Q+A with Jack Tame William Dalrymple: Empire, India, and Mamdani's remarkable win
Nov 7, 2025
Join historian and author William Dalrymple as he shares insights on India's rich history and the nuanced impact of the British Empire. Discover his thoughts on the hopeful victory of Zoran Mamdani amid rising populism, and how historical knowledge shapes our understanding of current geopolitics. Dalrymple also delves into the effects of decolonization and the importance of studying Britain's imperial past. With engaging anecdotes, he highlights India's rapid economic growth and the vital contributions of ancient Indian civilization.
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A Hopeful Response To Populism
- Zoran Mamdani's win felt like a hopeful rebuke to Trump-style politics and normalised rudeness.
- William Dalrymple found Mamdani's eloquence and celebration of diversity deeply heartening.
History As A Map For Today
- Knowing history gives you a map to understand the present and how things became as they are.
- Dalrymple warned many misinterpret history and urged careful interpretation.
Algorithms Fuel Political Polarisation
- Social media algorithms amplify existing views and create information silos that radicalise users.
- Dalrymple links these silos to increasing political polarisation and shrinking moderates.