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COMMERCE AND CULTURAL MOBILITY IN THE BAY OF BENGAL: HISTORICAL INTERACTIONS AND EXCHANGES

Arjun Prakash Mukherjee
Published 12 February 2026
Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
pp. 19-27
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Arjun Prakash Mukherjee
    School of Historical Studies, Nalanda University, Bihar, India
    IN

This study examines the historical and cultural interactions between India and the Pacific world, highlighting the profound influence of Indian art, archaeology, and cultural practices across East and Southeast Asia. By correlating monumental and artistic materials with anthropological and prehistoric contexts, the research traces the evolution of East Asian civilizations from early hominins such as Java man to the periods of modern antiquarian inquiry. The cultural survey of the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins underscores India’s role as a cultural ambassador, with its art and traditions shaping the societies of Oceania, including Māori culture, the Polynesian world, and the peoples of Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Significant archaeological and philological evidence, documented by Dutch and French scholars, demonstrates the transmission of Indian cultural elements during pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods, particularly in Java and Sumatra. This expansion of Indian influence into East Asia represents a critical chapter in the shared history of human civilization, reflecting both the depth and longevity of cultural exchange in the region.

JournalColumbia Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
ISSN3065-0410
Volume / IssueVol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
Pages19-27
Published12 February 2026
DOI10.5281/zenodo.19661183
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Mukherjee, A. (2026). COMMERCE AND CULTURAL MOBILITY IN THE BAY OF BENGAL: HISTORICAL INTERACTIONS AND EXCHANGES. Columbia Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 19-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19661183

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