INDIA MARITIME HERITAGE
India Maritime Week 2025 will spotlight the theme “India’s Maritime Heritage & Shared Civilizational Links”, celebrating the country’s rich oceanic legacy and its historical ties across the Indian Ocean region. The day will begin with an inaugural session featuring addresses by Hon’ble Ministers and dignitaries, along with the unveiling of the NMHC logo, launch of the IMHC 2024 coffee table book, NMHC magazine, and donor portal. Session A will showcase India’s maritime heritage through expert presentations and remarks from state tourism ministers, highlighting regional legacies such as the Chola naval empire, Lothal’s trade networks, and Kalinga’s ancient seafaring traditions.
Following a networking lunch and pavilion visit, Session B will hold a closed-door fundraising roundtable and convene CEOs and CSR heads from leading maritime and industrial organizations. Session C will feature international scholars and museum directors from various countries. The day will conclude with a valedictory session and a vibrant cultural extravaganza featuring performances by international troupes.This celebration will reinforce India’s maritime identity and its global cultural connections.
| Time | Session Title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Inaugural Session | - Address by Sh. Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways - Remarks by Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Tourism - Special Address by Sh. Devendra Fadnavis Hon’ble CM, Maharashtra or Sh. Eknath Shinde, Dy. CM, Maharashtra - Unveiling of NMHC Logo - Launch of Coffee Table Book for IMHC 2024 - Launch of NMHC Magazine - Launch of Donor Portal |
| 11:45 AM - 13:00 PM | Session A (India’s Maritime Heritage) | - Presentation on Indian Maritime Heritage by ASI, MoC - Panel: i. Dr. Sanjay Manjul, ADG, ASI ii. Dr. Sunil Gupta, Former Director, Allahabad Museum iii. Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar, Calcutta University iv. Prof. Selva Kumar, Tamil University v. Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Former Secretary, MoPSW - Remarks by State Tourism Minister of Maharashtra/ Goa on Maratha Naval Power/ contact with Portuguese - Remarks by State Tourism Minister of Gujarat on heritage tourism, Lothal link - Remarks by State Tourism Minister of Kerala on spice trade and maritime routes - Remarks by State Tourism Minister of Odisha on ancient Kalinga links - Remarks by State Tourism Minister of Tamil Nadu on Chola maritime legacy - Moderator: Prof. Dr. Vasant Shinde |
| 13:00 PM - 14:00 PM | Networking Lunch and Pavilion Visit | |
| 14:00 PM - 15:00 PM | Session B (Close door fund raising Round Table with Maritime Industry) | - Presentation on fund raising for NMHC with CEOs/CSR Heads of Reliance, Adani, Tata, JSW, Essar, ONGC, DP World, Maersk, etc. |
| 14:00 PM - 15:00 PM | Parallel Cultural Show (for accompanying delegates and gathering at IMW) | - Amṛta Manthana – The Churning of the Ocean by N. Chitravina Ravikiran and Padmavibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh |
| 15:30 PM - 16:30 PM | Session C (Shared Civilizations and Shared Legacy) | - Proposed Speakers: i. Vietnam: Dr. Do Truong Giang, Scholar from Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (on maritime history & Champa links) ii. Thailand: Mr. W. Rahothan, Archaeologist, Underwater Archaeology, Dept of Fine Arts, M/o Culture (on Ramayana & Indian Ocean cultural exchanges) iii. Indonesia: Miss. Nia Naulul Hasnah Ridwan, Maritime Archaeologist, M/o Marine Affairs and Fisheries, (Bali Yatra/ Jatra and Indonesian Connect) iv. Portugal: Director, Museu de Marinha (Lisbon), linking Europe Asia maritime trade v. UAE: Eric Staples, Assistant professor at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi and Maritime Historian (on Gulf – India - SEA trade corridor) vi. Netherlands: Michael Cougher, Director, National Maritime Museum of Amsterdam (on European East India Companies’ role in SEA trade). vii. Korea: Dr. Kim Yongjun, Archaeologist at Korea University (Korea’s contact with Ayodhya) - Moderator: Dr. Samarendra Kumar, Director, Victoria Memorial - Panel followed by signing of MoUs with Korea, Italy, Cambodia and other countries |
| 17:00 PM - 17:30 PM | Valedictory Session | - Remarks by Sh. Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of PM Economic Advisory Council - Remarks by Sh. Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to PM - Closing Remarks by Hon’ble Minister |
| 18:30 PM - 20:30 PM | Cultural Extravaganza | - Ramayana Play (Thailand troupe) - Performance by ICCR - Any other performances |
