India's Near East: A New History

by Avinash Paliwal

Celebrated as a theatre of geo-economic connectivity typified by the ‘Act East’ policy, India’s near east is key not only to its great-power rivalry with China, which first boiled over in the 1962 war, but to the idea(s) of India itself. It is also one of the most intricately partitioned lands anywhere on Earth. Rent by communal and class violence, the region has birthed extreme forms of religious and ethnic nationalisms and communist movements. The Indian state’s survival instinct and pursuit of regional hegemony have only accentuated such extremes.

This book scripts a new history of India’s eastward-looking diplomacy and statecraft. Narrated against the backdrop of separatist resistance within India’s own northeastern states, as well as rivalry with Beijing and Islamabad in Myanmar and Bangladesh, it offers a simple but compelling argument. The aspirations of ‘Act East’ mask an uncomfortable India privileges political stability over economic opportunity in this region. In his chronicle of a state’s struggle to overcome war, displacement and interventionism, Avinash Paliwal lays bare the limits of independent India’s influence in its near east.

Genres: India, History, Nonfiction, Politics

480 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Vineeth Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight on dynamics of India’s North East and historical context of her relations with Bangladesh and Myanmar

[Ananta Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book open a new window to the happenings in india's eastern sector, both internal and external players. The Bangladesh and Myanmar has been given special importance , deservedly so.

[Naser Hossain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avinash Paliwal's "India's Near East: A New History" is far more than just a "solid book." It is a meticulously researched and profoundly insightful work that redefines our understanding of India's complex geopolitical landscape on its eastern edge, encompassing the northeastern states, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. This book is an essential read for anyone seeking to unravel the intricate tapestry of relationships, conflicts, and motivations that have shaped this often-overlooked yet critically important region.
What truly sets Paliwal's work apart is its panoramic lens. Rather than treating India's northeastern states, Bangladesh, and Myanmar as isolated entities, he masterfully weaves them into a single, cohesive "Near East" – a conceptual framework he argues is crucial for understanding India's domestic and foreign policy challenges. This approach immediately introduces the reader to a dizzying array of actors and forces that have been instrumental in shaping events, many of whom, as the original comment rightly points out, were entirely unknown to the uninitiated.
Paliwal delves deep into the historical archives and interviews a wealth of protagonists to bring to life a cast of characters that ranges from political figureheads and intelligence operatives to insurgent leaders and everyday citizens. These "spies, fighters, brothers" are not merely names on a page; they are central to the narratives of identity politics, cross-border migration, economic challenges, and the state's often contradictory interactions with its periphery. The book illuminates how domestic compulsions, from electoral politics to ideological leanings, have consistently intertwined with and often dictated India's foreign policy decisions in this region.
The core themes of the book are particularly compelling. Paliwal argues that India's state-building project is inextricably linked to its international diplomacy in the Near East. He meticulously traces how the shared colonial past, which once administratively united this land, has given way to intricate partitions, leading to a crucible of ethnic nationalism, communist movements, and communal violence. The book explores:
* Identity Politics: How ethnic, communal, and ideological identities have driven political mobilization and shaped conflicts across the region.
* Cross-Border Migration: The profound impact of movements of people, from the Partition exodus to the 1971 Bangladesh refugee crisis, on the demographics, politics, and social fabric of the Near East.
* Political Economies: The economic constraints and developmental disparities that have fueled grievances and complicated relations, revealing an uncomfortable truth that India has often prioritized political stability over economic opportunity.
* Official Antinomies: The inherent contradictions and often reactive nature of India's statecraft, showcasing how New Delhi has navigated the complex interplay of internal security concerns and external diplomatic imperatives.
Paliwal's narrative is divided into three key periods: "Solidarity" (1947-1970), exploring decolonization and early engagements; "Security" (1971-1990), focusing on India's pursuit of security in the face of two-and-a-half-front challenges; and "Connectivity" (1991-2024), examining the strategic logic of authoritarianism and the aspirations of India's 'Act East' policy.
Ultimately, "India's Near East" is a tour de force of historical scholarship. It challenges conventional understandings of India's foreign policy, revealing a region where the lines between domestic and international affairs are perpetually blurred. While dense at times due to its ambitious scope and detailed research, Paliwal's clear prose ensures a cohesive and intelligible argument throughout. For anyone seeking to genuinely understand the complexities of one of Asia's most diverse and volatile regions, and the limits of India's influence within it, this book is not just a solid read, but an indispensable one. It's a "nerd version of a thriller," as one reviewer aptly put it, unearthing forgotten histories and introducing us to the multitude of voices that have shaped India's eastern destiny.