Ep #25 | Who Gets to Decide History? | Eshan Sharma | Mind Mingle Podcast with Shakeel

Who gets to decide what we remember? History is not only about the past. It shapes how we understand our present, our society and even ourselves. In Episode 25 of the Mind Mingle Podcast, I sit down with Eshan Sharma, a young historian, author and founder of Karwaan, for a wide-ranging conversation about history, democracy, nation-building, information and the way we make sense of the world around us. Eshan's journey is itself an interesting starting point—becoming an author at a young age, developing a deep engagement with history, and learning through his interactions and work with people such as Sohail Hashmi and Romila Thapar. Our conversation then moves beyond history as a subject and into a larger question: How does a nation understand itself? We talk about how history is created, how narratives are formed, how contemporary events become tomorrow's history, and what happens when the abundance of information makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between knowledge, interpretation and noise. In this episode, we explore: What shaped his curiosity about history. His approach to learning, observing and documenting the world around him. What history really means beyond dates, events and textbooks. How historical narratives are created—and how they can change over time. The relationship between history, democracy and the making of a nation. Why different people can look at the same historical event and arrive at very different understandings. His experiences of learning from and working closely with Sohail Hashmi and Romila Thapar. His documentation of contemporary events and what it means to record history while it is still unfolding. How protests and movements become part of the historical memory of a society. The information age: when everyone has access to more information than ever before, how do we know what deserves our attention? The difference between being informed and actually understanding something. How young people can navigate competing narratives, social media and information overload without losing the ability to think independently. And ultimately, whether we are merely inheriting history—or actively participating in creating the history that future generations will remember. This is a conversation about history, but also about democracy, citizenship, memory, curiosity and the responsibility of understanding the world we live in. Because perhaps the most important question about history is not only “What happened?” It is: “Who gets to decide what we remember?” About the Guest Eshan Sharma is a young historian, author and founder of Karwaan, with a strong interest in history, culture and contemporary India. His work reflects an approach to history that connects the past with the questions and events shaping society today. About Mind Mingle The Mind Mingle Podcast with Shakeel brings together educators, thinkers, philosophers, policymakers and changemakers for thoughtful conversations around education, parenting, leadership, life and purposeful living. These are not simply interviews. They are conversations intended to make us pause, question what we take for granted, and see familiar ideas from a different perspective. If this conversation makes you think differently about history and the world around you, subscribe to the Mind Mingle YouTube channel and follow the podcast on Spotify for more meaningful conversations. #MindMinglePodcast #EshanSharma #History #Democracy #India #Education #HistoryMatters #CriticalThinking #InformationAge #MindMingle