Boats in a Storm: Law, Migration, and Decolonization in South and Southeast Asia, 1942–1962 (South Asia in Motion)

Name: Boats in a Storm: Law, Migration, and Decolonization in South and Southeast Asia, 1942–1962 (South Asia in Motion)
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Book Synopsis: For more than century before World War II, traders, merchants, financiers, and laborers steadily moved between places on the Indian Ocean, trading goods, supplying credit, and seeking work. This all changed with the war and as India, Burma, Ceylon, and Malaya wrested independence from the British empire. Set against the tumult of the postwar period, Boats in a Storm centers on the legal struggles of migrants to retain their traditional rhythms and patterns of life, illustrating how they experienced citizenship and decolonization. Even as nascent citizenship regimes and divergent political trajectories of decolonization papered over migrations between South and Southeast Asia, migrants continued to recount cross-border histories in encounters with the law. These accounts, often obscured by national and international political developments, unsettle the notion that static national identities and loyalties had emerged, fully formed and unblemished by migrant pasts, in the aftermath of empires. Drawing on archival materials from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, London, and Singapore, Kalyani Ramnath narrates how former migrants battled legal requirements to revive prewar circulations of credit, capital, and labor, in a postwar context of rising ethno-nationalisms that accused migrants of stealing jobs and hoarding land. Ultimately, Ramnath shows how decolonization was marked not only by shipwrecked empires and nation-states assembled and ordered from the debris of imperial collapse, but also by these forgotten stories of wartime displacements, their unintended consequences, and long afterlives.

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Are you fascinated by the history of South and Southeast Asia? Dive into the captivating book, Boats in a Storm: Law, Migration, and Decolonization in South and Southeast Asia, 1942–1962 (South Asia in Motion). Discover an untold tale of traders, merchants, and laborers navigating the Indian Ocean, trading goods, seeking work, and battling legal struggles. This gripping narrative sheds light on the experiences of migrants during the tumultuous postwar period, as they fought to preserve their traditions and rhythms of life amidst nascent citizenship regimes and divergent political trajectories. Don't miss your chance to uncover the forgotten stories of wartime displacements and their lasting impact on the process of decolonization.

Boats in a Storm takes you on a journey through the archives of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, London, and Singapore, presenting a rich tapestry of firsthand accounts and historical records. Author Kalyani Ramnath expertly paints a vivid picture of migrants grappling with legal requirements while striving to restore prewar exchanges of credit, capital, and labor. In a world marked by rising ethno-nationalisms, these migrants often found themselves accused of stealing jobs and land, making their battles all the more significant.

With meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Ramnath brings to life the complexities of decolonization. This book challenges the prevailing notion that national identities and loyalties emerged unblemished from the remnants of empires. The forgotten stories of wartime displacements and their unintended consequences continue to shape our understanding of post-colonial societies. Boats in a Storm is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper comprehension of the intertwined histories of South and Southeast Asia.

Take a plunge into the riveting world of migration, decolonization, and the struggle for identity. Don't miss out on the chance to gain valuable insights from Boats in a Storm. Order your copy today and embark on a thought-provoking journey through the pages of this remarkable book.

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