

Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria
Utsav Mamoria
Postcards from Nowhere is a travel podcast that takes you on journeys exploring culture, history, food and people in the form of stories. With over a decade of travel stories in his kitty, Utsav Mamoria narrates the stories of the strange, obscure and fascinating things about the world, often interspersed with practical tips and deep realizations, which would shape the way you travel.
Tune in to the new episode every Thursday.
Tune in to the new episode every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 10, 2022 • 8min
The Malayalis Of Pakistan
In 1921, a bloody rebellion in North Kerala led to the death of over 2000 people. In 2018, almost a century later, a song from the film Oru Adaar Love titled Manikya Malaraya Poovi went viral, garnering millions of views, even from parts of India that did not understand a word of Malayalam. But what could connect these two wildly diferent events? This week, in the fifth episode of the series The Great Migration, we uncover the fascinating history of a community in Kerala, who through a chain of events found itself living in Pakistan. Tune in to uncover their story, and the uncertain fate they face today. l then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 3, 2022 • 9min
Gujaratis, Uganda and The Last King of Scotland
What does a military dictator in a South-East African republic have in common with Ramanand Sagar, the man who made the cult television show Ramayan? And what could it have to do with one of the richest communities in India, which actually thrived in that very African republic? This week, in the fourth episode of the series The Great Migration, we travel from across Asia and Africa to uncover this connection, all of it culminating in two small housing societies in one of India's fastest growing cities. Tune in, and discover the meaning of home and identity, and the nuances of what the migrant life holds. Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide: https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas? https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 27, 2022 • 13min
Chettiars, Burma and Fiery Dragons
What does a small cluster of less than 100 villages in Tamil Nadu have in common with agrarian flatlands of Burma? And what are both of these doing in a conversation taking place in a modern urban home in the IT corridor of Bangalore? This week, in the the third episode of teh series, The Great Migration, we look at the story of the Chettiar community, who at the dawn of the 20th century owned a financial empire that straddled both South and South East Asia. Their migration and subsequent legacy in Burma is contested, and brings to the fore tough questions about the legacy of migratiory communities. Tune in, and discover the life lessons in their story, and an emotional passionate lesson from a modern urban home in Bangalore. Special thanks to Jaisimha Chandra, who not only opened his home to me, but took time out to share the rich collection of artefacts he has so lovingly preserved. Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 20, 2022 • 8min
Money Orders, Dehradun & Transatlantic Slave Trade
In 1898, the New York Times wrote a glowing review of this particular service in India. Closer home, the Bombay Mill Owners Association wasn’t so pleased - The service was so popular amongst its workers, that it led to work disruptions. But what has all this got to do with the hill city of Dehradun. This week, in the second episode of the series, The Great Migration, we delve into this now forgotten service, that once accounted for 2-3% of India’s GDP. And we also uncover a curious aspect of migration which exists to this day, maybe even in your passport, which all goes back to 19th century transatlantic slave trade. Tune in, and uncover this aspect of migration in India, and what it teaches us about yearning and finding our own ‘Dehradun’. Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 13, 2022 • 14min
Bhojpur, Sexuality and Migration Songs
"It's all around us, so much so, that probably no state in India has been untouched by it - The labour migration. The state which probably provides the most manpower to India's varied workforce is Bihar. More specifically, the Bhojpur region. While the region has become infamous for its supposedly low brow music and cinema, what hides underneath is a whole genre of art which is seldom heard by outsiders. This week, starting a new series, The Great Indian Migration, we delve into the world of migration songs, where both men and women turn to music to express their emotion, which are loaded with longing and maybe not so surprisingly, sexuality. Tune in and discover the world of Bhojpuri migration songs, and understand what it teaches us about ourselves. Special thanks to Avishesh Jha whose voice you will hear in this episode. He runs a wonderful Hindi storytelling podcast, Chunnu PCO. Set in the 90s, a PCO narrates stories of people who used to make a phone call through it. Check it out https://open.spotify.com/show/2qBkn26TsMUh81hycn56EV You can follow Avishesh on Instagram https://instagram.com/jha.saahab?utm_medium=copy_link" Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 6, 2022 • 15min
Shimla, Rare Books And The American Declaration Of Independence
In 1947, on the eve of Partition, a young man left Lahore and came to Shimla. What makes his journey unique, amongst the millions who must have undertaken this voyage is what he ended up doing in Shimla. What started out as a stationery shop went on to become a storied institution. This week, we travel to Shimla and learn about a rare bookshop which through a hand of chance, came in possession of a piece of history - A copy of the American Declaration of Independence. But that was not the only piece of history that the book store held - It also held a piece that went back to the very beginnings of an ancient religion. Tune in, and discover the magic of a rare book store, and what lessons in travel it holds for as we step into 2022. Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 9, 2021 • 1min
The Caravan Rests
It’s been over 2 years we have travelled together. This month, the Caravan rests to return in 2022. Till then Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide : https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas?: https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo Breast Tax, Brahmins and the Bizzare origins of Modern Malayalam: https://ivm.today/3nQyuam The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages: https://ivm.today/3EvvmXz You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 2, 2021 • 9min
The Improbable Impact Of Nature On 2000 Languages
Why does the hill district of Shimla, home to a mere 8 lakh people, have at least 10-15 different languages? Why does Indonesia have 250 languages, and the strangest of them all - Papua New Guinea, an island nation, to this very day, has over one thousand spoken languages? Why did these rather disparate places acquire such a high density of languages, despite having relatively smaller populations. This week, in the sixth episode of India’s Linguistic Heritage, we travel far and wide and uncover a fascinating link from the natural world, which has shaped more than 2000 languages world over. Tune in, and discover the lessons it holds for us in travel, and in life. Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide: https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayanas? https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 25, 2021 • 9min
Breast Tax, Brahmins And The Bizarre Origins Of Modern Malayalam
In the early 19th century, the Maharaja of Travancore levied an absolutely bizzare tax: Any woman who had come of age and had breasts had to pay a breast tax, and bare her breasts to anyone who was of a higher caste to them. This was one amongst the hundreds of taxes the lower castes had to endure, which put them in a cycle of perpetual debt and poverty. And then came a revolt which led the Maharaja to revoke the tax. This week, in the fifth episode of India's Linguistic Heritage, we explore the bizzare story of the origins of modern Malayalam, which has everything from a breast tax to a religious power struggle. Tune in and discover, what this story means for us as travellers, everytime we encounter a new culture. Check out the other episodes of "India's Linguistic Heritage" The Hidden Story of Sanskrit, and the North-South Divide: https://ivm.today/3CpKQuO Reclaiming India's Linguistic Heritage: 300 Ramayana’s? https://ivm.today/3kgataz Partitions Unknown: Hindi, Urdu and the Umbilical Cord: https://ivm.today/3DhQCz2 The Hidden Injustice in India's Languages: https://ivm.today/3HA6YWo You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 18, 2021 • 8min
The Hidden Injustice In India's Languages
In 2018, a research study by the University of Michigan and World Bank found that women who are native speakers of certain kind of languages have a lower labour force participation rate and lower educational attainment. How did our Indian languages fare? This week, in the fifth episode of the series, India's Linguistic Heritage, we uncover the hidden injustice perpetrated by our languages on women right from the Rig Vedic times to even today. The linguistic journey takes us across swathes of North and Western India, though the story remains the same. Tune in, and discover the roots of this injustice, and how it will shape the way we travel and interact with people. Check out the other episodes of "The Kashmir Diaries" Kashmiris, Hangul and the Manual of Life:- https://ivm.today/3o0jE1G Srinagar, Ancient Carvings and Supernovas:- https://ivm.today/3hECuat Kargil, Hundarman and the Museum of Memories:- https://ivm.today/2Vx8ANG Shahtoosh: The Wild Story of the World's Most Expensive and Illegal Fabric:- https://ivm.today/3E22Z2s You can check previous episodes of 'Podcasts from Nowhere' on IVM Podcasts website https://ivm.today/3xuayw9 You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.