The sixth edition of the annual Dilli seminar on ‘Role of Seapower in Shaping of Nations’ commenced this morning at the Indian Naval Academy (INA). Indian navy put forth the very idea of Sea Power and its role in Geo- Economics.

Photo Credit : Indian navy,

The sixth edition of the annual Dilli seminar on ‘Role of Seapower in Shaping of Nations’ commenced this morning at the Indian Naval Academy (INA). The seminar proceedings commenced with the opening address by Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi,  Commandant, INA. This was followed by the keynote address  delivered by the chief guest Admiral Madhavendra Singh, former Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

The first session of day one - ‘Sea Power Vs Land Power – A Historical Perspective’ - chaired by Dr. Dattesh Parulekar,  commenced with a presentation by Commander B Srinivas on the topic ‘Security Ashore : Supremacy at Sea’. The officer is a Navigation and Direction specialist and holds a Diploma in International Maritime Law from Gujarat National Law University. The session touched upon the differences between sea power and land power, their interdependence, and some lessons for the times to come.

The second paper – ‘Sea Power vs Land Power : The Indian (and Indian Navy) Perspective’ - presented by Commodore Srikant B Kesnur brought out how Indian thinkers have highlighted India’s pre-occupation with land borders and how often we have been accused of sea-blindness. The presentation also dwelt upon the Navy at Independence and growth of Navy thereafter in terms of acquisitions as well as conceptual and doctrinal growth.

Session two of the day - ‘Sea Power and Geo Economics’- chaired by Captain Alok Bansal comprised two papers, viz. ‘Evolving Influence of Sea Power in Emerging Geo –Economics’ by Commodore Odakkal Johnson, and ‘Sea Power and Geo Economics’ by Commodore Gopal Suri. The papers examined the relevance of geo- economics through maritime history in early, medieval and modern times; a concept that existed from several centuries and still relevant on present day.