The present work emphasises the extensive cultural diffusion of the Indian subcontinent, especially along the Konkan coast and Southeast Asia. The book contains a significant amount of information and discoveries regarding the contacts and culture of the two areas. This encompasses the maritime capabilities of the Konkan coast, the Maritime interactions of the Vijayanagara Empire, Indian vessels discovered in Southeast Asian waters, the ethnography of Indian ships, and fresh insights.

The sections concerning the Indian ships depicted in the Borobudur stupa, along with related sections, are particularly compelling given the author’s assertions that Java’s outrigger vessels stem from Indian origins, a claim strongly backed by the currently observed South Indian boats used for everyday purposes. All the phases of constructing outrigger canoes are still practised here, and the Javan versions are imitations of the original expertise rather than the modified expertise of the new area. This will bridge the gap in the ongoing legacy of Greater Karnataka and the Konkan coast regarding the interactions and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asia.

The author is recognised in the field of Indian marine studies, having published a number of books and research articles at both national and international conferences, and this monograph is not his initial endeavour.

About the Author

La Na Swamy was born at Chattemgere, a small village in Mandya District of Karnataka State in 1962, to late C. Lakshminarayana and Smt. Indiramma. He received his education at Mysore. Mysore University conferred on him the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in 1983, Bachelor of Education in 1984, Master of Arts in 1986, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1994 (Ancient History and Archaeology). 

Before entering the teaching profession, Dr Swamy worked in several institutions as a researcher, including ASI-Hampi, Centre for History and Philosophy of Sciences, Bangalore and Tamil University, Thanjavur. He served as a lecturer in History at four reputed colleges. Then, he took up his assignment as a Special Officer in the State Department of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka. Meanwhile, he served as the Visiting Professor of the Chair for Maritime Studies and Research University of Calicut, Calicut, in 2010. After working at Calicut University for a short period, he opted to work in the State Department of Archaeology & Museums in Karnataka as a Special Officer until 2012. He worked in two reputed colleges as a visiting Professor before he joined PRM Vijaya First Grade College in 2014 and retired as Professor of History on 2nd August 2022.