Unfolding the story of the making of post-colonial Asia

The story of the unravelling of the Raj (as Britain’s Indian Empire was known) has been told time and again: as political history, social history, personal memoir and feature film; as ‘end of Empire’ ignominy, rebirth of India, the making of a new Muslim nation or a tragic episode of communal frenzy.

What Democracy means in a country where the word is avoided

In the West we talk of democracy as if it is universally understood and incapable of more than one interpretation. As Lijia Zhang explains, it can mean something different to the people of China.

What are Myanmar’s elections for?

The people of Myanmar have been to the polls to choose members of two national and fourteen state assemblies. Nicholas Nugent questions what difference the polls will make in a country riven by civil war.

Assessing the Hinduja legacy

Gopichand Hinduja of London’s powerful Hinduja business family died in November more than two years after his older brother Srichand. The two were the leading lights of the Hindujas’ London-based business empire, Britain’s richest family enterprise. Ashis Ray recalls their arrival in London and considers their business legacy.

A new era in Bangladesh?

Following the drama of the ‘Monsoon Revolution’ in 2024 and an eighteen month period of army-backed civilian-led interim rule, Bangladesh goes to the polls this month to choose a new government. Syed Zain Al-Mahmood asks whether the elections can deliver the change the people are demanding.

Can Ayatollah Khamenei withstand the storm?