The Indian Ocean has recently emerged as the world’s focus in the maritime domain and is a global economic highway. India sits astride busy sea lines of communications which transit across the Indian Ocean. India has a long coastline of 7,516 kms., over 1,300 islands and islets and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over two million sq. kms. India has 12 major ports and over 200 minor and intermediate ports and 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume transits by sea. India has a vibrant shipbuilding industry, a thriving fishing industry, offshore oil and gas interests and deep seabed mining areas in the central Indian Ocean.

Thus, India has vast maritime interests. These comprise the enablers of blue economy, which need to be harnessed by efficient utilisation of marine resources without hurting the environment. This oration will highlight the role of the Indian Navy in furthering peace and stability in the region as well harnessing the forces of India’s blue economy.

Admiral RK Dhowan served as the 22nd Chief of the Indian Navy from 2014 to 2016. Currently, he is Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. He was adjudged ‘Best Cadet’ and won the coveted ‘Telescope’ during his sea training onboard INS Delhi. He was commissioned in the Navy in 1975 and went on to bag the ‘Sword of Honour’ for his course. His previous appointments at Naval Headquarters include Deputy Director Naval Operations, Joint Director Naval Plans, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy). He has served as Indian Naval Advisor at the High Commission of India, London. He has had the distinction of commanding his alma mater, the National Defence Academy. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

The K R Narayanan Oration Series is presented by the Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC), Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy. We would like to acknowledge the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for this series.

Light refreshments from 5.30pm in the foyer with the speaker, following the lecture.

For those not able to come along, the event is available at here.

You can find Admiral R K Dhowan’s full speech here.