One of the greatest literary figures in Russian history — and, perhaps, the most recognizable Russian author in the world...

Tolstoy was celebrated during his lifetime. He was a cultural monument in his own time — read not only by the Russian intelligentsia, but by factory workers, schoolteachers, revolutionaries, and monarchists alike.

Unlike so many Russian thinkers and artists, he was never imprisoned, never exiled, never formally repressed by the state. His writings generally were not banned – neither by the Tsarist regime, nor by the Soviets who followed. In fact, both systems found ways to celebrate him.

In the Soviet Union, he was often presented as a proto-socialist critic, a moral voice who condemned inequality and imperial hypocrisy. In the West, he was embraced as a literary genius, a prophet of nonviolence, a spiritual humanist. Across cultures and ideologies, Tolstoy has remained, in many ways, untouchable.

Yet there is another side to Tolstoy. A side that is far more controversial, and far less publicized.

A man who delved into theology with relentless passion. Who challenged the foundations of Orthodox dogma. Who called the Church a distortion of Christ’s teachings. Who rejected the sacraments, denied the resurrection, and saw the cross not as a symbol of salvation, but as an emblem of cruelty.

What led Tolstoy, the literary saint of Russia, to this final spiritual rebellion? And why did the Church respond not with debate, but with excommunication?

A poet for whom the boundaries between creeds were illusionary. A mystic for whom non-dualism and apophatic vision weren’t just poetic metaphors — they were his lived reality.

All his life represents a bridge between the Abrahamic and Dharmic worlds.

Who was Sarmad Kashani? What was his formation in Iran? And what was his role in Mughal India? What is his legacy - spiritual, literary, social?

For those today who are suspicious of religious certainty and drawn to spiritual experimentation, he remains a startling, beautiful, and uncompromising presence.

Episode number 5 continues the exploration of the story of the Khurramites, a religious movement in Medieval Iran. The movement was nativist in nature, but had features of a syncretic cult. Neither fully Zoroastrian, nor Islamic, however rooted in the long history of Iranic religious traditions.

In part II, we focus on the Khurramite rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate, under the leadership of Babak Khorramdin. We delve into the history of the movement after Babak's defeat, including the intricate relations between the Khurramites and the Byzantine Empire, as well as their likely influence on various heterodox currents across the Persianate world.

We then have a glimpse into how the image of Babak has been used in literature and art of modern Iran and Azerbaijan to shape divergent political and cultural narratives. We also attempt to grasp the role of Babak and the Khurramites in modern Kurdish and Talysh discourses.

What makes Babak's story so compelling for modern artists and political activists?