October 26, 2026

The YT History

History, during the time I read as a kid, was nowhere as interesting. It was a compulsory project but dreary and unrelatable. And hence, very forgetful.

The advent of social media, particularly YouTube, changed this for me. Content and podcasts suddenly have brought out lessons, which I’d read as a kid, so much more to life. I recount 3 of over the past month, built around my own experiences and ones I’ve widely watched.

Firstly, the underplay of stability, constitutional structures and regional unity of India from the ‘40s to the ‘70s. As I have travelled extensively through most states, the story of how each one fought, came into existence and finally integrated brings me goosebumps. While the early leaders had several shortcomings related to industrial push and reforms, there was stability at the top and investment in social structures, which hopefully are bearing fruit now, as the shortcomings slowly go away. My learning – stability and governance structures must be created early into all institutions.

Secondly, the richness of Bengal (where I worked and stayed for more than 10 years) in the 16/1700s. It accounted for almost 10-12% of the world’s GDP then. Declined to almost 20% of (a highly weakened) India’s GDP at independence to the state that it is now. It’s a story that has many takeaways – my foremost being that it’s easier to reach the top, than stay there.

Thirdly, the culture (language, cuisine, architecture and entertainment) of Delhi, modeled by the western invaders, Punjabi influence and the plains of north India. Physically living amidst all of it with remnants from the past brings all those stories to life, from the Hindu kings to the Delhi sultanate, Mughal Emperors and the British Raj. Again, many takeaways – my foremost being that while there may be a storm at the top, the commoner is always ready to adjust, accept and move on in peace.

3 valuable lessons for us at OfBusiness/ Oxyzo and will follow with a few more in the coming weeks (I am personally looking fwd to them.)

Once an OFBIan, forever one:

Asish Mohapatra