It's crazy to think that one of the bloodiest borders in modern history wasn't determined solely by the Radcliffe Line. For a brief moment, the map of South Asia was still up for debate. Terrified princes, legal loopholes, political bargains, and frantic meetings with Jinnah, Patel, and Menon all played a role in deciding what India and Pakistan would ultimately look like. What surprised me most was learning how much hinged on just a handful of princely states in western India. Places like Jodhpur and Jaisalmer (today some of India's most iconic destinations) came remarkably close to joining Pakistan. I've been learning so much from my current reading list: Shattered Lands by Sam Dalrymple and V. P. Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India. #india #pakistan #partition #history #explainer