In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank chats to author, historian, and filmmaker Sam Dalrymple, whose bestselling debut book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia explores pivotal decisions from the past and looks at how they still shape the world we live in today.

Sam talks about partition, identity and forgotten geographies, sharing some insights on key historical figures. And he even discusses what he may write about next.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Sam Dalrymple, Author and Historian

1. Sam explains how the British Empire in India was far larger than commonly believed, stretching from Yemen to Burma.
2. He talks about how partition was chaotic, rushed, and poorly planned, rather than the result of a grand imperial design.
3. Sam also explores how key historical figures like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pandit Nehru were far more complex than their modern portrayals suggest.
4. He believes that understanding history is key to gaining clarity on present-day conflicts.

00:00

A Book That Reframes Asia

Manisha introduces Sam and talks about how Shattered Lands challenges how we understand modern Asia.

02:04

“Which Partition?”

Sam references a conversation he had that led him to consider the many partitions that have helped shape Asia into what it is today.

03:45

The True Size of British India

From Burma to the Persian Gulf, Sam explains how much of Asia was once governed from Delhi, and why this is often forgotten.

06:45

The Archives That Changed Everything

He talks about how newly digitised records uncover hidden turning points in history, including how the Gulf nearly became part of India.

08:20

Chaos Over Conspiracy

Sam explains how partition was executed in just 77 days, and shares some insights on how unprepared and overwhelmed colonial authorities really were at the time.

11:10

Rethinking Muhammad Ali Jinnah

He goes on to talk about how studying the founding father of Pakistan revealed a far more complex figure than he expected.

14:30

Pandit Nehru’s Turning Point

Sam also details how a harrowing encounter following the Amritsar massacre became a defining moment in India’s push for independence.

17:00

Burma: From Global Hub to Conflict Zone

Sam and Manisha talk about how Burma was once the “Singapore of its time,” and how Rangoon’s fall can help explain Myanmar’s modern struggles.

22:05

Project Dastaan: Reconnecting Across Partition

Sam explains how a university idea became a cross-border VR project, aimed at reconnecting communities divided since 1947.

24:05

Stories Beneath the Surface

Manisha talks to Sam about how he uses his travel writing as a gateway to explore history and culture more deeply.

26:00

Identity and What’s Next

Sam reflects on his mixed identity and what he hopes to...

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with Lu Zhang, the Founder and Managing Partner of Silicon Valley–based, Fusion Fund. They discuss Lu’s journey from growing up in Inner Mongolia, to launching her first venture fund in her early twenties.

Lu also shares her perspective on what’s currently shaping innovation and venture capital, and explains why she believes AI is reshaping healthcare, space tech and the global economy.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Lu Zhang, Founder & Managing Partner, Fusion Fund

1. Lu believes curiosity is key to success and often matters more than age, credentials, or background.
2. She feels Silicon Valley remains a global tech leader due to its unique combination of talent, capital, and appetite for risk.
3. Lu notes that the next phase of AI will focus on practicality, with systems that are cheaper, more efficient, privacy-conscious, and ready for real-world use.
4. In her opinion, AI has the potential to transform both healthcare and space tech.
5. According to Lu, leaning into the unknown during periods of uncertainty and change can lead to the biggest rewards.

00:00 - The AI Moment

Manisha introduces Lu and sets the scene on why AI investment, innovation, and global attention are accelerating at an unprecedented pace.

01:59 - Roots of Curiosity

Lu reflects on her upbringing, early imagination, and how her background shaped her appetite for innovation.

05:08 - From Technologist to Entrepreneur

She talks about how a passion for deep tech led her to launch, scale, and exit her first company in her early twenties.

06:38 - Building Fusion Fund

Lu shares her journey from starting a venture fund and earning credibility, to scaling up from being a solo GP to a global platform.

10:57 - Why Silicon Valley Still Wins

She takes a candid look at what makes Silicon Valley’s ecosystem uniquely powerful for startups, investors, and exits.

15:30 - Inside the AI Investment Boom

Lu talks about capital flooding into AI and causing expectations to rise across the market.

16:40 - AI in Healthcare: Personalised and Preventative

Lu discusses how AI is transforming diagnostics, digital therapeutics, and the future of treatment.

18:05 - Who Owns Your Data?

Lu and Manisha talk about the hidden cost of AI tools and why data ownership and privacy will redefine business models.

19:15 - Space Tech Meets AI

Lu believes falling launch costs, satellite data, and AI-powered space technology could reshape life on Earth.

21:35 - What Comes Next

She touches on navigating bubbles, uncertainty, and opportunity and shares her advice for young innovators trying to define their future.

Useful links

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/carbon-nanotube

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with former DBS CEO, Piyush Gupta, who reflects on his visionary 15 year tenure at the bank.

He tells us how he’s spending his “retirement” and also discusses everything from Gen-Z challenges and climate realities to regional geopolitics.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Piyush Gupta

• Piyush believes India’s moment is here but it’s complex. He sees the country as one of the world’s biggest long-term opportunities, but notes it requires expertise, patience, and cultural understanding.
• He also notes that Southeast Asia’s real short-term crisis isn’t climate. It’s jobs and youth unemployment, as AI reshapes the workforce.
• Piyush urges Gen Z to build skills and take smart risks, and embrace entrepreneurship as traditional jobs shift or disappear.
• Despite rising US–China tensions, he believes a fully bipolar world is unlikely and that Asia will navigate relationships “issue by issue.”
• Piyush talks about the lessons learnt from transforming DBS, and that the company’s leap from a “traditional bank” to a global digital leader, hinged on culture, technology, and picking the right bets.

01:00 - A New Chapter for Piyush Gupta

How the former DBS CEO is embracing a “retirement” filled with influential roles across business, education, and nature.

04:40 - Why India Matters More Than Ever

Piyush explains why India’s scale, reforms, and digital leap make it a defining opportunity for East Asia.

06:20 - Climate Stress vs. Youth Job Crisis

A look at why jobs—and not climate—could dominate Asia’s agenda in the next decade.

08:30 - Advice for Gen Z

Piyush urges young people to build broad skills and embrace entrepreneurship.

13:20 - Geopolitics in Asia: Navigating the “New Normal”

He argues that countries won’t have to pick sides, predicting an interconnected global order.

16:40 - Lessons from Transforming DBS

Piyush reflects on key tech bets, cultural shifts, and the leadership priorities that helped reshape the bank.

21:20 - Measuring Success

Piyush shares his view on what success really means.

22:50 - Singapore’s Rise as a Financial Powerhouse

He discusses how Singapore became an unlikely global finance hub—and what it needs to thrive in the future.

25:00 - The ‘Real Piyush’ Meme and Handling Global Fame

Piyush explains the story behind an identity mix-up that went viral.

26:45 - Staying Grounded

Piyush believes in living without regrets and talks about how old friends keep him humble.

29:30 - Parting Wisdom & A Symbolic Gift

He shares his grounding rituals, passions, and the story behind the DBS House.

Useful links

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dbs-bank_after-15-years-with-dbs-today-marked-piyush-activity-7311312452120391680-d5e3/

https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/research/s-r-nathan-fellowship-for-the-study-of-singapore