Enhancing Maritime Consciousness in India: NMF–Rashtram School of Public Leadership

The National Maritime Foundation, in collaboration with the Rashtram School of Public Leadership at the Indian International Centre, convened a thought-provoking session examining India’s maritime identity and future trajectory.

The discussion brought together diverse perspectives on the need to strengthen maritime consciousness as a critical component of India’s national outlook. Contributions ranged from Mr Shobhit Mathur’s emphasis on leadership and institutional engagement to Mr Suraj Palavalsa’s call for a more expansive understanding of maritime consciousness—encompassing geography, economy, law, environment, and governance.

Delivering the inaugural address, Sujit Baxi, Director General of the Warship Design Bureau, reflected on India’s enduring challenge of “sea blindness” and underscored the urgency of recognising the maritime domain as central to national security and economic growth.

A key highlight of the session was the presentation by Sanjeev Sanyal, who traced the reconstruction and voyage of the INSV Kaundinya. Built using traditional techniques, the vessel’s journey from Porbandar to Muscat was further contextualised through operational insights shared by Y Hemanth Kumar, Officer-in-Charge of the voyage.

The session concluded with remarks by Commodore Jai Bedi, Executive Director, National Maritime Foundation, who highlighted emerging maritime opportunities and emphasised the importance of adopting a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to maritime development.

The discussions collectively underscored that overcoming “sea blindness” is essential to advancing India’s maritime resurgence and strengthening its role in the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific.