JOIN USThe Indian Ocean’s influence on the history & politics of India and its maritime neighbours is a theme explored in Sanjeev Sanyal’s new book, The Ocean of Churn. In an interview, the author — also an economist, historian and urban theorist — elaborates on the book and the state of Indian history as it is today, as well as some of his recent reads, hobbies, and interests.
What was the inspiration behind the writing of The Ocean of Churn?
I spent most of my life in and around the Indian Ocean — Kolkata, Mumbai, Singapore. So it’s not surprising that I’m interested in the history of this region. However, almost all the books that I read about the Indian Ocean rim are written from a Western perspective. There may be a perfunctory chapter on medieval spice trade, but one would get the impression that things got going only after Vasco da Gama “discovered” the Indian Ocean. The history stops when the colonial powers leave. We hear a lot about the East India Company, but there is almost nothing on the maritime exploits of the Omanis, the Majapahit, the Odiya, the Pallavas and so on. So, I wanted to retell the story from the perspective of the people of the region.
As an economist, how did your interest in maritime history begin?
I strongly believe that economics cannot be meaningfully understood in a silo. One needs to take into account geography, culture, geopolitics and, very importantly, history. This is why my writings from economics and urban design to maritime history are multidisciplinary, and deliberately break down silos. There is a strong link between my roles as economist, environmentalist, urban theorist and historian.
How challenging was the research and the discovery of adequate sources?
There are just heaps of evidence and sources — inscriptions, folk traditions, archaeological sites, ancient texts and so on. The information is growing as we take into account new studies in genetics, climate sciences and recent archaeological finds. Thankfully, many of the new papers are available online and one can buy a variety of books on Amazon. One can also contact sector experts from around the world easily by email. The real effort is in travelling to different locations and doing ground proofing in places that are not easily accessible.
Do you believe that some aspects of Indian history presented today need revision?
An instance would be the common perception about Ashoka.All history is written from some perspective, but it must be grounded in evidence. The body of evidence keeps evolving as new information is found. Sadly, a lot of Indian history is still rooted in colonial-era thinking. After 1947, we did not root out colonial biases but added additional layers of Nehruvian and Marxist biases. It’s now necessary to go back and relook at the primary evidence. Quoting authority is no substitute. As I’ve pointed in the book, several characters of history like Ashoka and Tipu Sultan look quite different when the evidence is evaluated from a coastal perspective. Similarly, India’s freedom struggle will appear very different when seen from the perspective of the revolutionaries.
Why do you think the maritime history of India hasn’t received the attention it deserves?
Indian history textbooks are written from the perspective of Delhi and are consequently ‘landlocked’. One will read a lot about obscure Delhi-based dynasties like the Lodhis but almost nothing about the exploits of the ancient Odiya mariners, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Pallavas, Indo-Roman trade, the deep links with South East Asia... It’s a bit like reading European history without Athens, Venice, Britain,
Portugal, Spain and the Vikings! A greater emphasis on India’s maritime past would dramatically change our worldview as a country. Suddenly our neighbours will not just be Pakistan and China, but also Indonesia, Oman and Singapore. This would profoundly influence our geopolitical and commercial strategy.
Did you enjoy reading as a child, and what were your literary influences?
I did like reading as a child, although I was not a bookworm. Then, as now, my tastes were eclectic — Asterix, Tintin, Amar Chitra Katha, Sherlock Holmes, various encyclopaedias on science and geography. I later grew up to like Ryszard Kapuscinski, Bill Bryson, Ibn Battuta, Hemingway and Naipaul. I have been reading ancient Indian texts. I also admit to a geeky habit of reading research papers in economics and scientific journals for fun.
Which books have you enjoyed reading recently?
Srinath Raghavan’s India’s War and Mervyn King’s The End of Alchemy.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
My hobbies range from collecting antique maps to sports. I love the outdoors, so trekking, cycling, kayaking. I’m also a black-belt in Taekwondo.
Do you enjoy music, and what kind?
Yes, I love to listen to music. My collection includes everything from
Bollywood hits to Vedic chants, Pink Floyd, and Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club.
How does an average day play out for you? What do you do to relax?
I don’t really have a routine, and I work in bursts. This worked well during my two decades as a financial markets economist as one was doing different things on different days. As the global strategist of one of the world’s largest banks, I was also constantly travelling around the world. Therefore, I had to fit in my book/column-writing and my urban research in the random slack periods. I will often not write anything for weeks and then finish a chapter in four days. After the burst of mental activity, I burn it off by going for a 30-40-km cycle ride, or some such physical activity.