[CSH Seminar] Sheher mein gaon: Telling Urban-Rural Histories through Oral Narratives (E. Chauhan)

[CSH Seminar] Sheher mein gaon: Telling Urban-Rural Histories through Oral Narratives (E. Chauhan)

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Event Details

The Centre de Sciences Humaines is pleased to invite you to the CSH Seminar

by

Ekta Chauhan

(O.P. Jindal Global University)

on

Sheher mein gaon: Telling Urban-Rural Histories through Oral Narratives

 

Followed by a discussion with Shubham Mishra (Faculty ITC, University of Twente)

On

Monday, 13 October 2025, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm IST

At

Centre de Sciences Humaines

IFI-CSH conference room (ground floor)

2 Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road, New Delhi – 110011

To register: Please fill out the registration form (TBA)

Abstract: This talk draws from my forthcoming book Sheher Mein Gaon (Penguin Random House, 2025) and over a decade of oral history work to explore how Delhi’s urban villages—and more recently, the rural peripheries of Sonipat—offer rich insights into the making of contemporary Indian cities. Through everyday stories, personal memories, and community narratives, I trace how agrarian pasts, land transformations, migration, and informal economies shape the urban fabric in ways often overlooked by conventional histories and planning discourses.

Grounded in long-term engagement with neighbourhoods I’ve lived in, researched, and taught about, the talk reflects on how oral histories can illuminate the entangled lives of people and places, offering a more intimate and layered understanding of urbanisation. It also considers how storytelling—across generations, genders, and geographies—can challenge dominant narratives and open up new ways of thinking about heritage, belonging, and city-making in South Asia today.

Speaker:

Dr. Ekta Chauhan is a researcher of cities, cultures, and communities. She is an Assistant Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University. She holds a B.A. (Hons.) in History from St. Stephen’s College, a Master of  Public Policy from NLSIU Bangalore, and a Ph.D. in World Heritage Studies from BTU Cottbus, Germany. Born and raised in Khirki, Ekta’s love for stories began early, shaped by the people and places around her. Her work—profoundly personal and grounded—explores the intricate rural-urban dynamics of Delhi, a metropolis layered with centuries of history. Through her research and writing, she brings attention to the everyday lives and negotiations of communities that shape and are shaped by the city.

 

For more info contact:

joel[dot]cabalion[at]csh-delhi[dot]com

co[dot]lefevre[at]csh-delhi[dot]com

CSH Seminars are in hybrid mode. Please pre-register for offline and online registration before Monday, 13 October, 2:00 p.m. IST.

To attend at the venue: Please note the room capacity is limited. Seats will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Kindly bring ID proof to be granted access to the venue.

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