Scrolls & leaves

Scrolls & Leaves is an immersive audio podcast featuring stories from the margins of history.There are amazing histories from the margins, from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania that we rarely hear about. By scouring these historical records, we hope to find alternate ways of knowing and contextualizing our present. And to learn about lesser-known tales of triumphs, scandals, contests, excursions and exploits. 

The first season is called Trade Winds. It explores themes centred in South Asia, from the time of Muziris more than 2000 years ago to European colonialism in the 20th century. Season 1 begins with two documentary-style episodes on pandemics and borders, and on traditional medicine.The season is set on the Indian subcontinent, and merges non-fiction storytelling with fictional soundscapes (designed by Nikhil Nagaraj) to immerse the listener in the past. Main episodes will be released monthly, and interview-style episodes will be released biweekly. Episodes 3-6 of Season 1 will return in 2021.

Scrolls and Leaves has been produced in collaboration with the Archives at NCBS, and with support from IndiaBioScience, DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance and NCBS.

Written and hosted by: Mary-Rose Abraham and Gayathri Vaidyanathan
Sound Design and 3D audio spatialisation: 12 hz sound laboratories