Wed Apr 30 03:30:00 UTC 2025: **Bengaluru Economist Publishes Graphic Novel Tracing Ancient Iron-Smelting in India**
BENGALURU, INDIA – Dr. Sashi Sivramkrishna, a Bengaluru-based economist, has published a graphic novel, “A Journey into the Furnace of History: The Dying Embers of Ancient Iron-Smelting in India,” detailing a two-decade-long research project. The project began with an investigation into a 400-year-old curse on Talakadu, leading him to the work of 19th-century Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan. Buchanan’s detailed account of life in Mysore State inspired Sivramkrishna to retrace his journey, leading to the discovery of a largely forgotten history of iron smelting in South India.
Sivramkrishna’s research, conducted with colleagues over many years and published in academic journals, reveals the significant role iron smelting played in South India’s economy and military history, particularly during Tipu Sultan’s reign. The process, however, contributed heavily to deforestation. The graphic novel aims to make this complex history more accessible to a wider audience, highlighting the interconnection of environmental, military, social, and political factors. The beautifully illustrated book, created with the help of Kolkata-based artist Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, is available on the FAIR India website. Sivramkrishna hopes the novel will encourage a re-evaluation of India’s environmental history, moving beyond traditional agrarian-focused narratives.
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