Parting Gifts of Empire: Palestine and India at the Dawn of Decolonisation

The Exeter South Asia Centre, in collaboration with the Centre for Legal and Global History and the European Centre for Palestine Studies, is delighted to invite you to a lecture by Dr Esmat Elhalaby (University of Toronto) entitled “Parting Gifts of Empire: Palestine and India at the Dawn of Decolonisation.”

This lecture explores the interconnected histories of Palestine and India during the final decades of British imperial rule and the transition to decolonisation. By examining the political, legal, and intellectual legacies of empire, the talk will consider how British colonial policies shaped the trajectories of both regions and influenced the emergence of new forms of national identity, statehood, and resistance.

Drawing on historical research, Dr Elhalaby will investigate the ways in which Palestine and India were linked through imperial governance, anti-colonial movements, and international debates concerning self-determination. The lecture will reflect on the enduring consequences of partition, displacement, and colonial administration, while highlighting the relevance of these histories to contemporary discussions of decolonisation, sovereignty, and global justice.

The event offers an opportunity for students, researchers, and members of the public to engage with comparative perspectives on colonialism and to consider the shared and divergent experiences of Palestine and India during a transformative period in world history.

Speaker Biography

Dr Esmat Elhalaby is a historian and scholar of modern Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the intersections of empire, decolonisation, international law, political thought, and anti-colonial movements across the twentieth century.

His work explores the connections between Palestine, South Asia, and the wider colonial world, examining how imperial structures shaped political identities and struggles for self-determination. Through archival and interdisciplinary research, Dr Elhalaby contributes to broader debates on colonial legacies, nationalism, sovereignty, and global history.

He has presented his research internationally and is recognised for bringing comparative and transnational perspectives to the study of decolonisation and the modern Middle East.

Roundtable Discussion

The lecture will be followed by a roundtable discussion chaired by:

Dr Nadia Naser-Najjab (Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies)

Discussants

• Dr Khaled Nusseibeh (History)
• Dr Chris Sandal-Wilson (History)
• Amina Yaqin (English)

The roundtable will provide an opportunity to reflect on the themes of the lecture and to engage in a broader discussion concerning empire, decolonisation, Palestine, South Asia, and the continuing legacies of colonial rule.