Partition, independence and maritime networks in South Asia

International audienceThis chapter examines the historical evolution of maritime shipping network in Indian subcontinent from 1890 to 2000 with particular focus on the emergence of international borders. It is very unique because subcontinent experienced dis-integration of regions where most parts of it were under colonial rule of British but were separated by international borders as the results of partition and independence. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the dynamics of shipping networks within and with Indian Subcontinents from 1895 to 2000 through the events such as partition of India in 1947, independence of Myanmar in 1948, military regime in Myanmar from 1962, and independence of Bangladesh at 1971. This chapter firstly looks at the trends in international and regional shipment. Then country level and port level analysis follows. In late 19th century, this region had been well involved in the global trade by having the share of international shipping as much as 50%. This trend continues at Indian subcontinent level. When we breakdown this trends at country level, we find that this overall trend comes from three types of countries, 1) steady countries: India and Sri Lanka, 2) declining country: Myanmar, and 3) rising countries: Pakistan and Bangladesh. Indian shipment is the dominant factor which determines the regional trend but the offsetting trends in the decline in Myanmar and the rise in Pakistan and Bangladesh are also noticeable. Furthermore, we explore the major ports in each country and observe the entry of new ports and shifts from older ones to new ones. We also compare these shipment trends with the trends in trade flows at country level and explore the relationship and the complementarity of shipment data to trade data