Suraj Palavalsa is a Research Associate at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), India, specialising in maritime geostrategies, India’s maritime history, cultural heritage, and strategic imperatives in the Indo-Pacific. His research encompasses historical narratives, and Project ‘MAUSAM’, reflecting India’s deep-rooted maritime consciousness.

He holds an MA in IR (South Asian Studies) from Pondicherry University and a BA (Hons) in Social Sciences from Banaras Hindu University (BHU). His academic expertise extends to maritime consciousness, trade negotiations, and regional security, with active participation in international seminars, policy dialogues, and strategic research projects.

His forthcoming works include:

• A chapter on “India in the Indo-Pacific” in the Routledge Handbook of Maritime India.
• A study on India’s Negotiating Strategies in Trade, Environment, and Security Regimes.
• A chapter on “Myanmar’s Dual Struggle: Quest for Democracy and the Rohingya Crisis”, based on proceedings from the 2nd All India Conference of East Asian Studies, which will be either published in Routledge or Palgrave Publications.

Suraj has presented research papers on Myanmar’s democratic transition, China’s hydro hegemony, and India’s role in WTO negotiations. His previous work spans foreign direct investment (FDI), intellectual property rights (IPR), and subaltern narratives in Indian history. Beyond academia, he has participated in the NASA Space Settlement Design Contest, contributed as a content developer, and served as a student ambassador for India’s G20 Summit engagements. He was also instrumental in curating the SWAYAM MOOC Course on “India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalised World”, working as a Project Assistant in collaboration with the

Consortium for Educational Communication and Pondicherry University. With a strong commitment to maritime scholarship and strategic studies, Suraj continues to contribute to India’s maritime discourse through research, writing, and policy engagement.

• “Reviving India’s maritime consciousness through an interdisciplinary approach.”
• Maritime geostrategies of the Indo-Pacific
• Project ‘Mausam’
• “Underwater Cultural Heritage” and  “Tourism.”

• MA in South Asian Studies – Pondicherry University
• BA in Sociology, History, Political Science and Economics – Banaras Hindu University
• Secondary Education – FIITJEE, Visakhapatnam

Aug 2024 – Jan 2025

• Research Intern, National Maritime Foundation (NMF)

Jan-Apr 2024

• Research Assistant, Kutumb Aspirations – Worked on a Research Project on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Oct-Dec 2023

• Project Assistant, The Consortium for Educational Communication and Pondicherry University – Developed a SWAYAM MOOC Course on “India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalised World”

Aug-Nov 2023

• Research Assistant, Kutumb Aspirations – Worked on a Research Project on “Subaltern communities under the Hyderabad Nizam’s Rule.”

Jun-Nov 2023

• Content Developer, Kaizen Young Consultants – Writing Blogs and Market Analysis.

• Addressal of Legal Challenges to Underwater Cultural Heritage in India, presented at the NMF–KAS PIML Seminar (LAWSEA2025).
• Presented a Paper on “China’s Upper Riparian Hegemony” conducted by The Asia Foundation (TAF) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (April 2024)
• Presented a Paper on “Myanmar’s Dual Struggle: Quest for Democracy and the Rohingya Crisis” at IPRI Third Annual Residential Workshop conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). (Dec 2023)
• Chaired a Panel Discussion on the Climate Crisis and Contemporary Politics in Africa and Latin America at IPRI Third Annual Residential Workshop conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). (Dec 2023)
• Presented a paper on “Special and Differential Treatment for Global South: India’s Advocacy in WTO” at a national webinar conducted by the University of Calicut. (Oct 2023)
• Presented a Paper on “Peace through the SDGs: Targets, Indicators, Issues & Challenges” conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) (Aug 2023)
• Presented a paper on “The Ideological Nexus: How Pink Tides Have Catalysed Latin America’s Shift in Alignment from the United States to China.” during my Summer Camp on Latin American Politics, Literature and Culture (May 2023)