A few words
about our research

Our lines of research

Taking the Indian Ocean as our starting point, we analyse the literary and cultural productions originated in/from the porousness, permeability and connectedness that defines Indian Ocean studies (Vink 2007). The “ocean” becomes a trope whereby spatial configurations are conceptualized as open, flexible and essentially transnational.

The monsoons enabled trade across the Indian Ocean rim and together with the spread of Islam from the eighth century onwards gave rise to the establishment of a series of cosmopolitan port cities. As a result of this proliferating cosmopolitanism, a cultural and historical network emerged whose rhizomatic nature linked not only land masses but also and, we would like to add, more significantly, oceans and islands.

Ratnakara explores the aquatic cartographies that are forged within colonial and postcolonial histories that feature the “ocean”, both literally and figuratively, as the propeller of cultural contact. With the advent of European imperialism, new ways of understanding the aquatic medium materialised, and hence identities had to be re-formulated, geographical displacements had to be re-assessed and cosmopolitanism demanded to be addressed under the lens of hydrocolonialism, that is to say, colonization by way of water (Hofmeyr 2022). Ultimately, what we propose is to open up a dialogue wherein the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans are constructed as a unique and multifarious rhizomatic canvas.

2012

Foundation year

+15

Researchers

+10

Research projects

8

Countries

Research Team

Founder and Director
University of Lleida
Founder and Director
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Researcher
University of Barcelona
Researcher

University of Bucharest

Researcher

Doshisha University

Researcher

University of Cadiz

Researcher

University of La Laguna

Researcher

University of Barcelona

Researcher

Université de la Réunion

Researcher

University of Salamanca

Researcher

University of Lleida

Researcher

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Researcher

University of Valladolid

PhD Student

University of Lleida

PhD Student

University of Lleida

PhD Student

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Researcher

University of Mauritius

Researcher

University of Lleida

PhD Student

University of Lleida

Researcher

University of Toronto

Researcher

University of Málaga