Dr. Partha Shil

Biography

Partha Pratim Shil is an Assistant Professor of History at Stanford University, specializing in modern South Asia with a focus on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in eastern India. His research delves into the complexities of state formation and labor history, particularly examining the government's historical relationship with police constables and village watchmen through his manuscript, 'Sovereign Labour: Constables and Watchmen Making the Modern State in India, c. 1860-1950.' This work reframes the role of these figures as government functionaries within a distinctive labor history. Shil's innovative methodology engages with labor historiography and utilizes extensive colonial archives to reshape narratives surrounding policing and labor markets in eastern India. By analyzing recruitment patterns, the conditions of police work, and the intersectionality of caste and policing, he aims to provide fresh insights into the nature of the modern state in South Asia. Prior to joining Stanford, he was a Junior Research Fellow in History at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Research Interests

Courses