‘India lagging in maritime affairs’
India was once a strong maritime power, says Vice-Admiral (retired) Manohar Prahlad
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-18 04:55 GMT
Ezhimala, Kannur: When China is rapidly expanding its maritime operations, India is yet to make a start, according to Vice-Admiral (retired) Manohar Prahlad Awati. He added that the rulers should focus on strengthening India’s activities in the sea to take the nation to the forefront of major maritime powers.
Awati, the 1971 Indo-Pak war hero, was delivering the keynote address at a seminar on ‘Indian maritime history’ held at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, on Friday.
“India was once a strong maritime power. However, after independence, it lagged and is still behind. When ISRO is creating success by indigenous technologies, the Defence Research and Development Organisation is still where it began,” he said. He opined that India lost its rich maritime strength due to invasions.
“In ancient period, we had ports, craftsmen and maritime presence much stronger than at present. Today, we are neglecting the sea. The one who rules the sea rules the land and the British have proved it,” he added.
Awati, who is also the founder of Maritime History Society of India, urged the authorities to revive and conserve the old ports, wooden vessel-making technology (referring to Beypore) and thus enhance the maritime power and scope of the country.
The ‘Sagarparikrama’ project (August 2009 to May 2010), which took the first Indian solo circumnavigator around the world in an Indian-built boat, was the brainchild of Awati. Calicut University former Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.K.N. Kurup, INA deputy commandant M.D. Suresh were among those who attended the inaugural session.