Season 5 Episode 5: Sam Dalrymple - Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia

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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and historian Sam Dalrymple for a fascinating discussion of his book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia. Drawing on extensive archival research, personal histories, and overlooked narratives, Dalrymple reveals how the dissolution of the British Raj reshaped a vast region stretching from Yemen and the Gulf to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, giving rise to many of the political fault lines that continue to define the modern world.

Together, they explore the five partitions that fractured the British Indian Empire, including the division of India and Pakistan, the creation of Bangladesh, the contested futures of Hyderabad and Kashmir, and the often-forgotten connections between South Asia and the Gulf. They examine the human consequences of partition, from mass displacement and divided families to enduring conflicts, militarized borders, and unresolved questions of identity and sovereignty. The conversation also highlights the immense cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of the region and considers how the legacies of empire continue to shape contemporary geopolitics.

This episode offers listeners a powerful rethinking of modern Asian history, challenging conventional narratives and illuminating the imperial roots of many of today's most pressing global challenges. It is a story of migration, memory, conflict, and resilience, one that underscores how understanding the past is essential for imagining a more peaceful and interconnected future.

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.

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