Encroaching Sea - Nature, Sovereignty Development At Edge of British India 18601950

Ecological and political instability have time and again emerged as catalysts for risky development projects along India's south-west coastline. Devika Shankar probes this complicated relationship between crisis and development through a focus on a port development project executed in Cochin in the first quarter of the twentieth century amidst significant political and ecological uncertainty. While ecological concerns were triggered by increasing coastal erosion, a political crisis was precipitated by a neighbouring princely state's unprecedented attempt to extend its sovereignty over the British port. This integrative environmental, legal, and political history brings together the history of British India and the princely states to show how these anxieties ultimately paved the way for an ambitious port development project in the final years of colonial rule. In the process it deepens our understanding of environmental transformations and development in modern South Asia and the uneven nature of colonial sovereignty.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction; 1. A coast of curiosities; 2. Shifting sands and fluid frontiers; 3. A slippery sovereignty; 4. The making of a natural harbour; 5. A perilous port; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Über den Autor / die Autorin

Devika Shankar is an assistant professor of history at the University of Hong Kong.

Zusammenfassung

Ecological instability has time and again emerged as a catalyst for risky development projects along India's south-west coastline. In this integrative environmental, legal and political history, Devika Shankar examines the rise in port development during periods of crisis, using the example of Cochin to explore the nature of colonial sovereignty.

Produktdetails

• Autoren: Devika Shankar, Devika (University of Hong Kong) Shankar
• Verlag: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Sprache: Englisch
• Produktform: Fester Einband
• Erschienen: 01.12.2024
• EAN: 9781009533683
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0953368-3
• Seiten: 276
• Serie: Cambridge Oceanic Histories
• Themen: Geisteswissenschaften, Kunst, Musik > Geschichte > Regional- und Ländergeschichte; Sachbuch > Geschichte > Sonstiges; Sozialwissenschaften, Recht,Wirtschaft > Recht > Allgemeines, Lexika; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, 20th Century, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, India, c 1800 to c 1900, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Colonialism & imperialism, Kochi, Later 19th century c 1850 to c 1899, Legal History, Colonialism and imperialism, Asian History, HISTORY / Asia / South / General