What made certain cities worth fighting over, century after century? How did temples in remote locations come to hold wealth that rivalled kingdoms? And why did some of India's most ambitious traders end up not in great cities, but at ports on the other side of the world? These are not questions that conventional history asks. But they are exactly the kind that geography answers.

In his debut book, The Wealth Networks: How Roads, Rivers and Seas Shaped India, Akshay Chavan traces the hidden routes that connected the subcontinent across centuries. Through stories of merchants, travellers, artisans, monks, and migrants, the book reveals how geography and commerce shaped economies, empires, faith, language, and art. Celebrating the book’s Mumbai launch, the proceedings will begin with a lecture-demonstration by the author, where he weaves together maps, visual references, and historical anecdotes, uncovering the paths through which wealth, ideas, and culture travelled across India and beyond. It will be followed by a panel discussion with leading voices from the worlds of history, anthropology, and religious studies, unravelling the forces that shaped India's past and continue to influence the world we live in today.
 
Join us for an evening of ideas, conversation, and discover India as a living network of journeys, exchanges, and encounters.