Historical ethnography reveals transnational trade networks among seafaring Gujarati Muslim communities, highlighting enduring capital circulation across the Indian Ocean.
Key Points
Examine the lifeworlds, navigational journeys, and spatial geography of seafaring Muslim communities navigating mercantile circuits in the Indian Ocean.
Historical and ethnographic investigation focused on the Bhadala and Wagher seafaring communities.
Field analysis centered on the port towns of Mota Salaya in Mandvi and Jam Salaya on the Gulf of Kutch.
Tracing transregional maritime mobility, credit arrangements, and commodity flows across ocean routes.
Demonstrates how kinship systems and community moorings structure transoceanic trade across the Western Indian Ocean.
Shows that vernacular credit and capital circulation persist alongside formalized international maritime regulations and borders.