Alka Raman
banner
alkaraman.bsky.social
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.
‘Power of the purse, and spine’ in this week’s ‘The Economist’
February 8, 2026 at 10:26 AM
This term, we’re going from ‘calico craze’ to ‘china mania’ in our quest to unpack technological change.
January 28, 2026 at 6:50 AM
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!
January 15, 2026 at 6:53 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
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!
December 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
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!
December 13, 2025 at 7:17 AM
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 👇
"Co-ordination of knowledge and merchant networks in the rise of the British textile trade between 1820 and 1840: the case of Langworthy Brothers and Co." by Alexander Appleton (@uniofeastanglia.bsky.social)

DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
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 👇
December 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
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 👇
"Raw cotton markets, industrial strategies, and trade organisation in India and Japan, c. 1850-1940" by Aditi Dixit (Wageningen University @resourcewur.bsky.social)

DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
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 👇
"Port labour, global commodities, and material skill development: a study of the ivory warehouse in the Port of London and its representation c. 1860-1968" by @alibennett.bsky.social (@officialuom.bsky.social )

DOI: doi.org/10.1344/rhi-...
December 6, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
Few days left to register for the EHS Women’s Committee’s annual workshop. Details 👇 or follow the link ehs.org.uk/event/womens...
November 28, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
🍾 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-...
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 AM
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!
Vol. 34 No. 95 (2025) of @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is out! The first instalment of New Perspectives in Global Economic History, edited by @alkaraman.bsky.social, shows how commodity based economic history reveals global interconnections and rethinks long-term development. revistes.ub.edu/index.php/Hi...
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 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’
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
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
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 👇
The @echistsoc.bsky.social Women’s Committee is organising its annual workshop on the 12th of December @ucl.ac.uk This will be an in-person only event. Book now to attend. Details ⬇️
Registration for our EHS Women's Committee Workshop: Women & Entrepreneurship: Agency, Experience, and Enterprise is now open.
See the amazing program at the link below and find the register button at the bottom of the page!
@ehswomcom.bsky.social @echistsoc.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM
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
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👇
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
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
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
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
Rosemary Crill, John Styles and Karolina Hutkova presenting at ‘Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy’
September 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
It’s about to begin! Setting up for ‘Textiles from Bengal’
September 17, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
Children and the Covid-19 pandemic. UK report is out, and includes a child-friendly version.
Children & Young People's Voices Research Project - UK Covid-19 Inquiry
The independent public inquiry to examine the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
covid19.public-inquiry.uk
September 15, 2025 at 6:53 AM
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! ⬇️
September 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Alka Raman
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.
What's better than a rainbow-coloured bed of dahlias?

An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
September 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM