India’s Maritime Neighbours

From a few centuries BCE, Indian traders sailed to Southeast Asian countries in search of gold and other valuable resources. They frequently visited the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Malaya, which came to be known as Suvarnabhumi^? (“the golden land”) or Suvarnadvipa (“the golden island”). Let us explore these maritime neighbours.

India’s Nearest Maritime Neighbour: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka^? is an island nation located to the southeast of India, separated by a narrow stretch of sea called the Palk Strait. At its nearest point, the two countries are only about 32 km apart, making them extremely close maritime neighbours with a long history of cultural contact, trade, and cooperation.

Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Mahendra and Sanghamitra, the son and daughter of Emperor Ashoka. Hinduism also travelled there, notably through its two great Epics. Both countries continue to celebrate this shared spiritual and cultural heritage.

However, the relationship has not always been smooth. Sri Lanka’s civil war from the mid-1980s to around 2010 was mainly between the Sinhalese majority (whose language is Sinhala) and the Tamil minority, which has close cultural ties to India. Many Tamil families had to flee to south India, especially Tamil Nadu. Today, India and Sri Lanka share a multidimensional partnership combining cultural closeness, historical ties, economic cooperation, and strategic collaboration.

A Nation of Islets: The Maldives

The Maldives^?, consisting of over 1,100 small islands (islets), is only about 130 km from Minicoy, an Indian island in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. This proximity makes it an important neighbour for trade and security in the Indian Ocean.

The two countries share centuries-old cultural ties shaped by maritime trade. Buddhism travelled to the Maldives early on, as established by archaeological finds of ancient Buddhist temples and inscriptions. Influences from Tamil Nadu and Kerala brought language, cuisine, and arts to the islands. Maldivian dishes like coconut curries and roshi reflect South Indian flavours, while the Boduberu dance echoes Tamil folk rhythms.

India was among the first countries to recognise the Maldives after its independence in 1965. India’s swift help during the 2004 tsunami, the 2014 water crisis in Male (the capital), and the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced India’s role as the region’s trusted first responder.

From Dvaraka to Dvaravati: Thailand

India and Thailand^? are closely linked through maritime routes and regional geography. As early as the 3rd century BCE, Indian traders and scholars sailed to present-day Thailand, exchanging goods like spices and textiles while also sharing religious and cultural ideas that deeply influenced the region.

The impact of Indian culture is vividly reflected in the names of Thai kingdoms. The Dvaravati culture (6th–11th centuries CE) derived its name from the Sanskrit word for “that which has gates,” directly referencing Krishna’s city Dvaraka from the Mahabharata. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (founded 1351) was named after the ancient Indian city of Ayodhya, birthplace of Rama according to the Ramayana.

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, stretching from India’s Manipur through Myanmar and into Thailand, is a modern effort to revive these age-old connections by improving overland connectivity and regional trade.

The Malay Peninsula: Malaysia

Relations between India and Malaysia are rooted in historical, cultural, and economic linkages dating back over two millennia. Hindu and Buddhist cultural influences arrived early, with kingdoms like the Srivijaya adopting scripts based on India’s Brahmi script around the 4th century CE. These influences remain visible in Malaysian art and literature today.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, a large number of Indian workers, mainly from south India, migrated to Malaysia to work on rubber plantations. The Malaysian Indian community remains prominent today, with about 9 per cent of the population being of Indian origin. India is one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners, with collaborations in palm oil, energy, infrastructure, and information technology.

The Lion City: Singapore

The name Singapore derives from “Singapuram”^? or “lion city,” the name of an ancient kingdom. Like Thailand and Malaysia, it had close cultural and commercial ties with India, with Buddhist monks and traders visiting the region centuries BCE. Singapore became an independent nation in 1965.

Singapore has served as a benchmark for urban planning and sustainability. Citizens play an important role in keeping streets litter-free, and heavy fines exist for littering and jaywalking. In recent years, Singapore has become one of the largest foreign investors in India, especially in infrastructure and technology sectors.

The Indonesian Archipelago

India and Indonesia^?, separated by the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, are close maritime neighbours with a rich history of exchange. Indonesia is an archipelago — an extensive group of islands — comprising several large islands and over 17,000 smaller ones.

Maritime trade between Indian kingdoms and the islands of Java and Sumatra dates back over 2,000 years. Collaborations between India’s ancient university of Nalanda and the Indonesian Muara Jambi temple complex further strengthened ties. Later, Islam travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India.

Indonesia’s national symbol is Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, and its currency is called the rupiah — both reflecting Indian cultural influence. The Borobudur Stupa, built in stone in the 8th–9th centuries CE, is the world’s largest Buddhist monument, featuring over 500 statues of the Buddha and a geometric mandala design.

An Ancient Neighbour: Iran

India and Iran have shared close ties since the Bronze Age. Trade and cultural exchanges took place through land routes passing through present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, eventually becoming part of the Silk Route^?. Sea routes also connected India’s west coast with Iran’s ports.

The Avesta, the ancient sacred text of Zoroastrianism, has parallels with India’s Rigveda. Indian texts such as the Mahabharata mention Persians under the name Parasika, and the later Persian language (belonging to the same language family as Sanskrit) was used as a court language by the Mughals. The Parsis of India have been a living link with ancient Persian culture.

In modern times, India is helping to develop Iran’s Chabahar Port, which provides India with better access to Afghanistan and Central Asia — reflecting continued strategic engagement.

The Land of Copper: Oman

Oman, located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, shares maritime boundaries with India and holds significant strategic importance. The India-Oman relationship dates back over 5,000 years, to the time of the Indus (Harappan) civilisation. As Oman is rich in copper, it is believed that Harappan traders brought back copper ingots for the metalworkers of the Indus-Sarasvati cities.

Over 10% of Oman’s population is of Indian origin. The Hindu community was allowed to build a Shiva temple (the Motishwar Mandir) in Muscat in the early 20th century. Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf, being the first country in the region where India conducts joint military exercises with all three armed forces.

Indian Cultural Influence Across Maritime Neighbours

Key Takeaways: Before We Move On