Explore the interconnected histories of the Bay of Bengal, a vital region for understanding South and Southeast Asia. This insightful volume delves into religious rites, colonial migrations, and the evolution of national rights from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Discover how ethnicity, culture, and shifting political landscapes shaped notions of belonging for diverse communities across the Indian Ocean. Offering a fresh perspective on regional history, it connects past movements of people to contemporary debates on refugee crises and minority rights. Essential reading for students and scholars of Indian Ocean studies and modern Asian history.