Historian and author William Dalrymple’s new book The Golden Road : How Ancient India Transformed the World delves into the history of ancient India and its often less talked about soft power as the centre of ancient Eurasia. It sheds light on the country’s influence on world ideas, art, spirituality, and trade.  

In this conversation with Anand Vardhan, Dalrymple talks about his new book, prejudices against historians and what they missed, politics, and the region’s soft power in ancient times. He also revisits milestones in India’s history – from Aryabhatta to Nalanda University and the Mughals.  

On being asked about the projection of India as a “vishwaguru”, the author says, “I haven’t used that phrase at any time...but it’s certainly true that Indian ideas diffused. That’s the whole point of the book.”  

Dalrymple adds, “I wouldn’t say a teacher to the world, but Indian ideas spread out from India in all directions... Ancient India did indeed transform the world. And I don’t think you have to be a right-winger or a member of the RSS to say that very clearly.”  

 (Note: Dalrymple did say India was a “teacher to the world” in an interview with Karan Thapar.)

About his work being appropriated by political parties, he says, “I am neither a Marxist nor from the RSS... There’s prejudice in India if you’re writing about the Mughals... if you are writing about ancient India.”

Watch.