India, Feb. 16 -- Sohail Hashmi is a dilliwala. The oral historian graduated from Kirori Mal College and Jawaharlal Nehru University, and has worked with slum dwellers, shophands and headload worker's unions. Then, he ventured into electronic media by starting as a script writer, graduating to producer and executive producer before conceiving, researching, scripting and producing documentaries on the pioneers of women's education, history of Urdu, and lesser-known freedom fighters. He started Delhi Walks, that grew into Delhi Heritage Walks with Sohail Hashmi.

Excerpts from the interview with Sohail Hashmi:

T+L India: When did you realise that your calling lies in history?

Sohail Hashmi: I was running my friend's creative activity cent...