OMAN-INDIA TIES, ACROSS SEA AND SPACE

Page 39

developments as depicted in Arab and Sanskrit texts as Indian scholars visited Baghdad, bringing Sanskrit works on science and astronomy to be translated. Eventually, Islam began to affect Indians, particularly on the western coast of Malabar, Konkan and Gujarat, from where many Indians are said to have settled in Oman. The complex trade links are surmised by Risso’s account of the Indian and Omani merchants (commonly called ‘northern traders’): “The Masqati vessels sailed south with products of the Gulf area and Uman dates, sulphur, incense, dye roots, shark fins, almonds, rose water, pearls and medicines”18. With the coming of Islam, not only was the mercantile relationship enhanced, but a deeper relationship, encompassing religious and cultural affiliation was initiated and, in time, consolidated. While Muslims came to north India as warriors by the 10th century CE, in southern India they came as merchants and travellers, following centuries-old tradition, and were cordially welcomed by local rulers. Indian ships moved out of the port of Broach, Cambay and Mandvi in Gujarat for Arab and African coastal towns carrying wood, rice, edible oil, cotton and honey, and brought back pearls, dates and wine. The teak wood used by Omani and Yemeni sailors to make their boats came from Malabar, on the western coast of Kerala. In the absence of iron nails, the boats were constructed in the “stitch and sew” tradition, being bound together with coir ropes from coconut plantations along the Indian Ocean littoral. Arab explorers in the Indian Ocean The history of India’s contact with the Arab world goes back to ancient times, long before the rise of Islam or the Muslim conquest of South Asia when sailors in the region, facilitated by the knowledge of the monsoon winds, plied their ships across the seas and established commercial and cultural relations with each other. In fact, by the time Marco Polo set out to explore East Asia in the 13th century, communities across Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean had been exchanging their wares for thousands of years in a vast network driven by the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean. Arab travellers to India also showed deep interest in Indian religion and culture and translated several Indian sacred and literary texts into Arabic. Indian wood was found in the Sumerian sites, possibly used for construction of boats. In fact, Abu Zayd, the Arab traveller of the 9th century CE noted: “The Arabs of Umman (Oman) take the carpenters’ tool-box with them and go to the 18 Risso, P. (1986). Oman & Muscat: An Early Modern History. 39


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Articles inside

f. Science and technology

2hr
pages 234-332

c. Energy (Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy

11min
pages 218-223

d. Health

19min
pages 224-233

India as investment destination

14min
pages 198-205

Oman-India Bilateral Trade

3min
pages 179-180

Foreign Policy: ‘Mutual Trust and Shared Values’

3min
pages 164-165

Maritime Security

6min
pages 168-178

Oman as an investment destination

22min
pages 186-197

Joint meetings and visits

5min
pages 183-185

Joint investments

2min
page 182

Defence and Maritime Security

3min
pages 166-167

The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Oman - 2018

2min
pages 160-161

Interview with Munu Mahawar, Indian Ambassador in Oman

6min
pages 150-154

Bilateral relations

3min
pages 155-158

Omani media’s reactions to the new administration

2min
pages 148-149

Commitment to Vision 2040

1min
page 147

The new government of Oman

2min
pages 144-146

Faith and culture

9min
pages 128-143

The Indian Social Club

4min
pages 125-126

Art and painting

2min
page 124

Literature and cinema

2min
page 123

Linguistic and literary affinities

8min
pages 116-119

Fostering Oman-India artistic ties

2min
page 122

Sartorial and culinary connections

3min
pages 120-121

Scientific influences

2min
page 115

Women in the Indian diaspora in Oman

5min
pages 86-88

Demographics of Indians in Oman

5min
pages 109-111

The Toprani Family

5min
pages 78-83

The Ratansi Purshottam Family

3min
pages 75-77

The Ratanshi Gordhandas Family

3min
pages 72-74

The Khimji Ramdas Group

4min
pages 68-71

The Jerajani Family

4min
pages 65-67

India and Oman: 16th – 20th century

4min
pages 59-60

The Dhanji Morarji Family

1min
pages 63-64

The Indian communities in Oman

4min
pages 61-62

PART Trade and Commerce 178

15min
pages 4-34

Arab explorers in the Indian Ocean

2min
page 39

Dhows in the Indian Ocean

7min
pages 43-45

Maritime tradition

2min
page 42

Cheraman Perumal in Salalah

8min
pages 46-58

Ancient trade

4min
pages 37-38

Omani traders in the Indian Ocean

4min
pages 40-41

Prehistoric connections

4min
pages 35-36
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