Did you know…? …the Deccan has a dramatic and world-changing past and was one of the largest medieval kingdoms in India? …the architecture of most Temples in India has been influenced by a small village in North Karnataka? …the recipe for Hollige originated in the "Manasollasa" Sanskrit text composed by the South Indian king Someshvara III of the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty?    “History Is Who We Are And Why We Are The Way We Are.” — David McCullough History is not just the past, History is the present. We interpret history conventionally through archaeological and classical literary evidence. Most often these are understood from the perspective of the elites, other perspectives being underplayed - perhaps to propagate only what will appear as “a great past” and probably the resources and wherewithal required to document other perspectives must have been lacking. These other stories linger on in folk traditions and in our cuisines, which are very much part of our present identity, passed on over generations, evolving and changing, yet retaining flavors of the past. We immerse in the culture and stories of the Deccan with Anirudh Kanisetti and his book “Lords of the Deccan” Listen to music from folk and bhakti traditions with Sugandha Upasani and Group Songs with Divya, Sriram, Shobha, Shataparna, Benson, Anita, Abhishek. Share food from across the region. Anirudh Kanisetti’s book, “Lords of the Deccan” is unique in its telling the history of the Deccan from the 6^th – 12^th century CE in the way that it presents facts as they are known and interprets them in ways where we are made to think about the many other perspectives that may have existed. It stretches the imagination to think about what may have been, and some of which still may be. Folk Music and Food is the history of the masses, which lives in the towns and villages of the Deccan even today. We connect some of the food that is a part of our lives that may have originated so many centuries ago. Come enjoy the evening as we try to understand our history and connect with our shared past. Date: 27th February 2022 Time: 6pm-8pm Cost : Rs 500 including food.   Anirudh Kanisetti in his own words “I'm currently an Editor at the Museum of Art of Photography, Bangalore. My first book, Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas, has just been published by Juggernaut to widespread critical acclaim. My work covers a variety of areas, from history to networked societies and technology governance, and my writings have been published in Mint, The Print, The Deccan Herald, The New Indian Express, and Pragati. I host two podcasts: Echoes of India and YUDDHA: The Indian Military History Podcast.  I aim to make critical scholarship on ancient and medieval India accessible to the public, with an emphasis on culture and society. I tackle nationalist-political rewritings of the history of one-sixth of humanity by emphasising the complicated, relatable lives that our ancestors lived. My podcast has been featured in The Hindu, The New Indian Express, and Midday Mumbai among others.” Read more on his website https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/ The book “Lords of the Deccan” will be available at Courtyard Koota on the 27^th and you can get signed copies if you come. https://www.thehindu.com/books/an-extract-from-anirudh-kanisettis-book-lords-of-the-deccan/article38340167.ece https://scroll.in/article/1016734/a-king-could-have-commanded-the-worst-atrocities-on-enemies-and-yet-built-awe-inspiring-temples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-AlNT25M7c     Sugandha Upasani has been learning Hindustani Classical Vocals since the age of 10 years and has completed her Masters In Music (Hindustani Classical Vocal) from Bharti Vidyapeeth, Pune, with first class with distinction, in the year 2016. She has learnt from Mrs Poornima Kulkarni (disciple of late Pt. Basavraj Rajguru) of the Kirana Gharana for 4 years and presently learning from Guru Mrs Saniya Patankar (senior disciple of Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande) of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana for the past 5 years. Sugandha has performed in numerous classical music festivals and even composed music for documentary films and written articles in magazines about Hindustani Classical music.