Boundaries and Borderlands: A Century after the 1914 Simla Convention

The Simla Convention of 1914 established the McMahon Line and demarcated the border between India and Tibet. This book explores the legacy of the Convention and its relevance in scholarly discourse about the status of Tibet and Sino-Indian relations. It highlights the debilitating consequences of colonial legacies on investigations of the borderlands and analyzes the muted voices of the inhabitants to understand the political, economic, religious, ecological, and social life of the Himalayan peoples.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Simla Convention of 1914, a pivotal event in the history of South Asia, was convened between Great Britain, China, and Tibet to delineate the border between India and Tibet. This convention not only established the McMahon Line but also left a lasting legacy that continues to shape scholarly discourse on the status of Tibet and Sino-Indian relations more than a century later.

In this comprehensive book, the authors delve into the significance of the Simla Convention, exploring its multifaceted implications. They examine the historical, political, and cultural factors that shaped the convention and its impact on the people and the liminal borderlands it encompassed. The book sheds light on how colonial legacies, particularly the 1914 Simla Convention, have become virtual straitjackets, rigidifying the positions on the boundaries between India and China. It also critically assesses the limitations of the nation-state framework in understanding the complex dynamics of the borderlands.

Through a rich array of archival material and fieldwork in the Himalayan regions, the authors provide a nuanced analysis of the muted voices of the inhabitants of the region. They seek to bring forth the larger question of the political, economic, religious, ecological, and social life of the Himalayan peoples, which holds immense implications for both India and China. This book appeals to students of history, international relations, sociology, strategic studies, Asian studies, and anthropology, offering a valuable perspective on a region of critical importance to the global landscape.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 233 x 154 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032225296