New Books Network Himanshu Prabha Ray ed., "Recentering Southeast Asia: Politics, Religion and Maritime Connections" (Routledge, 2026)
Feb 15, 2026
Himanshu Prabha Ray, archaeologist and maritime networks specialist, explores how colonial histories reshaped India–Southeast Asia ties. Short, sharp conversations cover maritime Buddhism, shipwrecks and relic circulation. Discussions include museum categorization, postwar Japan–Myanmar Buddhist links, and the call to revive Indian maritime scholarship.
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Scholarly Expertise Underpinned Early Diplomacy
- Early postcolonial diplomacy included scholars who had real linguistic and material expertise on Southeast Asia.
- Losing that scholarly continuity weakened India's capacity to engage regionally after independence.
A Businessman Drawn By Buddha's Relics
- Chikosato, a Japanese businessman, traveled to Thailand partly driven by interest in Buddha relics discovered in Piprava.
- His diaries and photographs reveal Buddhist devotion mixed with commercial motives and maritime travel.
Repatriation As Postwar Reconciliation
- Postwar Japan pursued ritual repatriation and memorials for soldiers who died in Myanmar as a way to rebuild ties.
- Buddhist monks mediated memorial practices and helped rehabilitate Japan–Myanmar relations.
