On Writing across Borders—History, Politics, and the Indian Ocean: A Conversation with Sugata Bose

In this conversation, Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University, reflects on the intellectual influences, scholarly interventions, and historical conjunctures that have shaped his career. From his early engagement with Bengal's agrarian past to his seminal contributions to Indian Ocean studies, Bose discusses the evolution of his thinking, the historiographical debates that marked his formative years, and the enduring relevance of figures such as Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. He also reflects on the future of Indian Ocean history, the relationship between land and sea, and the challenges of writing across regional and disciplinary boundaries.