Alka Raman
@alkaraman.bsky.social
Economic and social historian of the early modern world, innovation, industrialisation and all things cotton. Assistant Prof at UCL History. Chair of the Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society.
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Last evening was truly special, meeting with dear friends and colleagues to celebrate the launch of @edmond-smith.bsky.social new book, ‘Ruthless: A New History of Britain’s Rise to Wealth and Power’
Still buzzing after the talk by @sushmajansari.bsky.social about her experience of community curation and the making of the exhibition ‘Ancient India, Living Traditions’ @britishmuseum.bsky.social @uclhistory.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Still buzzing after the talk by @sushmajansari.bsky.social about her experience of community curation and the making of the exhibition ‘Ancient India, Living Traditions’ @britishmuseum.bsky.social @uclhistory.bsky.social
We’ve just finished a most useful @ehswomcom.bsky.social training session with @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, Ramon Ramon-Munoz @rhi-ihr.bsky.social and Michael Watson @universitypress.cambridge.org on early career years in academia & grants/postdocs processes & publishing academic articles/books.
October 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We’ve just finished a most useful @ehswomcom.bsky.social training session with @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, Ramon Ramon-Munoz @rhi-ihr.bsky.social and Michael Watson @universitypress.cambridge.org on early career years in academia & grants/postdocs processes & publishing academic articles/books.
Many thanks to Darshan Shah and the team from Weavers’ Studio, Kolkata. ‘Textiles from Bengal’ would not be possible without them.
September 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Many thanks to Darshan Shah and the team from Weavers’ Studio, Kolkata. ‘Textiles from Bengal’ would not be possible without them.
The highlight of the day - textile objects, demonstrating extraordinary skill and expertise in textile making and adornment in Bengal.
September 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The highlight of the day - textile objects, demonstrating extraordinary skill and expertise in textile making and adornment in Bengal.
Mary Schoeser, Meha Priyadarshini and I also presented at the ‘Textiles from Bengal’ event. Thanks to the audience for the fantastic engagement!
September 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Mary Schoeser, Meha Priyadarshini and I also presented at the ‘Textiles from Bengal’ event. Thanks to the audience for the fantastic engagement!
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
September 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
September 17, 2025 at 7:42 AM
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
Fantastic day in Exeter immersed in the history of the city through the foundational materiality of the Roman walls! Thanks to Mark Stoyle for leading the brilliant tour for the @ehswomcom.bsky.social @echistsoc.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Fantastic day in Exeter immersed in the history of the city through the foundational materiality of the Roman walls! Thanks to Mark Stoyle for leading the brilliant tour for the @ehswomcom.bsky.social @echistsoc.bsky.social
From the tussle between the cathedral and the city, to cloth-making and economic prosperity, all built on Roman foundations. Exeter Roman walls tour of the @ehswomcom.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
From the tussle between the cathedral and the city, to cloth-making and economic prosperity, all built on Roman foundations. Exeter Roman walls tour of the @ehswomcom.bsky.social
Fancy a garden wall with Roman foundations?!
August 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Fancy a garden wall with Roman foundations?!
Wall as a patchwork of stone over time!
August 22, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Wall as a patchwork of stone over time!
Beginning the EHS Women’s Committee’s Exeter Roman Walls walk with Mark Stoyle with the gunpowder tower!
August 22, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Beginning the EHS Women’s Committee’s Exeter Roman Walls walk with Mark Stoyle with the gunpowder tower!
Assessing textile samples at the Whitworth and John Rylands in Manchester with @edmond-smith.bsky.social for an upcoming exhibition. Time flies you’re having fun!
August 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Assessing textile samples at the Whitworth and John Rylands in Manchester with @edmond-smith.bsky.social for an upcoming exhibition. Time flies you’re having fun!
What is the significance of Indian textiles in global economic history? Co-organising a one-day workshop with Tirthankar Roy on the topic, to mark the launch of the new book ‘Textiles from Bengal’. Limited places available, book via link👇
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
August 15, 2025 at 11:45 AM
What is the significance of Indian textiles in global economic history? Co-organising a one-day workshop with Tirthankar Roy on the topic, to mark the launch of the new book ‘Textiles from Bengal’. Limited places available, book via link👇
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
Fantastic few days in beautiful Lund @WEHC2025 partaking in global new research in economic history, exchanging ideas and sharing insights. So special to see colleagues and friends from all around the world, safe travels back home all!
August 1, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Fantastic few days in beautiful Lund @WEHC2025 partaking in global new research in economic history, exchanging ideas and sharing insights. So special to see colleagues and friends from all around the world, safe travels back home all!
I had the best time this week giving a talk at the University of Barcelona on import substitution in the British and French cotton industries and talking to PhD students about their projects and methodologies.
June 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I had the best time this week giving a talk at the University of Barcelona on import substitution in the British and French cotton industries and talking to PhD students about their projects and methodologies.
Fab few days in Paris for the ‘Fils, nœuds, cordes, câbles’ workshop with Centre Alexandre Koyré @CAK.ehess.fr I shared work on cotton, tech change & economic modernity, & absorbed exciting new research on objects, materials & tech! Thank you Liliane Hilaire Perez for the invitation!
June 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Fab few days in Paris for the ‘Fils, nœuds, cordes, câbles’ workshop with Centre Alexandre Koyré @CAK.ehess.fr I shared work on cotton, tech change & economic modernity, & absorbed exciting new research on objects, materials & tech! Thank you Liliane Hilaire Perez for the invitation!
It was a great pleasure to see Pat Hudson deliver the Aaron Graham Lecture @uclhistory.bsky.social, supported by the @echistsoc.bsky.social, on how British investments in the Caribbean helped boost financial capacity in the British economy during the 18th century.
June 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
It was a great pleasure to see Pat Hudson deliver the Aaron Graham Lecture @uclhistory.bsky.social, supported by the @echistsoc.bsky.social, on how British investments in the Caribbean helped boost financial capacity in the British economy during the 18th century.
The fantastic UCL India summer school would not have been possible without the fantastic students who absorbed new ideas with enthusiasm and wide open minds! They were a real pleasure to teach, hope to see some at @ucl.ac.uk in the years to come!
June 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The fantastic UCL India summer school would not have been possible without the fantastic students who absorbed new ideas with enthusiasm and wide open minds! They were a real pleasure to teach, hope to see some at @ucl.ac.uk in the years to come!
Delighted beyond measure to be a part of the UCL India Summer School @ucl.bsky.social with brilliant colleagues, delivering the pathway ‘Globalisation and Technology’ through an Indian lens for @UCLHistory.bsky.social Thrilled that so many got excited by this new perspective on India and the world!
June 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Delighted beyond measure to be a part of the UCL India Summer School @ucl.bsky.social with brilliant colleagues, delivering the pathway ‘Globalisation and Technology’ through an Indian lens for @UCLHistory.bsky.social Thrilled that so many got excited by this new perspective on India and the world!
Absolute pleasure to be back in Delhi, for the UCL India Summer School, for @uclhistory.bsky.social. I’m delivering a pathway entitled ‘Globalisation and Technology: India and the World, 1700-present.’ Bright students, deep discussions and a chance to share new research on India, in India!
June 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Absolute pleasure to be back in Delhi, for the UCL India Summer School, for @uclhistory.bsky.social. I’m delivering a pathway entitled ‘Globalisation and Technology: India and the World, 1700-present.’ Bright students, deep discussions and a chance to share new research on India, in India!
One of the joys of working @uclhistory.bsky.social is that you have access to the extraordinary @uclpetriemuseum.bsky.social with one of the largest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese historic artefacts. I spotted some textiles which will, no doubt, form part of future investigations!
May 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
One of the joys of working @uclhistory.bsky.social is that you have access to the extraordinary @uclpetriemuseum.bsky.social with one of the largest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese historic artefacts. I spotted some textiles which will, no doubt, form part of future investigations!
How do historians think through the use of objects for historical research? Great time talking with @uclhistory.bsky.social offer holders today about objects in history.
May 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
How do historians think through the use of objects for historical research? Great time talking with @uclhistory.bsky.social offer holders today about objects in history.
Last few days have been about total immersion in Indian natural textile dyeing techniques with Sylvia Houghteling for the Tomás Harris lecture series, discussing natural dyes, their techniques, temporality and socio-economic significance. Many thanks to @UCLhistoryofart for organising!
May 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Last few days have been about total immersion in Indian natural textile dyeing techniques with Sylvia Houghteling for the Tomás Harris lecture series, discussing natural dyes, their techniques, temporality and socio-economic significance. Many thanks to @UCLhistoryofart for organising!