Bengaluru today just got a fresh kind of history lesson: one that starts with a plate. A new 15-part video series, Indian History: Thali by Thali, asks a simple question many people argue about online: what did ancient Indians actually eat, and how do we know? This story is now featured as Latest News in India.
Food History Gets A Bengaluru Upgrade
Launched at Sabha Bengaluru this week, the project comes from the Historically Tempered Collective, a group that includes historian Janaki Nair, writer Saisudha Acharya, INTACH Bengaluru convenor Meera Iyer, and teacher Ajay Cadambi. The first two episodes on their YouTube channel feature archaeologists Jaya Menon and Supriya Varma, along with historian Romila Thapar, breaking down Harappan diets and early Indian food habits using evidence, not guesswork. Official Instagram post.
Instead of “royal feast” myths, the videos lean on what survives in the ground: charred seeds, fish bones, and other traces from Harappan sites, explained with animations and artwork so younger viewers can follow. The creators also frame history as a debate guided by evidence, a timely message when food and identity often get bundled into loud, oversimplified claims.
How Researchers Rebuild A 4,000-Year-Old Menu
Archaeologists piece diets together through plant remains (grains, pulses), animal bones, pottery residue studies, and even wear marks on tools used to grind or cook. Put together, these clues help map what was available, what was preferred, and what changed across regions and climate shifts.
Where To Watch Next
A preview at the launch teased an upcoming episode on ancient foods in South India, and more instalments will move thali by thali across the subcontinent.
