Holden documented the anachronisms of the Raj's influence, from Urdu-speaking Omanis to Indian customs during social gatherings. Despite this historical connection, most people in India and Britain remained blissfully unaware of this Arabian extension of the Raj, with maps of their reach kept secret. Political shifts began to sever this relationship; by 1937, the British started to distance Aden from India, and eventually, on April 1, 1947, the Gulf states were removed from Indian control altogether, just months before India and Pakistan gained independence.
The British eventually maintained their foothold in the region until 1971, but as time progressed, the Gulf states worked to erase the memories of their governance under British India. Cities like Dubai transformed from minor outposts of an empire into modern economic powerhouses. Today, millions reside within the Gulf, many unaware of how close they came to becoming part of a larger Indian or Pakistani nation. This historical moment reminds us of the fascinating complexities of nationhood and the ebb and flow of imperial ties in a rapidly changing world.
Sam Dalrymple, author of "Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia", sheds light on this lost narrative, illustrating how power dynamics and colonial histories continue to shape identities and political landscapes in the Gulf.
The British eventually maintained their foothold in the region until 1971, but as time progressed, the Gulf states worked to erase the memories of their governance under British India. Cities like Dubai transformed from minor outposts of an empire into modern economic powerhouses. Today, millions reside within the Gulf, many unaware of how close they came to becoming part of a larger Indian or Pakistani nation. This historical moment reminds us of the fascinating complexities of nationhood and the ebb and flow of imperial ties in a rapidly changing world.
Sam Dalrymple, author of "Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia", sheds light on this lost narrative, illustrating how power dynamics and colonial histories continue to shape identities and political landscapes in the Gulf.
