In the year 1719, just twelve years after the death of the powerful emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, the Mughal empire was in dire straits, riven by assassination plots, violent takeovers and powerful men pulling the strings of puppet princes. How did it all fall apart so fast? At our Online Talk #AfterAurangzeb, authors Ashwitha Jayakumar and Nikhil Gulati delve into the chaotic final years of one of the mightiest empires ever to exist, exploring the human tragedies within the grand narrative of imperial decline. About the speakers: Ashwitha Jayakumar has written and adapted over a dozen books for young readers. After graduating with an MSc in Literature and Society from the University of Edinburgh and an MA in Medieval Studies from the University of Leeds, she has worn many different hats, from editor to high school English teacher, research consultant, and writer. Nikhil Gulati is the award-winning creator behind The People of the Indus, a graphic novel history of the Indus Valley Civilization. He likes to tell all kinds of stories through the medium of comics and illustrations whether it is the histories of long lost civilizations or ghost stories set in his own home. He is a graduate of the IIM-Ahmedabad and the University of Texas, Austin.