In “The History Lessons”, award-winning teacher Shalina Patel delivers a comprehensive tour of history that shines a light on untold stories and unheard voices. This exciting new book dives into overlooked aspects of history emphasized in traditional school lessons.
The book by Shalina Patel, now known as “The History Lessons”, challenges established narratives and brings to light uncomfortable truths about colonialism and Britain’s role in the slave trade. It offers an inclusive journey into history, from the Romans to the Second World War via Tudor courts and medieval castles. This remarkable journey also highlights unsung women and people of color, placing them in their rightful position on the historical timeline.
Patel’s book aims to fill the gaps in historical knowledge that many readers may feel. As she explains, “I think people do feel they’ve missed out on certain aspects of history, so I’m trying to help fill those gaps.” She draws on her years of teaching experience to bring these lesser-known stories to life.
The author links diverse stories within the context that everyone already knows. She presents the stories of Indian soldiers and Chinese workers not as separate entities, but as integral parts of the same historical narrative. This approach demystifies these stories and makes them more relatable to readers.
Patel’s fascination with hidden histories was sparked more than six years ago when she discovered the story of Indian-born suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh. She later won a National Teaching award for a lesson on British second world war spy Noor Inayat Khan. Patel also runs the popular @thehistorycorridor account on Instagram, where she shares fresh takes on history.
Patel believes that even the most knowledgeable historians can learn something new from her book. “I think that even if the nerdiest of historians picks up the book, there will be things that they haven’t necessarily thought about, or don’t know a huge amount about,” she says. “After 15 years sharing these stories with students, it feels amazing to take them out of the classroom.”
Key figures from Patel’s book
Nur Jahan
Jahan was the de-facto head of India’s ruling Mughal empire, which was still in power when Britain took control. Patel uses the 17th-century, tiger-slaying empress as a vehicle for explaining the origins of British colonialism.
Dorothy Lawrence
Lawrence, an ambitious 18-year-old, was determined to become a war reporter but was vetoed by her editors based on her gender. Undeterred, she cycled to the western front and disguised herself as a male soldier, though her disguise was discovered after just 10 days.
Sophia Duleep Singh
Despite being an Indian princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, Singh was an active supporter of the Suffragette movement. Her campaigning efforts made headlines during her time, but her contribution has largely been forgotten in modern times.
