The 120 Million Years of India's Frontiers
-
An Independence Day Special Compilation of 8 Threads that Tells the Epic Story of Geography, Culture, Trade, and Politics
#IndiaAt76 #HappyIndependenceDay
-
An Independence Day Special Compilation of 8 Threads that Tells the Epic Story of Geography, Culture, Trade, and Politics
#IndiaAt76 #HappyIndependenceDay
We have recently published several threads on the frontiers of India. Today we bring them all together, and some of our past threads to complete the arch. To tell the small fragment of the story of how India came to be what it is.
Let's begin with the modern frontiers.
Let's begin with the modern frontiers.
The grand Himalayas has been worshipped and feared for millennia. It has defined India in many ways. A natural frontier and shield, It has given India strategic leverage in ancient trade & modern geopolitics.
Thus, it is also the theatre of India's many enduring challenges.
Thus, it is also the theatre of India's many enduring challenges.
1. We start with the North-East & move to the West in the subsequent 4 threads.
North-East India has a diverse and rich heritage. Its interactions with eastern and south-eastern Asia have had a tremendous impact on the culture of the entire region. -
North-East India has a diverse and rich heritage. Its interactions with eastern and south-eastern Asia have had a tremendous impact on the culture of the entire region. -
2. The Great Game of Power that ensued in Kashmir, Tibet, and Central Asia in the 8th and 9th centuries. It ended up shaping Asian history in so many ways. It is a grand tale of the tussle between China, India, Tibet, and Islamic Caliphets. -
3. Karakoram Pass and Leh-Ladakh have a history that goes back thousands of years. Despite being one of the most daunting passages to travel, it has been a conduit of continuous activity. -
4. The Gilgit and Baltistan in todayβs Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir have an equally intriguing history.
This passage of prosperity that was fraught with peril remains highly significant even today. -
This passage of prosperity that was fraught with peril remains highly significant even today. -
Now we simultaneously move away from the Himalayas and travel to the seas. We also travel back in time.
The Indian peninsula enjoys great strategic significance. Located between the extremely crucial maritime routes like the Malacca strait on one side and the red sea and the Persian Gulf on the other, Indian civilization boasts a maritime legacy that goes back more than 4000 years.
From Tamralipti in Bengal to Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu Indiaβs east coast was dotted with many ports in the first millennium CE.
These ports traded with the world. They brought prosperity, cultural exchange, and great knowledge.
These ports traded with the world. They brought prosperity, cultural exchange, and great knowledge.
5. Our old thread on the ancient port of Arikamedu gives a snapshot of this legacy.
The western coast tells a similar story. Gujarat to Keralam, the coast was replete with many ports.
But perhaps due to easier access to the ancient world, the tradition here goes back much farther in the past, as far back as 2000 BCE.
But perhaps due to easier access to the ancient world, the tradition here goes back much farther in the past, as far back as 2000 BCE.
6. Lothal is perhaps the oldest port in the world. The crown jewel of the Indus Valley civilization, and a testament to their advancement and industriousness. -
In the previous tweet, we alluded to easier access of Indus Valley Civilisation to the ancient world. One of the reasons that it flourished in the only part of India, which does not have an extremely treacherous natural frontier.
The north and west India, from the west border of Kashmir to Gujarat, are man-made frontiers.
They have seen ideas, economies, and cultures flourish. And, they have seen people suffer due to constant threats of invasions.
They have seen ideas, economies, and cultures flourish. And, they have seen people suffer due to constant threats of invasions.
Due to its location, the Indus Valley civilization had access to other civilizations of its time, and to the more fertile land of their home.
They leveraged it to initiate a prosperous trade as far back as 2600 BCE. They also established external outposts to facilitate it.
They leveraged it to initiate a prosperous trade as far back as 2600 BCE. They also established external outposts to facilitate it.
7. The story of Shortugai is a prime example of how they capitalized on their natural advantage. -
As we come to the end of this saga, letβs review the story so far.
India:
A land protected from three sides and open from one. A land that is home to mind-blowing natural & cultural diversity. A land shaped by rivers like Sindhu, Brahmaputra, Ganges, & Kaveri. A fertile land blessed by Monsoons capable of nurturing almost 1.5 billion people.
A land protected from three sides and open from one. A land that is home to mind-blowing natural & cultural diversity. A land shaped by rivers like Sindhu, Brahmaputra, Ganges, & Kaveri. A fertile land blessed by Monsoons capable of nurturing almost 1.5 billion people.
India:
A home to cultures and civilizations for many thousand years. From silk to salt, from Gold to pearls, a treasure-trove of boundless resources that gave opportunity to people to lead a better life.
A home to cultures and civilizations for many thousand years. From silk to salt, from Gold to pearls, a treasure-trove of boundless resources that gave opportunity to people to lead a better life.
Let's now look at the story of how this all came to be.
The origins of the Himalayas, Monsoons, and the shores of this country.
The origins of the Himalayas, Monsoons, and the shores of this country.
8. The story of how one grand collision shaped the history of Eurasia and the world.
We wish everyone a very happy Independence Day.
Thank you to everyone.
Do not forget to follow us @BhandarkarI and @Bharatvidya_in
Thank you to everyone.
Do not forget to follow us @BhandarkarI and @Bharatvidya_in
Loading suggestions...