New Books in East Asian Studies Sam Dalrymple, "Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia" (William Collins, 2025)
Sep 4, 2025
Sam Dalrymple, a historian and cofounder of Project Dastaan, dives into the critical topic of historical partitions in Asia, as discussed in his book, "Shattered Lands." He elaborates on five significant splits that shaped modern nations from India to Southeast Asia. The conversation reveals how World War II accelerated independence movements and the tumultuous events of 1947. Dalrymple also addresses the human costs of these partitions, including the refugee crises they caused, and shares insights into the ongoing impact on national identities today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Five Partitions Made Modern Asia
- Sam Dalrymple reframes the region's history as five partitions that transformed a single large colony into many nation-states.
- He argues these border-breaks between 1937–1971 shaped modern Asia's map and rivalries.
The Raj Spanned From Aden To Burma
- British India at its peak stretched from Aden to Burma and included diverse governance forms like directly-ruled provinces and princely states.
- Dalrymple notes people in parts of this region sometimes identified as 'Indian' before later nationalist shifts.
Nationalist Maps Shaped Separations
- Separation of Burma and Arabian protectorates mixed local nationalist currents and British strategy to retain influence.
- Indian nationalists' vision of Bharatavarsha excluded Burma and Arabia, fueling separationism.
