Dr. Vikram Sampath is a historian based in Bangalore. He is the author of eight acclaimed books, including Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars, Voice of the Veena: S. Balachander, Women of the Records and Indian Classical Music and the Gramophone, 1900-7930. In this episode, Vinamre and Vikram Sampath discuss: - The rich cultural history of Kashi, - The truth behind Kashi's Gyanvapi Mosque, - How Kashi was attacked and looted multiple times. Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

4:00 Differences Between Varanasi and Kashi

11:20 Challenges While Writing the Book

18:00 The Real History Behind Kashi

21:40 Why the Vishweshwar Form of Shiva Is Important

28:00 Attacks on Kashi

29:30 'लिंग' Meaning

37:40 What Is 'Gyanvapi'?

45:00 Why Pran Pratishtha Is Important

47:00 The Real Conflict

50:10 Who Is Representing the Mosque

53:40 The Gyanvapi Mosque Is Actually Illegal

57:20 Why They Should Be Fearful

1:03:00 Actual Numbers of Temples Revealed

1:09:00 Does India Have a Non-Congregating Faith?

1:10:20 Vikram's Experience at the Site

1:17:00 Disrespecting the Shivling

1:21:00 Vikram's Motivation to Pursue This

1:32:00 Conclusion