Ep 32: Mapping the Great Game: Explorers, Spies & Maps in 19th Century Asia- Guftagu with Riaz Dean

India Colonised

Riaz Dean is an Engineer by profession and an independent scholar. He is also a member of the NZ Society of Authors and the NZ Cartographical Society.

As the title suggests, the book is about the extraordinary explorers, spies and mapmakers who explored the vast region’s of Asia against the backdrop of imperial ambitions of powerful players like Russia and Great Britain. This expedition was at the surface to fill in large portions of the map while spying out the country for military reasons during the so-called Great Game.

Set in four parts and arranged chronologically, with five informative maps, the book expands on the relevant political intricacies and the roles played by some adventurous young people like William Moorcroft, William Lambton and his cartographers, George Everest, the Pundits employed by the survey of India -- in undertaking this greatest survey. This interview explores and examines the provided stances in the book along with other broader perspectives on this great exploration.

Thank you everyone for tuning into this conversation with Riaz Dean. We really hope you enjoyed the conversation and if you did, please consider subscribing to our channel and podcast for more such amazing content. There is a series of such guftagu with a line of amazingly curated authors and scholars on the history of the subcontinent. Check out our website www.indiacolonised.com for blogs and podcasts exploring the tales of India's contemporary history.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handle @Indiacolonised for more exciting updates. Don’t forget to visit our website for book recommendations and a complete reading list if you want to read more on India’s Modern History!