Wolfson Plans & Prospects 2019

New perspective on Pakistan
or the speeches at Founder’s Day in
Aitchison College that proclaimed the
origins of the school in teaching boys
from across North India. The Sikh
Gurudwara and Hindu Temple in the
school grounds may no longer be full
of boys praying before lessons but
they are treated as a proud part of the
school’s traditions. People in Pakistan
talked about Indians as cousins they
haven’t seen in too long, ones they
grew up with but haven’t managed to
keep in touch with since; a sense of
regret rather than anger.
MM: Tim was blissfully easy to host.
He didn’t just pose in a rickshaw
for a photo but used them as a
practical form of transport. We took
several pictures en route to important
meetings in rickshaws as evidence
for Wolfson’s bursar that it was a
cost-effective trip! Bill was a pleasure
as always, revelling in new friendships
and new calorie-laden meals, charming
hosts into pondering whether to reach
for their chequebooks.
RM: This is not the place for
vegetarians. Lahori salads usually
consist of a sliced tomato mixed with
some leaves of wilted lettuce lost amidst
L Tim Hitchens and Matthew McCartney
the splendour of steaming, sizzling,
meaty piles. Even a dish of dal is often
filled with fleshy goodness. Combine
rich, succulent food with traditions of
hospitality and the result was often
long periods of digestive recovery
interspersed with aromatic burping.
MM: The Wolfson team and Rachel
had a number of excellent discussions
with good contacts regarding promoting
– and funding – Pakistan studies at
Wolfson and Oxford. We also launched
the exciting new Rangoonwala
Fellowship, generously funded by the
Rangoonwala Foundation. Pakistan is
a large country of 200 million people
that is located on one of the key global
geographic fault-lines, between China,
DR MATTHEW MCCARTNEY is a Governing Body Fellow and University
Lecturer in the Political Economy and Human Development of India, School
of Interdisciplinary and Area Studies (SIAS). He has studied economics
throughout his academic career, with a BA from King’s College, Cambridge;
MPhil from Keble College, Oxford; and a PhD from SOAS, University of
London. Matthew’s research interests include the growth and development
of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka since independence; the state
and late industrialisation; political economy; institutions, geography, history,
openness and culture as fundamental determinants of economic growth; and
the comparative economic growth in Africa and Asia.
RANJANA MCCARTNEY is an engineer by profession, working with an
Indian R&D company involved in the design and development of industrial
power electronic solutions. Born and raised in the Indian Silicon Valley,
Bangalore, Ranjana now lives in London. A foodie and a travel enthusiast,
she loves cooking and enjoys board games. Since moving to the UK, she has
new-found interests in murder mysteries, Christmas music and cheese! n
India, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
It is at the heart of China’s New Silk
Road project.
We need more students of the
anthropology, economics, politics and
international relations of Pakistan,
and Wolfson and Oxford provide
a wonderful location for this effort.
Where else in the world can Indian and
Pakistani students, Chinese diplomats
on career breaks, UK journalists and
an assortment of future influential
others debate and discuss and drink
chai over the difficult issues faced by
South Asia? Our meetings confirmed
a general sense of excitement at
Wolfson’s plans. But as Bill Conner has
always reminded me, fundraising is like
a courtship; it takes a long time. There
is a lot still to do but we are confident
that we have made a good start.
RM: At the end of my trip I walked
across the border at Wagah. It was a
charming experience. The questions
about why an Indian had been visiting
Pakistan were professional, warm
and competent. When the gate
opened and India lay across a white
line I cried. I have cried about excess
baggage charges at airports in the
past but I have never truly crossed a
border like this before. I crossed into
India and I was home. I turned around
and took a picture of the Pakistan
flag, I was leaving a cousin behind, a
cousin I haven’t been in contact with
enough over the years. I am glad we
are back in touch. n
8 . WOLFSON COLLEGE OXFORD . PLANS & PROSPECTS . 2019