Akash Srinivas

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will develop a series of podcasts that will be based on a variety of themes covered by the SL Bhatia History of Medicine Museum. This project is a collaboration with the SL Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives that is housed in the first floor of the Museum Block in St John’s Research Institute, Bangalore. The museum is named after Major General Sohan Lal Bhatia (1891-1982), the first Emeritus Professor of the Department of the History of Medicine in St Johns Medical College. The museum brings alive the significant phases of the journey of medicine through its exhibits, which include medical instruments, models, photographs prints that depict the important episodes and personalities connected with the history of medicine. It also houses the History of Medicine and Humanities Library and Archives which has a large and rare collection of medical books from circa 1790-to the present.  Akash Srinivas is the Principal Investigator for this project. 

Akash is not new to making podcasts. He is the project coordinator of the podcast series called Chippin’ Away which explores various aspects of South Asia’s past, through all available avenues, including history, archaeology, anthropology, art, oral traditions and others. Along with the regular podcast episodes, Chippin’ Away also presents two series - Elementals, which investigates the relationship between humans and the natural elements, such as water, fire, earth and others; and Roti, Kapda, Makaan, which details the rich and varied histories behind everyday items and things. Given his experience Akash is best placed to be the Principal Investigator for this Foundation Project of IFA.

The current series of podcasts will be dedicated to the SL Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives. It will draw on all resources that are available in the museum, library and archives with additional inputs from experts in the field. The podcast series will cover 12 episodes, of about 20 minutes each, resulting in the creation of at least 4 hours of audio content. The episodes will cover a variety of themes such as women and medicine, the origins and evidence of ancient surgery and medical practices, traditional and folk medicine, deities of disease, mental health and institutions in colonial India, amongst others. These episodes will be slated for release throughout 2022 and 2023.

Every podcast episode in the series will be accompanied by a blog-post and an artistic caricature. This will provide further textual and visual information about the themes that are discussed, and the artistic element will make it all the more engaging. The plan is also to develop a website for the podcasts and caricatures, so that they can be curated in an interesting manner and can be exhibited virtually. Towards the end of the project, both the art works and blog posts can be printed into pamphlets that can be distributed in the museum. 

The material from the podcasts will be modified and will feed into the audio guides that will be created for the museum. At present, audio guides are a cost intensive proposition, but the Principal Investigator is confident of creating one that will be cost effective. The guides will be bi-lingual, in both English and Kannada, in order to reach a larger audience. 

In addition to the podcasts and audio guides the project will look to developing a series of gallery-based activities that will engage the viewers. A series of talks will be arranged, that will address the themes discussed in the podcasts. Guided museum walks and virtual talks through discussion boards and forums on the website will be organised to draw both the physical and digital audience to the museum. 

The outcome of the project will be the podcasts with the accompanying blog posts and caricatures; a website that will host the blog posts and art work; an audio-guide for the museum; pamphlets if possible; gallery-based activities and other public programmes like museum tours and talks, both on-site and virtual. The Principal Investigator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be the podcasts, website, audio guide, any printed matter and recordings of public events. 

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees. 

This project is made possible with part-support from Parijat Foundation.