Ocean of Churn

Sanyal retells the history of the Indian Ocean rim through a series of lively episodes, from prehistoric migrations and the Harappan trade to the Chola expeditions, Kunjali Marakkar's fights with the Portuguese, and the colonial era. His aim is to restore the maritime dimension to a history of India that is usually told from the land.

The writing is brisk and accessible, and Sanyal enjoys challenging received narratives. Some of his interpretations are contested, and the pace leaves little room for nuance, but the book succeeds in showing how much of India's past was shaped by the sea.