Chennai. The Peninsula Foundation held an important two-day seminar July 12-13 on this theme. Inaugurated by the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, the participants deliberated upon the unique position that India has in the Indian Ocean, its role and requirement for peace and movement of free trade in this region for all.
Foundation President Air Marshal M Matheswaran (Retd) set the tone for the conference by recalling noted historian KM Panikkar’s observation that for India: “Her lifelines are concentrated in that area; her freedom is dependent on the freedom of that water surface. No industrial development, no commercial growth, no political structure is possible for her unless her shores are protected.”
Vice Admiral Ashok pointed out that India juts a thousand nautical miles in the Indian ocean, just short by 450 nm from the Equator. That gives India vast responsibilities towards peace and stability and freedom of movement of trade for itself and everyone in the region. Historically, people traversed through the Indian Ocean for trade with India, and notwithstanding the globalisation, the Indian Ocean and its connectivity with the Pacific Ocean, are only reinforcing India’s position in this perspective.
The Seminar was held at the Women’s Christian College (WCC) to involve young scholars and students with the strategic community. Principal Lilian I Jasper described this as an important initiative.
The speakers included Ambassador TCA Raghavan, Cmde Uday Bhaskar, Prof Kanti Bajpai & Dr Vijay Sakhuja.
