Fifth Edition of Dilli Series Seapower Seminar Concludes at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
The fifth edition of the Dilli Series Seapower Seminar on “Geopolitical Impact of Sea Power” concluded on 12 October 2018 at the Indian Naval Academy (INA). Nine papers were presented during the seminar covering various topics like ‘Of places and Bases – How Naval Strategy for Trade Protection Impacted Anglo – French Colonial Rivalry in the Indian Ocean’, ‘The Battle of Diu’, ’China’s Belt and Road Initiative’, ‘Assessing China’s Engagement in India’s Maritime Neighborhood’, ‘Chinese Sea Power and the Belt and Road Initiative: A Mahanian Blueprint to Colonisation in the 21st Century’ and ‘ Gunboat Diplomacy’. The two days event was attended by several serving and retired senior Naval Officers, eminent academicians and distinguished luminaries.
The seminar proceedings on day two, chaired by Rear Admiral SY Shrikhande, AVSM (Retd.) was centered on the topic ‘Gunboat Diplomacy’. Cadets of INA presented a paper on the topic ‘Gunboat Diplomacy: Emerging Players and Associated Challenges in the Indo Pacific Region’. The day also saw a mesmerising and insightful presentations on Gunboat Diplomacy by Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM, (Retd), Commodore G Prakash covering the topic from 17th century onwards and Commander P Ratheesh discussing its application in the Indian Ocean Region.
Rear Admiral Puneet Chadha, VSM, Deputy Commandant and Chief instructor, INA delivered the closing address and thanked all paper presenters, chairpersons, and eminent academicians and luminaries for the intellectually enriching experience provided to the audience, especially cadets at INA, through the high quality deliberations. Asst Prof Dr. Lalitha Sharma delivered the vote of thanks .
The Indian Naval Academy christened the Annual Seminar as the ‘Dilli’ series after Mount Dilli located at Ezhimala, which has been witness to the developments of the maritime history of the region. The lighthouse insignia reflects the need to ‘look back to see forward’. The seminar has been an enriching experience and the ‘Dilli’ series hopes to stimulate young officers and cadets to keep an eye on developments in the maritime domain whilst simultaneously laying a strong foundation of the past.
Dilli series Seapower Seminar 2018 Commences at Indian Naval Academy
The fifth edition of the annual Dilli seminar on ‘Geopolitical Impact of Sea Power’ commenced this on 11 October 2018 at the Indian Naval Academy (INA). The two day seminar is being attended by several serving senior Naval officers, eminent academicians and distinguished luminaries. Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM, Commandant, INA delivered the opening address.
The seminar proceedings commenced with the Dilli Invitational talk by Dr TCA Raghavan, former diplomat who also served as the High Commissioner of India to Pakistan, on ‘Integrating the Continental and the Maritime in our Foreign and Strategic Policies.’
The first session of day one named ‘Sea Power and Colonisation’, chaired by Cmde Odakkal Johnson, commenced with a presentation on ‘The Battle of Diu’ authored by Dr. Anupama Ghosh, and presented by Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM(Retd.) analysed naval battles in the decade following Vasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut and his voyages in the larger geo-politics of those times. The causes of the defeat of combined forces led by Zamorin and the impact it had in the history of India was also covered.
The second paper was presented by Commander Yogesh V Athawale on the subject ‘Of Places and Bases – How Naval Strategy for Trade Protection Impacted Anglo – French Colonial Rivalry in the Indian Ocean’. The officer, a specialist in Anti Submarine Warfare, is a regular contributor to professional publications and has been publishing in international and national journals. The paper traced back the background of Anglo - French rivalry, and touched upon its strategic, operational and tactical dimensions. The salience of sea power in shaping up the strategy of colonial contestants and its decisive role in determining the outcome was also narrated in the course of the presentation.
Session two of day one named ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative’ chaired by Cmde Sushant Dam, VSM commenced with a paper by Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig, Addl. Director General , Project Seabird, on the subject ‘One Belt One Road’. The paper discussed the Belt Road Initiative by China and its maritime dimensions.
A paper on ‘Assessing China’s Engagement in India’s Maritime Neighborhood’ by Shri Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of Takshashila foundation, discussed possibilities of conceptualising change and uncertainty and derive what India must do to promote its national interests.
Captain VC Mehra, Commanding Officer, INS Ranjit delivered his paper on the topic ‘Chinese Sea Power and the Belt and Road Initiative: A Mahanian Blueprint to Colonisation in the 21st Century’. The paper highlighted certain elements that are essential for developing sea power according to the book Mahan and the manner in which China is applying it.
On the concluding day of the two day seminar four papers will be presented. These include ‘Gunboat Diplomacy: Emerging Players and Associated Challenges in the Indo Pacific Region’ by cadets of INA, ‘Gun boat Diplomacy’ by VAdm Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.) and Cmde G Prakash, and ‘Sea Power in the IOR’ by Cdr P Ratheesh.
Dilli Series Sea Power Seminar 2018
Located at Ezhimala, in Kannur district of the state of Kerala, Indian Naval Academy (INA) is amongst the premier Armed Forces institutions of our country. It is through the hallowed portals of INA that all officer-trainees joining the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard pass out, in their progression to join the officer-corps of their respective Service. The academy follows a system of holistic training that caters to physical, intellectual and socio-cultural development of each cadet. In preparing its trainees for the myriad challenges of military leadership that they would encounter at sea, on land, in air, as also in both ‘outer’ and ‘inner’ (cyber) space, INA actively promotes academic and professional excellence.
Named after the historic Mount Dilli located within INA premises, Dilli Series Seminar is conducted at INA during Autumn Term every year, with an aim to expose young trainees to our vibrant maritime history and arouse in them a curiosity that will motivate them to explore further. However, after conducting four editions of this Seminar on various maritime history topics, a need was felt to provide adequate exposure to cadets on the significance of sea power for a nation, which is felt necessary for future naval officers. Keeping this requirement at the milieu, the seminar has been rechristened as ‘Dilli Series Sea Power Seminar’ under the banner theme of ‘The Significance of Sea Power’.
The theme of the fifth edition of the seminar to be held at INA on 11-12 October 2018, is ‘Geopolitical Impact of Sea Power’. Papers are invited from serving as well as retired officers, academia and cadets on the following sub themes:-
1. Sea Power and Colonisation.
2. China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
3. Gunboat Diplomacy – Sea Power for Coercion.
For more details visit link https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Dilli
