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THE BORDERLANDS AND BOUNDARIES OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Baluchistan to the Patkai Range and Arakan Yoma

By :- Dilip K. Chakrabarti

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Type: English

Pages: xviii+232

Format: Hard Bound

ISBN-13: 978-81-7305-594-2

Place: New Delhi

Edition: 1st

Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Size: 22cm x 28cm

Product Year: 2018

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This volume has sought to examine the basic elements of geographical, historical, economic and religious interactions between the accepted outer boundary line of the Indian subcontinent and the major geographical zones which lie outside it. The various boundary lines, which were drawn from time to time in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to define the sub-continent in relation to its overland neighbours, were the products of the contemporary political circumstances and the consensus between the negotiating governments, but behind the apparent precision of these boundary lines lies hidden an interaction zone of what we may call 'borderlands', stretching from Baluchistan at one point and the Arakan Yoma hills at another.
The character of these borderlands varies from one geographical sector to another, depending on a host of circumstances such as their physical geography both inside and outside the boundary line they follow, the historical circumstances which have developed across the borders, and the trading and religious networks which have been woven across them. An awareness or examination of these issues will help us to geopolitically appreciate how the subcontinent has figured in the historical and cultural world of the Asian landmass.
The maritime aspects of this relationship are increasingly becoming matters of historical discussion under the garb of investigating the relationships between different participants in the trade of the Indian Ocean and the related world. As far as the overland links are concerned, this relationship has not yet strongly emerged as a field of historical-geographical study. It is far more than being a case of the study of geo-political factors which change both with technology and political circumstances. It is basically a question of feeling the historical pulse of a vast, diverse and yet in a sense interlinked arena. An understanding of these links may also help us to look critically at many general premises regarding the geography and history of the subcontinent, premises which have regrettably persisted for long without close examinations of the concerned ground realities. On a different level, the volume also offers a comprehensive view of the civilizational impact of the subcontinent across its overland limits.

Preface
List of Maps
Introduction

PART I
ACROSS THE BALUCHI HILLS, THE HINDUKUSH AND THE KARAKORAM: CENTRAL ASIA, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, BALUCHISTAN AND THE UPLANDS FROM PESHAWAR TO THE PAMIRS
1. The Academic Context: The General Geographical and Historical Setting of Central Asia,
Iran and Afghanistan
I. Central Asia
II. Iran
III. Afghanistan
IV. Observations
2. The Geographical and Historical Perspectives of Central Asia
I. Aspects of Central Asian Geography
I.1. The Eurasian Steppes
I.2. Geography of Mongolia
I.3. Geography of Kazakhstan
I.4. Geography of Uzbekistan
I.5. Geography of Tajikistan
I.6. Notes on the Pamir Mountains and Plateau, Kyrgyzstan and the Chinese
Province Xinjiang
I.7. Geography of Turkmenistan
I.8. Rivers of Central Asia
I.9. Mountain Passes of Central Asia
II. Outline of the History and Archaeology of Central Asia
3. The Geographical and Historical Perspectives of Iran, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and
the Uplands from Peshawar to the Pamir Plateau, along with a Note on the
Concerned Political Boundaries
I. Iran
I.1. Iranian Geography
I.2. Outline of Iranian History and Archaeology
II. Afghanistan
II.1. Afghan Geography
II.2. Outline of the Archaeology and History of Afghanistan
III. Baluchistan
III.1. Baluch Geography
III.2. Baluch Archaeology and History
IV. The Northwestern Frontier Region, from the Gomal Valley to Peshawar
V. From the Peshawar Area to Swat, Dir, Chitral, Gilgit and Hunza
VI. Ladakh
VII. Boundaries of Afghanistan and Related Issues
VIII. The Russo-Afghan Boundary
IX. Afganistan’s Boundary with Iran
X. Durand Line
XI. Afghanistan’s Boundary with China
XII. British Indian Baluchistan’s Boundary with Iran
XIIII. Observations
4. Buddhism in Central Asia
I. Introduction
II. Mark Aurel Stein’s Expeditions, 1900-01, 1906-08, 1913-16
III. The Implications of the Discoveries around the Rim of the Taklamakan Desert
IV. Buddhist Remains in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan
V. Observations
5. Indians as Traders in Central Asia
I. Introduction
II. Stephen Dale’s Documentation and analysis, 1600-1750
III. Scott Levi’s Analysis of the Indian Diaspora and Its Trade
IV. Studies by C. Markovits and Others
PART II
LADAKH TO ARUNACHAL PRADESH
6. Tibet in Relation to India from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh and the Issue of the
Boundaries Including the MacMahon Line
I. Tibet: A General Introduction
II. An Outline History of Tibet
III. Buddhism in Tibet and Mongolia
IV. Position of Tibet as a Trading Hub
IV.1. Tibet’s Trade with China
V. Sikkim, Bhutan, Cooch Behar, Bengal, Assam
VI. The Concerned Boundaries
PART III
THE BORDER WITH MYANMAR
7. Across the Patkai Range and Arakan Yoma: Myanmar
I. Introduction
II. Irrawaddy Valley down to the Delta
II.1. The Pyu Cities
II.1.1. Beikthano
II.1.2. Halin
II.1.3. Maingmaw (Mong Mao)
II.1.4. Binnaka
II.1.5. Srikshetra
II.2. The Cities of the Mon People
II.3. Observations
III. The Cities of Arakan — Dhanywadi and Vesali
IV. The Pagan Period
V. Observations
V.1. The Ahom Invasion of the Indian Northeast in 1228 and the Question of
Links between Yunnan, Upper Burma, Upper Assam and Manipur
V.2. The Boundary of East India with Myanmar
PART IV
SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
8. Summary and Discussion
I. Introductory
II. Iran
III. Afghanistan
IV. Central Asia
IV.1. The Silk Road Network of Central Asia and Beyond
V. Indian Traders in Iran, Russia and Central Asia
VI. Spread of Buddhism
VII. Tibet
VIII. Myanmar
IX. The Boundaries

References
Index

Dilip K Chakrabarti is Emeritus Professor of South Asian Archaeology, Cambridge University. He has also been associated with Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi.

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