Indian Navy

A return to Visakhapatnam becomes a reflection on four decades of naval service, maritime excellence and India’s evolving strategic role in the Indian Ocean.

Vice Admiral M.P. Awati was more than a distinguished naval officer; he was a visionary who dedicated his later years to building India’s maritime consciousness. On the beginning of his centenary birth anniversary year, this personal tribute reflects on his leadership, humility, institution-building, and enduring legacy for young scholars and a sea-minded India.

Global trade continues to move across oceans shaped by uncertainty rather than stability. As maritime routes grow increasingly contested, Indian seafarers remain central to sustaining global supply chains under rising risk. In this evolving order, the oceans are no longer just connectors of commerce, but spaces where strategy, conflict, and resilience intersect.