Suraj Palavalsa is a Research Associate at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), India.  His current research focuses on reviving India’s maritime consciousness, as also on ports and maritime connectivity, adopting an interdisciplinary approach to both areas.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, History, Political Science, and Economics (Ancillary) from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and earned his MA degree in International Relations (South Asian Studies) from Pondicherry University, Puducherry.

While his primary research focus lies in maritime affairs, his scholarly interests also extend to the Global South, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), particularly Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS), and the role of soft power in international relations and foreign policy.

His Forthcoming works include:

• A Chapter entitled “India’s Negotiating Strategies in Trade, Environment, and Security Regimes,” in India in a Multipolar World: Partnership and Leadership, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London.
• A Chapter entitled “Reclaiming the Sea: Building Maritime Consciousness for a ‘Viksit Bharat’,” in India in a Globalised World: A Rising Power, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London.
• A Chapter entitled “Traditional Knowledge of Andaman and Nicobar Tribes: Sea and Forest,” in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the Indian Eastern Seaboard: Security, Strategy and Development, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London.
• A Co-Edited Volume Entitled Indo-Pacific: Making of Maritime Order, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London.
• A Co-Edited Volume Entitled Global South: Power, Partnership, Strategy, and Cooperation, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London.

Suraj has presented research papers on Myanmar’s democratic transition, China’s hydro-hegemony, India’s role in WTO negotiations, maritime connectivity, and maritime consciousness. His previous work spans foreign direct investment (FDI), intellectual property rights (IPR), subaltern narratives in Indian history, and maritime strategic studies.

Beyond academia, he has participated in the NASA Space Settlement Design Contest, contributed as a content developer, and served as a Student Ambassador during India’s G20 engagements. He also played a key role in curating the SWAYAM MOOC course “India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalised World” as a Project Assistant in collaboration with the Consortium for Educational Communication and Pondicherry University.

With a strong commitment to maritime scholarship, strategic studies, and policy research, Suraj continues to contribute to India’s maritime discourse through research, writing, policy engagement, and initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime connectivity and fostering greater maritime consciousness.

• Analyses of the maritime facets of mega-connectivity corridors such as the International North-South Transsport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai-Valdivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC), the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Maritime Silk Route within China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), etc.
• India’s maritime connectivity involving inland waterways.
• Cultural maritime connectivity as manifested by Project MAUSAM.
• Maritime Tourism in India
• Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH)

• 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)