Oral histories are a crucial historical source. Facts we often write off as “footnotes in history” can be as detailed and nuanced as important wars and battles! Oral histories enrich our view of our country's history by going well beyond what we learnt in school. At our Online Talk #NationOfStories, oral historian and director of The Citizens’ Archive of India, Malvika Bhatia will tell us what oral history is, why it is important, and why The Citizens' Archive of India was founded to collect extraordinary stories from ordinary people. She will recount personal memories of the birth and growth of India as a nation and make the history we know so well, personal and relatable.

About the speaker

Malvika Bhatia spent the early part of her career working in the field of museum and heritage education, as well as building audio guides and developing guided walks for historic sites across India and the world. For the last 6 years, Malvika has been running The Citizens' Archive of India; a digital oral history archive that collects and preserves the stories of citizens who have witnessed India develop into the nation we see today. She believes history is best taught through storytelling, and does just that through the archive.