2 days ago
Mandvi to Muscat... a book that looks into ancient maritime trade
'Mandvi to Muscat' - Indian Community and the Shared History of India and Oman - is a book that delves into the ancient maritime trade and cultural connections between India and Oman and brings to light the more than 5,000-year-old relations between the two countries.
The 222-page book is the result of a series of lectures and research by the Indian Embassy in Muscat aimed at exploring the historical, cultural and economic ties between India (as indicated to the port of Mandvi in Gujarat) and Muscat, Oman, and involves a potential sailing voyage recreating ancient trade routes between the two locations. The primary objective of the lecture series was to rekindle awareness about the story and history of the Indian community in Oman and its remarkable contributions in strengthening India-Oman ties.
While the lectures from this series, starting in October 2023 and concluding in May 2024, formed the foundation of the book that highlights the contributions of Indian community to Omani society and the shared history of both countries, an announcement of recreating ancient ships that connected the two ports, two people and two cultures was made during the Royal visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to India in December 2023.
The ambitious project also involves the construction of the ship and its sail from Mandvi to Muscat, thus enlivening a bygone era today.
The book, with a cover designed by Soni Budhia, has its preface titled "Ties: An Overview" penned by Dr Sandhya Rao Mehta, Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, which discusses the historical relationship between India and the Arab world. Sailors utilised knowledge of monsoon winds to navigate and establish connections. According to her, these interactions led to the establishment of commercial and cultural relations between the regions.
The lecture series featured distinguished academics, historians and anthropologists from Oman, India, the US and the UAE, offering rich insights into the historical connections between India and Oman. Line of speakers included Dr M Redha Bhacker, a noted scholar from Oman; Dr Chhaya Goswami, a historian of the western Indian Ocean from India, Sanjeev Sanyal, historian and member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council; Prof James Onley, historian from the American University of Sharjah, Swagat Pani, anthropologist historian based in the US; and Prof Calvin Allen, a historian from the US.
The lecture series was followed by a narration of family history of 6 Indian families in Oman, tracing their origins from the Kutch/Gujarat region of India. They include the Ratansi Purushottam family, Khimji Ramdas family, Shah Nagardas Manji family, Toprani family, Naranjee Hirjee family and the Lakhoo Ved family.
Speaking to the Observer, G V Srinivas, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, said that Mandvi to Muscat is an attempt to live the 1,500-year-old tradition of navigating the rough waters between Gujarat and Muscat.
"The knowledge of the currents in the shortest time and vice versa enabled trade between the two nations. The ship that sailed using the old technology is recreated and will be arriving in Muscat in December," he added.
In addition to this, the oral narratives of Dr Syed Mohammad Rafay from Bihar and Dr Mohamed Ali from Kerala were also captured, along with the history of the Indian schools and Hindu temples in Muscat, enriching the historical discourse presented by the academicians..
Published with the support from Hindu Mahajan community in Oman, the National Museum of Oman and the Oman Historical Association, the book boasts of having the acknowledgement letter from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, a felicitation letter from Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, Jamal bin Hassan al Mousawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, Amit Narang, the then Indian ambassador, Sayyid Nooh bin Mohammed al Busaidy, Chairman of Oman Historical Association, and Shaikh Anil Mathradas Khimji, President of the Management of Hindu Temples in Oman.
