History’s most captivating chapters are often lived in tranquil drawing rooms or in the kitchen of minorities who refuse to blend in completely. When we examine the 1947 Partition, most stories are about violent fractures and Hindus in thousands fleeing to India due to communal riots.
A comparison between Bangladesh and Iran may not be pragmatic, given the vast differences in their rich historical heritages. What is comparable is the repeated dedication and courage shown by the people of both nations in standing up for their respective countries.
At its core, Nawaz is asking something very simple and very devastating: What do we owe the dead, and how much of ourselves must we sacrifice to pay that debt?
In an exclusive interview with Counterpoint, Sam Dalrymple talks about his book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia. He reflects on forgotten geographies and the near-misses of the past, and how hastily drawn borders still unsettle lives, loyalties and conflicts across South Asia and beyond.
To understand Bangladesh 2025, it’s helpful to know what happened in Bengal in 1905, where it all began. We need to know who we are and where we came from if we hope to chart a path to a better future.