dabbled in pamphlets, articles, papers and thought about and discarded Dictaphone recordings. It was just not working. Both being architects (and me being a conservationist and Abha an urban planner) toyed with interactive maps on our website. Anything, for me to contribute while away.
I wish we had thought of podcasts. We did pitch an idea of doing video recorded history of Bombay scenes, but the actors (try shooting a scene in the quietest alley of Mumbai and editing out a dozen people selling different things, dogs barking and car horns!) were numerous. At the time, we were too naïve to realize that these seemingly abrasive noises to us, would actually contribute to the sounds and smell of this vibrant city!
Enter podcasting. This would be a fantastic way to talk about any subject. You can multi-task and listen in relative insulation, while not thinking about the host, but only indulging in the subject. It is such an important medium for distracted minds, although also provides challenges on not to stray for the listener.
The biggest challenge about doing history in an audio format is the most obvious – no visuals, and hence, no aids can be used to convey archival material. This puts more emphasis on using other means to convey, perhaps a period feel or atmosphere.
I found “Throughline- There will be Bananas”, more compelling than the others as it resonated with the walking tours I used to conduct. I loved the way a very key historical event was effectively communicated in a nonchalant but informative way, while creating a temporal atmosphere using music.
The Hope Diamond has found its final resting place at the Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. To trace its tumultuous passage and opulent owners of its checkered history from the dusty mines of Kollur in Andhra Pradesh, India, (which are non-existent today) would be a very interesting narrative.
I love the idea of a podcast about the things you used to see on your walking tours! You could still do it. 🙂