From Bondage to Brotherhood: Bomma and Ben Yiju as agents of Cross-Cultural Interaction

Abstract

In an Antique Land offers a unique lens to find out cross-cultural interactions by reconstructing the historical relationship between Bomma, an Indian slave, and Ben Yiju, a Jewish merchant, against the backdrop of the medieval Indian Ocean trade networks of the 12th century. Unlike the conventional master-slave dynamic characterized by dominance and subjugation, their relationship is marked by mutual respect, trust, and interdependence. Bomma emerges as an influential figure, actively participating in commercial and diplomatic affairs while navigating diverse cultures and geographies. His role in Ben Yiju’s mercantile enterprise reflects the fluidity of identity and social mobility in the pre-colonial world, countering rigid, hierarchical structures often associated with servitude. By intertwining historical narrative with personal travelogue, Ghosh challenges Eurocentric historiography that often marginalizes non-Western perspectives. The novel foregrounds a nuanced depiction of medieval globalization, demonstrating how trade networks facilitated not just economic transactions but also cultural exchanges and hybrid identities. The movement of people, ideas, and goods across regions ranging from Egypt to India reshapes conventional understandings of interconnected histories. This paper examines how Bomma and Ben Yiju function as agents of cultural transmission, breaking down barriers of religion, ethnicity, and class through their interwoven lives. Drawing on textual evidence, historical documents, and secondary sources, the analysis highlights how their relationship embodies themes of cultural hybridity and transnationalism. Ghosh’s approach, which blends fiction with historical reconstruction, critiques static national and cultural boundaries, emphasizing instead the dynamic and fluid nature of identity formation over time. Ultimately, In an Antique Land reconstructs a deeply interlinked past, providing an alternative historical perspective that challenges dominant narratives of separation and difference.