《The Frontier in British India》"Thomas Simpson: Exploring the Frontier of British India"

This book primarily argues against the simplistic narratives and hindsight ideas that view frontiers and the processes of frontier-making as mere conquests and the imposition of colonial knowledge. It highlights the complexity of frontiers, even in seemingly insignificant areas. This complexity is evident not only in the resistance of local populations and environments, as discussed by James Scott and subaltern studies, but also within the colonial personnel who were partially complicit in the objective of colonial subjugation. The author draws on Ann Stolers ideas regarding colonial epistemology and the strategies of specific individuals. The author avoids anachronism and explores multiple agencies within the empires frontiers, functioning as an "on the spot" monitor. Furthermore, the author questions the legitimacy of grouping the northeast and northwest frontiers together based solely on similarities in frontier processing events. If there was indeed a maritime frontier in British India, its location and characteristics would be revealed through comparison with the overland frontier. By doing so, the author challenges common assumptions about the maritime frontier in British India.