In the thirteenth episode, I speak to Priya Atwal, British historian of empire, on her recent book Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire published by Hurst and Oxford University Press in 2020. The books shines fresh light on the Sikh empire (1799-1849), transcending prevailing interpretations that focus wholly on the founding father Maharajah Ranjit Singh and not the royal family, queens and prices, who  contributed to the empire’s spectacular rise and fall. Atwal, an Oxford trained historian, masterfully reveals the royal family’s history at the backdrop of a dramatic 19th century when prevailing empires gave way to new powers. The conversation begins by asking how Atwal found herself delving into the Sikh empire before moving to unpack how Ranjit Singh built his empire. Atwal then describes why Ranjit Singh’s monarchical rule is compatible with Sikh tenets, something other historians had rejected. The core of the book that shows the gendered aspects of royal rule comes alive through the lives of Ranjit Singh’s last wife Jind Kaur and son Duleep Singh and their struggles with the British as the empire was collapsing. The conversation ends by considering legacies of the Sikh empire today, challenges Atwal faced writing the book and what the response has been from her family and Sikh community. Links https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/royals-and-rebels/