The changing times of the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean has been an incubator for civilisations. It would be intriguing to read the history of the Indian Ocean
Published: 04:02 PM,Feb 17,2025 | EDITED : 08:02 PM,Feb 17,2025
The Sultanate of Oman hosted the 8th Indian Ocean Conference, an initiative by the India Foundation.
The event saw the participation of about 250 delegates under one roof. It was fascinating to watch the members of the delegation because they were from different countries. It was a mini world because most of the people chose to wear their traditional clothes.
They followed each speaker’s words with keen interest.
Imagine this: one ocean and around it 38 countries and not to forget islands. From coast to coast, people vary in beliefs, language, customs, and diet.
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world. The Indian Ocean touches Asia, Africa, the Gulf countries, and Arab countries.
The Indian Ocean has been an incubator for civilisations. It would be intriguing to read the history of the Indian Ocean. But from the ancient days onwards, people had the urge to sail across to other coasts, and this trade began.
Of course, the Indian Ocean has seas too - the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Red Sea, and the list goes on. The sea routes became well defined, and even with modern transport other than the sea, the seaports continue to play a major role in global logistics.
The archaeological sites like Baleed and Qalhat tell us the historical role of the sea in civilizations. The Frankincense Land Museum in Salalah and the National Museum in Muscat gives us plenty to think about.
They braved the waves, followed the stars and sailed with the wind. We have potteries, seals, and stamps to tell us who traveled to where.
But today the nations of the Indian Ocean region have challenges and the experts and speakers talked about the importance of freedom of navigation.
Sea piracy is still a reality not just in the storybooks. In fact, the experts pointed out how the very source of trading was impacted by piracy that led to higher tax rates, insurance, and freight charges.
It is nice to see the initiatives taken to work together to solve problems. Not to forget are the environmental challenges that are threatening the Indian Ocean and its marine life. The ocean gave many gifts, but man sometimes became greedy.
If the world is being touched by AI, so is the Indian Ocean too. The experts talked about the security of ports, and in comes the new kid in town - AI in port management. This again needs security just like cybersecurity because they are all data.
There must be sad stories too because human and drug trafficking also exist.
According to Britannica, the formation of the Indian Ocean is a consequence of the breakup, which “began about 180 million years ago, of the southern supercontinent Gondwana by the movement to the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, which began colliding with Eurasia about 50 million years ago.
With all the developments the region went through from then to now, human civilisations have witnessed and have been influenced as well.
Today there is Indian Ocean literature and, of course, natural resources.ith so many aspects to think about, yet the most unique feature is its seasonal circular patterns—churning out the beautiful monsoon.
It is also the warmest of all the five oceans of the world.
But today, even its coral is threatened. The time is now to protect it. After all, we seemed to be more dependent on it than the other way around.
The writer is senior editor of Observer
The event saw the participation of about 250 delegates under one roof. It was fascinating to watch the members of the delegation because they were from different countries. It was a mini world because most of the people chose to wear their traditional clothes.
They followed each speaker’s words with keen interest.
Imagine this: one ocean and around it 38 countries and not to forget islands. From coast to coast, people vary in beliefs, language, customs, and diet.
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world. The Indian Ocean touches Asia, Africa, the Gulf countries, and Arab countries.
The Indian Ocean has been an incubator for civilisations. It would be intriguing to read the history of the Indian Ocean. But from the ancient days onwards, people had the urge to sail across to other coasts, and this trade began.
Of course, the Indian Ocean has seas too - the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Red Sea, and the list goes on. The sea routes became well defined, and even with modern transport other than the sea, the seaports continue to play a major role in global logistics.
The archaeological sites like Baleed and Qalhat tell us the historical role of the sea in civilizations. The Frankincense Land Museum in Salalah and the National Museum in Muscat gives us plenty to think about.
They braved the waves, followed the stars and sailed with the wind. We have potteries, seals, and stamps to tell us who traveled to where.
But today the nations of the Indian Ocean region have challenges and the experts and speakers talked about the importance of freedom of navigation.
Sea piracy is still a reality not just in the storybooks. In fact, the experts pointed out how the very source of trading was impacted by piracy that led to higher tax rates, insurance, and freight charges.
It is nice to see the initiatives taken to work together to solve problems. Not to forget are the environmental challenges that are threatening the Indian Ocean and its marine life. The ocean gave many gifts, but man sometimes became greedy.
If the world is being touched by AI, so is the Indian Ocean too. The experts talked about the security of ports, and in comes the new kid in town - AI in port management. This again needs security just like cybersecurity because they are all data.
There must be sad stories too because human and drug trafficking also exist.
According to Britannica, the formation of the Indian Ocean is a consequence of the breakup, which “began about 180 million years ago, of the southern supercontinent Gondwana by the movement to the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, which began colliding with Eurasia about 50 million years ago.
With all the developments the region went through from then to now, human civilisations have witnessed and have been influenced as well.
Today there is Indian Ocean literature and, of course, natural resources.ith so many aspects to think about, yet the most unique feature is its seasonal circular patterns—churning out the beautiful monsoon.
It is also the warmest of all the five oceans of the world.
But today, even its coral is threatened. The time is now to protect it. After all, we seemed to be more dependent on it than the other way around.
The writer is senior editor of Observer