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Alka Raman

@alkaraman.bsky.social
185 followers 205 following 66 posts

Economic and social historian of the early modern world, innovation, industrialisation and all things cotton. Assistant Prof @UCL History. Chair of the Women’s Committee @Economic History Society, Associate Editor @Industrial History Review.

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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The EHS Women’s Committee is organising a day-long training event to highlight the benefits and pitfalls of the use of AI in EH on 30 Oct 2026 at UCL. Useful for both AI experts and sceptics. Save the date, booking information to follow soon.
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Economic History Society @echistsoc.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Be sure to follow the Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society @ehswomcom.bsky.social for the latest updates on its work, which includes an annual workshop, training day, networking event and a dedicated session at the Annual Conference.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
We had a great time discussing the contributions in the two volumes of the Special Issue on Global Economic History. Many thanks to Coskun Tuncer @uclhistory.bsky.social and Emma Griffin @qmul.bsky.social for the stimulating discussions!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Very excited for the online presentation of the Special Issue on Global Economic History and the discussions by Emma Griffin @qmul.bsky.social and Coskun Tuncer @uclhistory.bsky.social Register now 👇
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UCL History @uclhistory.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
We are delighted to announce the publication of The Hobo: A History of America’s First Climate Migrants by our Lecturer in Environmental History, Dr Robert Suits! Congratulations to Robert on this important and timely contribution to American environmental and labour history 🌎 👉 shorturl.at/bYne9
shorturl.at
Robert Suits Publishes The Hobo: A History of America's First Climate Migrants
The History Department is delighted to announce the publication of The Hobo: A History of America’s First Climate Migrants by Dr Robert Suits, Lecturer in Environmental History.
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UCL History @uclhistory.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
📸 Highlights from the AFRAB Project's research workshop, African Voices Against Slavery and the Slave Trade, at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana on 9–10 June, hosted by Professor Emmanuel Saboro and his team! 👉 Find out more about the project: shorturl.at/CFJAS
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
How does one do historical research using textiles as sources? What are its advantages and limitations? We had an insightful public discussion following student presentations @uclhistory.bsky.social
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UCL History @uclhistory.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Cricket, migration, empire, and postwar Britain: join Guy Ortolano (NYU) and Michael Collins (UCL) for the 60-minute Zoom launch of Windrush Cricket on Wednesday 13 May 2026🏏 🕛 12pm New York 🕔 5pm London 🕤 9:30pm Delhi 👉 Free RSVP below 👈
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
@uclhistory.bsky.social
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
How do historians use textiles as sources? Come to our public event where 2nd year students present their research on the social, economic and technological significance of cloth-making in history using textiles as sources. Free but booking is essential 👇 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
ucl.ac.uk
Textiles as Sources: Linen and Cotton in Eurasian History
Join the Department of History’s Second Year Research Seminar: Textiles as Sources. Explore linen and cotton in Eurasian history at our engaging Public History Showcase.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
The @ehswomcom.bsky.social organised a roundtable @echistsoc.bsky.social #EHS100 on ‘Women in Economic History’ with a rich discussion on the value of community and initiative!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
As part of the @echistsoc.bsky.social centenary, the Women’s Committee will screen a retrospective, featuring women economic historians, in their own words, on the past, present and future of women in EH. Screening Friday, 10 April, 18:25, Sheikh Zayed Theatre, LSE. Short clip 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Compiling and editing the second volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History sparked new ideas and conversations, especially related to the linkages between the local and the global👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
It was a real pleasure to guest edit the second volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History, and an even greater pleasure to see it published and share it here, open access! 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
I had the best time giving a talk at CHSTM @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social on knowledge transfer in printing-dyeing from India to Europe. Nothing like a rigorous discussion when the audience comes with annotated copies of your papers! Thanks Elise Smith and Michael Bycroft for the invitation!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
What does memory and its commemoration entail in the context of plurality of experiences? Fascinating discussion between students, alumni and academics and @eicathomefinn.bsky.social Matt Smith @cslbs.bsky.social and Benedetta Rossi @uclhistory.bsky.social
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
‘Power of the purse, and spine’ in this week’s ‘The Economist’
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
This term, we’re going from ‘calico craze’ to ‘china mania’ in our quest to unpack technological change.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
I had the great pleasure yesterday of giving a public lecture at the Oriental Rugs and Textiles Society on the theme of Indian chintz and calico printing in Europe and was overjoyed by the enthusiastic and lively discussions on madder, indigo and all things dyes and their techniques!
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Industrial History Review @rhi-ihr.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
The editorial board of the @rhi-ihr.bsky.social wishes you happy holidays and a very happy new year! We are grateful to our editors, authors, and referees, for a very good year 2025. We look forward to 2026 for more workshops, and new issues engaging with industrial and economic history!
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Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society @ehswomcom.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
We had the @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee’s Annual Workshop yesterday @ucl.ac.uk Thanks to all the presenters and participants for their collegiality and shared interest in making women visible in history! Special thanks to @camilladekoning.bsky.social for the great organisation!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
What comprised useful market knowledge enabling British merchants to sell cotton textiles in overseas markets? Alexander Appleton examines the coordination of market intelligence for successful cotton trading 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
What did innovation in the production of salt look like in the British Caribbean during the late 18th and early 19th centuries? Kimberley Thomas unpacks what the shift from slavery to freedom in salt production entailed 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
How might we assess the little divergence between India and Japan through the lens of access to raw cotton? Aditi Dixit comparatively examines the role of the state and industrial growth 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
How does a physical space become a site for global economic history? @alibennett.bsky.social unpacks the significance of African ivory in the Port of London 👇
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Women’s Committee of the Economic History Society @ehswomcom.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Few days left to register for the EHS Women’s Committee’s annual workshop. Details 👇 or follow the link ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
ehs.org.uk
Women's Commitee Workshop - Women & Entrepreneurship: Agency, Experience, and Enterprise - Economic History Society
12/12/2025 @ All day - Annual Workshop of the Economic History Society Women’s Committee University College London Friday, 12 December 2025 Theme: Women & Entrepreneurship: Agency, Experience, and Ent...
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Industrial History Review @rhi-ihr.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
🍾 We are proud to announce “Introduction: New Perspectives in Global Economic History” by @alkaraman.bsky.social (@ucl.ac.uk ), author of the piece and editor of the special issue on global economic history in @rhi-ihr.bsky.social . Read it open access 👉 doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
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’
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
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
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
A great programme on the theme of ‘Women and Enterprise’ for the annual workshop of the EHS Women’s Committee @echistsoc.bsky.social @ehswomcom.bsky.social The workshop will be held in-person @uclhistory.bsky.social see registration details 👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
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.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Reminder: online training event for academic publishing and applying for grants, on 10th Oct, organised by the @ehswomcom.bsky.social The event will be particularly useful for ECRs, registration info👇
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Many thanks to Darshan Shah and the team from Weavers’ Studio, Kolkata. ‘Textiles from Bengal’ would not be possible without them.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
The highlight of the day - textile objects, demonstrating extraordinary skill and expertise in textile making and adornment in Bengal.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Mary Schoeser, Meha Priyadarshini and I also presented at the ‘Textiles from Bengal’ event. Thanks to the audience for the fantastic engagement!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Children and the Covid-19 pandemic. UK report is out, and includes a child-friendly version.
covid19.public-inquiry.uk
Children & Young People's Voices Research Project - UK Covid-19 Inquiry
The independent public inquiry to examine the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Want to know more about publishing your work and applying for research grants? The @ehswomcom.bsky.social is organising an online training session on 10th Oct. Save the date! ⬇️
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from. Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
How did women participate in business and enterprise through history? CfP currently live from the @ehswomcom.bsky.social
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Andrew Popp @andrewpopp.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
The call for next year's @businesshistoryc.bsky.social annual meeting is up (the deadline is Oct 17th). The theme is Co-creation. Is there anyone who might be interesting in developing a panel on the Co-creation of business histories with collaborators from outside both academia & the corporation.
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
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
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
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
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Fancy a garden wall with Roman foundations?!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Wall as a patchwork of stone over time!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Beginning the EHS Women’s Committee’s Exeter Roman Walls walk with Mark Stoyle with the gunpowder tower!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
Cannot recommend this highly enough for PhD students, having benefitted from the residential training course myself several years ago!
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Alka Raman @alkaraman.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
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!
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