2025/06/02 by Yin Cao · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography #South Asian Studies and Conflicts #Eurasian Exchange Networks
paper · doi:10.1080/03086534.2025.2506115
Since the Third Anglo-Burmese War, the British Empire sought to control the Chin-Lushai Hills, which lie between India and Burma. However, the region’s harsh terrain and climate rendered British occupation nearly impossible. The encounter between the British and the Panthays marked a turning point. By outsourcing imperial logistics to the Panthay mule caravans, the Raj overcame the logistical challenges that had previously hindered its efforts. This study argues that the difficulties faced by the Raj in its conquest and governance of Zomia should not be solely attributed to a lack of preparation. On the contrary, the Raj employed its extensive experience and technologies developed from managing the northeast and northwest frontiers of India to address the anticipated challenges in Zomia. This study contends that the Raj demonstrated resilience by turning to the itinerant Panthay traders, who had developed their own knowledge systems and infrastructures within Zomia. These Panthays played a crucial role in supporting British colonial rule over the less mobile hill tribes, facilitating the Empire’s efforts to maintain control over the region.